Chapter 202: First Love

"Yeah, do you like it?" Nathael asked, his gaze meeting hers, his voice low.

Maggie nodded. "Sam & Co. is from Brittany, Lefranc—a prestigious family brand. It was later acquired by the Gerland piano group. Almost every piano is handmade, making it one of the top luxury brands in the world, the 'Maybach' of pianos."

"I heard Sam & Co. has sold only a little over a hundred pianos over the years. I never expected you to have one."

Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, Nathael's expression softened. "From now on, it's yours."

Maggie was taken aback, almost thinking she'd misheard him.

"Why—" she began, but Nathael had already looked away.

His voice deepened as he continued, "You're now my wife."

Maggie felt a tightness in her throat, speechless.

Suddenly, snapping out of her daydream, Maggie focused on the piano, her eyes slightly moist. After all those years, she finally had a chance to see it in person.

The piano had a sleek, deep brown lacquer finish, made from red spruce wood. Its simple, clean design featured a subtle gold logo, giving it an elegant and majestic look.

Maggie calmed herself, set up the camera, experimented with different angles, and made several recording attempts. After several adjustments, she found the right spot and lighting.

During another recording attempt, Nathael quietly opened the door. He saw her in a flowing white dress, her long hair cascading around her shoulders. Her delicate fingers glided effortlessly across the ivory keys, producing beautiful melodies that filled the room.

Nathael didn't interrupt. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her silhouette with a gentle gaze.

As the piece ended, Maggie was about to check the camera when she realized Nathael had quietly returned.

"How was it?" Maggie asked, her face brightening, her eyes meeting his.

"Excellent, as always," Nathael replied, glancing at the camera. Then, in a low voice, he said, "You're not showing your face?"

"Yeah, this video is actually for Sierra," Maggie said, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"You want to let her take the credit," he said.

"How did you know?" Maggie frowned skeptically.

Nathael chuckled, running his fingers through her hair. He whispered, "If you can make me happy, I'll tell you."

Suddenly, Maggie remembered the embarrassing incident at the hotel. Her cheeks flushed as she pushed him away. "I'm not here to make you happy." Nathael didn't insist. He adjusted the camera angle and settings, then signaled for Maggie to begin.

Maggie calmed herself and played a rendition of "First Love." This sweet, slightly sad melody perfectly matched the vibe she wanted. Though not fancy, it evoked young love, bringing back memories and a sense of connection.

As the piece ended, Maggie breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Nathael, asking, "How was it?"

Unexpectedly, she met a pair of dark, mysterious eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked nervously.

Nathael set the camera aside, lifted her, and placed her on the piano.

Maggie was startled and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist. She glanced back at the piano, worried about damaging it. "You're out of your mind! What if I break it?" Maggie clung to Nathael, afraid of being put down.

Nathael chuckled softly. "We'll just get a new one if it breaks."

Maggie was speechless.

Having money sure makes things easy, huh? she thought. It's like squandering a treasure!

"Let me down. My legs are numb," Maggie urged, still worried about the piano. But Nathael had other plans.

A hint of amusement sparkled in his dark eyes as he turned her around and gently placed her on a nearby long table. The nearby vase trembled slightly, easing Maggie's tension. She gazed up at him. "What what are you up to?"

Leaning down, Nathael kissed her gently and murmured, "Thinking of my first love."

"Huh?" Maggie was kissed into a state of confusion. Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked at his handsome face, her mind racing with questions. Does Nathael have a first love? The thought left Maggie feeling uneasy, a sense of bitterness creeping in. It seemed odd that he hadn't had a youthful crush.

"Is she pretty?" Maggie pushed him away slightly, unable to resist asking. Even though she knew it was a dull question, curiosity had taken over.

"Pretty," Nathael said, his dark eyes like ink.

Maggie pouted, clinging to a glimmer of hope. "As pretty as me?"

Nathael looked at her carefully before saying, "Almost."

Maggie felt annoyed. Why couldn't he just admit he couldn't tell? But then she thought, If I caught his eye, I can't be too bad.

"Did you tell her how you feel? Did she feel the same way?" Maggie's heart raced. She couldn't imagine Nathael passionately in love with someone else. The thought sparked jealousy, a sour feeling bubbling up inside her.

"Yeah, I confessed, and she accepted," Nathael said solemnly, his voice a little hoarse.

Maggie felt a surge of mixed emotions. "Why the heck were you kissing me if you were reminiscing about your first love?"

"Nathael, are you crazy?" Maggie pushed him away and hopped off the table. "First loves are no big deal. Everybody's got one."

Maggie rambled about a high school crush, unaware of Nathael's increasingly intense gaze.

"Did you have a crush on him?" Nathael asked calmly.

Maggie hesitated. "No, he was the one who crushed me. He confessed later."

Nathael's eyes rested on her face. "And were you into him?"

Maggie remained silent, lost in reminiscence. She recalled a high school infatuation with her student council president. She couldn't claim to have loved him, but he'd brought her happiness.

Recalling Nathael's mention of his first love, Maggie nodded casually. "Yep!"

Meeting Nathael's somber gaze, Maggie's heart skipped a beat. She quickly realized his game. Oh dang! Is this sneaky guy trying to trap me with his words?