Chapter 72: My First Love
Nathaniel responded to Stella's invitation with an indifferent, "I don't have time." Stella was surprised by his decisive rejection; the memory of his interaction with Cecilia caused her hand to clench involuntarily. Stifling her discomfort, she turned to Cecilia, asking, "Cecilia, will you attend our university reunion after the showcase? Perhaps seeing old classmates might jog your memory."
Nathaniel's gaze also fell upon her. Cecilia, having recently expressed her desire to regain her memory to Nathaniel, found it difficult to refuse Stella and agreed, "All right." After collecting her invitation, she left the office. Seeing Cecilia's attendance, Nathaniel was tempted to join her, eventually agreeing after persistent coaxing from Stella. As Stella observed Nathaniel, her resentment towards Cecilia intensified.
Meanwhile, after leaving Nathaniel's office, Cecilia felt frustrated. She had almost achieved her goal. That evening, as per the invitation, Cecilia's driver took her to the opera house. Upon arrival, she noticed numerous celebrities and media personnel, along with some former classmates. Stella had reserved both the concert hall and exhibition hall; entry was strictly by invitation only. Cecilia, with her invitation in hand, was guided to a vantage point overlooking most of the venue.
Initially, she didn't understand Stella's intentions until, before the performance began, she saw a familiar silhouette. Nathaniel was present, seated in the first row. Cecilia scoffed; whenever faced with Stella, he never truly rejected her. Stella, brimming with satisfaction, was the focus of the media's attention with Nathaniel present. Affluent former classmates, who once looked down on her, now vied for her attention, hoping to get close to Nathaniel. However, Nathaniel's bodyguards prevented this.
From a distance, Cecilia couldn't hear Nathaniel's conversation with his bodyguard, but soon, a bodyguard approached her. "Ms. Smith, our CEO requests your presence." Cecilia complied, instantly becoming the focus of attention. Whispers rippled through the crowd: "Isn't that Cecilia?" "Didn't they say she was dead?" "She's come back from the dead!"
Cecilia sat next to Nathaniel, under the weight of curious stares. "Mr. Rainsworth, why did you summon me? Is there something you need?" Nathaniel's sharp gaze met hers. "Didn't you say you wanted to recover your memory? I'm here to help you." A sense of unease crept over Cecilia under his scrutiny. Fortunately, Stella took the stage.
From the stage, Stella noticed Cecilia sitting with Nathaniel; a fleeting emotion crossed her eyes, quickly masked. Before singing, she spoke slowly, "The song I perform today is new, dedicated to my first love, the only person I've ever loved." Everyone knew she referred to Nathaniel, given Stella's past association with the influential Rainsworth family. The performance, being essentially internal, prompted cheers from some attendees.