Chapter 688:

Elyse's heart leaped to her throat at Richie's unexpected move, but she maintained her composure and continued playing the violin, her fingers dancing over the strings with practiced ease. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Richie stopping in front of Claire, who was sitting in the front row, and ceremoniously placing his cap on her head. Claire reacted dramatically, collapsing into her friend's arms, overcome with excitement; her face was a mix of disbelief and adoration. Elyse's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Was Richie Claire's idol?

Richie bounded back onto the stage, his exhilaration contagious as he circled Elyse while singing, his energy pulling her in. Unable to resist, Elyse began to dance, her movements synchronized with the beat and Richie's infectious enthusiasm. As Elyse twirled, her eyes caught Claire's gaze, now filled with a mixture of envy and resentment. Elyse's smile faded as she pondered whether Claire might be targeting her because of her friendship with Richie. As the final note of the song lingered in the air, Richie felt relief wash over him.

Once Richie and Elyse were off the stage, Richie let out a long sigh. "I won't do another commercial performance again. My heart was racing the entire time." Elyse, busy packing her violin, flashed a reassuring smile. "I think you did great. You went off-key a few times, but you recovered quickly." Richie looked up, a bit embarrassed. "You really shouldn't say anything. It doesn't make me feel better." Elyse shrugged, closing her violin case. "Well, it's over now. I should get going."

Richie nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Are you heading back to Watscar? Please give my regards to your husband. I'd love to catch up with both of you over a meal. Since commercial performances are off the table, I need to dive into my acting career." Elyse managed a faint smile. "Running low on roles?" Richie nodded, stroking his chin. "I'm in search of good ones." "I'll see what I can help with in the future," Elyse said with a chuckle before heading out.

Elyse wove through the crowd until she found Gavin. With a hint of curiosity in her voice, she asked, "How did I do on stage?" Gavin flashed a thumbs-up. "You're looking more and more like a professional violinist. I'm really proud of you." Elyse's smile widened. "Great! Let's head back. I need to report my performance to Mr. Tucker." Gavin held up his phone. "Don't worry about that. I recorded the whole thing. I'll show him when we get back."

Once home, Cody asked a few questions before settling in to watch the performance videos. As Elyse performed solo, Cody's expression remained impassive. However, his brow furrowed when he saw her performance alongside Richie. After the video ended, Cody remarked, "It seems like accompanying him on the piano is a waste of your talents." Elyse was amused. She was about to defend Richie when Pearce walked in. He glanced at Elyse and said, "I need to speak with you privately about something." Elyse was puzzled. "Is it something urgent?" Pearce nodded gravely. "It concerns your father." . . .