Chapter 34

A thunderstorm raged outside. The silence after Selina's final note hung heavy before a wave of applause erupted.

Evan rushed over, beaming. "Ms. Harvey, you were incredible! Please, accept this Lifetime VIP Platinum Card. It's on the house—no bill ever. And your performance? We're featuring it in our anniversary video. Huge thanks for making our night!" He hadn't expected much; he just hadn't wanted to offend the Brady family. But Selina had been phenomenal, and the venue had reaped the rewards.

"Got it," Selina said coolly, pocketing the card.

"Selina, you rocked!" Nora beamed, her eyes sparkling. "That was amazing—better than any professional I've seen live! I'm blown away... Plus, I recorded it! Trevon's going to flip when he sees you!"

Before Selina could respond, Jennifer stumbled toward them, clearly flustered. "I thought you had no experience! You've been playing us! You can't be this good without years of training. Why hide your talent? Do you think you're better than me?"

"Yeah, I do," Selina's blunt retort stunned Jennifer.

Nora burst out laughing, proud of her sister-in-law's unflinching response. Selina simply gave Jennifer a look and flicked her fingers.

Jennifer initially didn't understand, but upon seeing Selina's smooth fingers, her face contorted. "Your fingers... where are the calluses?!" Any seasoned violinist would have calluses. Even Jennifer wore hers like badges of honor, evidence of her dedication.

"You simply lack the skill, honey, and frankly, I don't care," Selina retorted, dismissing Jennifer and leaving with Nora.

Jennifer's ego smarted under Selina's words. "Is all my lifelong practice meaningless compared to her casual playing? It's absurd! But facing Selina's flawless hands, Jennifer was speechless. She fiddled with her rough fingertips, as if attempting to erase what she once considered trophies. "And you said you were here to relax? But you ended up on stage, showing off just like me!" she hissed, embarrassment bubbling to the surface.

"Chill out, Jennifer," Nora snapped, shocked by Jennifer's continued antagonism. "I can't believe your nerve!"

"Jennifer," Evan interjected, his voice as cold as a winter storm, "Ms. Harvey is our special guest tonight. I asked her to play, unlike you begging for a spotlight with no qualifications!"

"What? You're talking to me like that?" Jennifer fumed.

"Yeah, why not? Thinking of leveraging your father's company's influence on us? Think the Grant Group would appreciate their star princess jeopardizing a deal and insulting Nora Brady of the Brady family?"

This abruptly halted Jennifer's outburst, and she stormed off, leaving a trail of humiliated silence in her wake. The room erupted in laughter at her dramatic exit.

The attendees considered the evening a resounding success. Not only had they witnessed Selina's breathtaking violin performance, but they'd also enjoyed a front-row seat to some high-quality drama and juicy gossip.

"Whoa, Selina, you're amazing! You completely crushed Jennifer. It was like a movie!" Nora gushed, showering Selina with praise. She mused, "Is this the same Selina Trevon's so crazy about? The more I see, the more I admire her. She's incredible!"

Selina playfully ruffled Nora's hair. "Easy, or my head will swell up!"

"As if! I'll hype you up all day! You're like a superhero—super cool and fierce!" Nora linked arms with Selina, grinning.

Just then, Trevon arrived. "Hey, honey, your ride's here," he announced smoothly.

"Trevon! Now? This is prime bonding time for Selina and me!" Nora clung to Selina, glaring at Trevon as if he were a romantic rival.

Trevon raised an eyebrow, giving Selina a questioning look that implied, "What sorcery did you perform on Nora?"

Selina shrugged nonchalantly.

Trevon smoothly picked up Nora—despite her protests—settled her down, and then helped Selina into the car. He closed the door, signaled the driver, and they departed, the whole sequence as effortless as a well-rehearsed dance. Nora stood there, stunned, until the car was a distant speck. Then she sprinted into the street, yelling, "Hey Trevon! You're seriously leaving me here? Really!"

Selina, surprised, looked at Nora. "You're really going to ditch your sister?"

"She'll be fine; she's a grown-up," Trevon said, a hint of possessiveness in his voice. "Someone will look after her."

Selina relaxed. Nora had the Brady name, and Trevon's actions clearly demonstrated a comfortable sibling dynamic, devoid of any soap opera-style drama. Trevon wasn't one to readily display affection; he kept such emotions close to his chest.