Chapter 226 Stunning the Audience!

He quickly understood her thoughts. His intention was for his daughter to embarrass herself. He stole a look at Sadie and said, “What’s all the fuss about? Go back now.”

Sadie felt a twinge of frustration. After all, in the past, when Bill spoke like that, it was always directed at me, not her. She felt even more indignant inside. “Could it be that you, as the daughter of the Gardners, can’t even play the violin? What a joke!”

I gave a faint smile. “Actually, I don’t know how to play the violin.”

Anna showed up today as well. I’m sure she’s quietly observing my every move. The last time I pushed myself beyond my limits and tried a new approach, it was challenging to shake off some old habits while playing the violin. I wouldn’t let her see through me, but I couldn’t stand Sadie, this newcomer, stirring things up and causing a scene in front of me.

She grinned. “Dad, look at Zoey. She doesn’t have to do anything, just be a pretty face and marry someone. But I have to work so hard, and you still don’t like me. It’s not fair!”

Even if no one dared to speak up now, once she placed that blame on me… I worried that in the future, everyone would see Mrs. Bolton as insignificant. I couldn’t seem to blend into the circle of ladies; I would just become a subject of gossip after tea. Sadie’s actions wouldn’t benefit her in the long run because the Gardners’ reputation was shared. In the past, Bill let her have her way, but now, in the new battlefield he’d made, her antics only served to hinder him, pulling him down without her realizing it.

At this moment, I feared that Bill might have already developed the intention to kill her. Before I even made my move, Bill was already heading toward me and Philippa. At that moment, even if Sadie harmed herself with a knife, not even God could save her.

As her emotions reached their peak, I spoke up, “But today, we are honored by everyone’s presence, and as the host, I should express my gratitude. I’m not an expert at the violin, but thankfully, my husband taught me how to play the piano. If you don’t mind, my husband and I would like to perform a piece for you. Please don’t laugh.”

I spoke earnestly, knowing that this wasn’t a competition, and the guests present weren’t foolish enough to make things difficult for me. Bill and Philippa exchanged worried glances. I gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s fine.” Then, I gently patted Carter’s hand. “Shall we play together?”

I noticed a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he casually replied, “Sure.” With Damian’s help, he sat down on the piano stool next to me.

He then asked, “What should we play?”

“Can you play ‘The Wind Rises’?” I asked.

“Only if there’s sheet music!”

Damian quickly retrieved the sheet music, while Sadie crossed her arms and scoffed, “No wonder you want to play the piano. Looks like you can just rely on someone else. Play a few notes and claim it as your own?”

“Enough,” Bill shot her a cold look. Ever since she foolishly tried to drag Ashley into the Hudsons’ matters, Bill had been displeased with her, yet she continued to test his patience.

Damian handed over the sheet music, and Carter quickly flipped through it. I was impressed by his sharp memory. He looked at me and asked, “Shall we begin now?”

“Yes,” I replied.

It wasn’t the first time we had played a duet on the piano. As my fingers brushed the keys, the lively notes took me back to when I was just eight years old. Outside, the sun was shining brightly, and the sound of cicadas from the hot summer filled the air. I followed the melody of the piano as it led me up the winding staircase of the Bolton Residence, all the way to the attic. When I opened the door, a rush of wind came through the window, making the white curtains flutter in the breeze. The sunlight streamed through, bathing the young man in white, sitting before the black piano, in a warm, golden glow. His nimble fingers moved swiftly across the keys.

That moment, like a scene from a comic, was permanently imprinted in my memory. As Carter’s fingers landed on the keys, our gazes locked. It felt as if time had reversed, transporting us to that afternoon, twenty years ago, when we first crossed paths. He gently took my hand and guided me through the notes, and the black and white keys seemed to pulse with life beneath his delicate touch. Though we had never played this piece together before, our playing flowed effortlessly as if we were perfectly in tune.

As the song lyrics go, “When we first encountered this world, everything fascinated us. We gazed at the sky as though it were within arm’s reach. Ready to endure any hardship to relive that moment. Now, having journeyed through this world, still mesmerized by it all. We turn the pages of time, only to find ourselves lost in your smile. I once wandered through the vast world. Lost in my own dreams. Unaware of what was real and what was false, unbothered by judgment or mockery. I once transformed my youth into an endless summer, and with my fingers, I played a lively tune of that summer. I followed my heart’s desire, letting it guide me wherever it pleased.”

When the song came to an end, the entire audience paused in silence, only to break into a storm of applause moments later. I never imagined that after all these years, our first duet would sound so perfectly in tune. I never realized how powerful the sight of Carter and I playing the piano together could be. In that instant, Luke’s eyes filled with tears. The members of the Sanders saw a reflection of Chloe in me and wondered if their daughters, had they lived, would have been as remarkable as I was. Some listened in silence, their eyes brimming with tears. At that moment, no one paid attention to Carter’s legs or the fact that I was merely a decorative figure.

Sadie stared in disbelief. She had come with the intention of outshining me, believing that the entire orchestra was there to serve her, elevating her status. But Carter and I were different. Our energies intertwined, our hearts aligned, composing a song of the soul. It wasn’t a classical piano composition, but a popular song from the internet. Still, it moved many to tears. The entire audience erupted in applause and admiration. Only music that touches the heart and soul can truly resonate with people, not the mechanical recitation of notes like Sadie’s.

Bill’s gaze toward me grew more intense, shifting from the last time I painted to this piano performance. In their esteemed family, many could play the piano, but to perform at this level—I’m one of a kind! The quality was unmatched! For the first time, he looked at me directly and offered his praise, “Well played.”

“Thank you.”

If Zoey were still alive, she would surely be overjoyed, for all she ever wanted in life was her father’s attention and a kind word of praise.

Sadie, clearly irritated, asked, “How… how do you know how to play the piano?”

I smiled slyly and replied, “My husband taught me well.”

She was about to speak again when, out of nowhere, a group of police officers showed up at the door. I could sense deep down that Nelson’s team had likely uncovered something about Sadie. That fool, completely oblivious to the danger closing in on her…

Bill’s expression remained unfazed. “What’s going on? No one has filed a report.”

Nelson’s team flashed their badges. “Mr. Gardner, we believe your daughter, Sadie Gardner, may be involved in a car accident. We need her to come with us to the station for questioning.”

Bill was confused. “What car accident?”

Nelson spoke slowly, each word heavy with meaning. “Ethan Sander’s death is connected to your daughter.”

In an instant, every member of the Sanders shifted their attention to Nelson. Kate rushed forward in a panic. “Captain Tucker, what are you implying? My son wasn’t in an accident! He was murdered?”