Chapter 116
“You will lose me simply because something went wrong between us, and so I chose a new way of life.” I said calmly, “and thus has nothing to do with anyone else.”
His eyes searched mine, filled with remorse. “I know that now. I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I was a fool.”
His words were very sincere, but they could not repair the rift within me.
At this time, Rolin appeared at my side. He put his hand on my shoulder and gently but firmly soothed me.
He whispered in my ear, “Elizabeth, it’s your turn on stage in a minute.”
The memory of why I was at the gala snapped back into focus.
I had been invited to perform, to play the piano for a room full of dignitaries and guests, all celebrating the fragile peace between our two worlds.
I turned my back on the crowded room, forcing myself to head backstage, where the familiar sight of the piano waited for me.
My heart thudded in my chest, a mix of nerves and unresolved tension swirling within me.
As I walked, I felt his presence before I saw him.
Leo, standing just out of sight, watching me with those piercing eyes that always seemed to see through every mask I wore.
I spotted him the moment Rolin stepped into view.
Leo’s gaze darkened, and I could feel the jealousy and anger rolling off him in waves.
Yet, he kept it in check, his jaw tightening as he fought to suppress the storm raging inside him.
Without a word, Leo closed the distance between us.
He grabbed my arm gently but firmly, pulling me close.
I could feel his breath against my ear as he leaned in, his voice low and intense.
“When you get off stage, come to the outdoor garden. There’s something I want to give you.”
His grip lingered on my arm for a moment before he let go, his eyes searching mine as if trying to read my thoughts.
I didn’t offer a response, just pulled my arm out of his grasp and ignored the desperate look in his eyes before turr and heading backstage, intending to sort myself out a little more before the show.
Before I left, I heard him say, “I’ll be waiting.”
The stage was lit softly, the piano gleaming under the lights.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I approached the instrument that had always been my refuge.
way
As I settled onto the bench, my fingers lightly brushing the keys, I could feel the weight of Leo’s gaze on me from somewhere in
the crowd.
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It was a heat that I couldn’t ignore, burning into me with an intensity that made my pulte quicken.
The first note rang out, clear and pure, and for a moment, everything else fell away.
The music nowed through me, my fingers dancing over the keys as if they had a life of their own.
Each note carried the emotions I couldn’t express, the turmoil I couldn’t
voice.
It was a melody of longing, of pain, of love that had been tested and found wanting.
As I played, I let myself get lost in the music, shutting out the world around me.
The audience, the gala, even Leo–they all faded into the background.
The piano was my only companion, the only thing that understood the depth of what I was feeling.
But even as I tried to escape, I couldn’t shake the awareness of Leo watching me, his presence a constant reminder of the conversation waiting for us.
The final note lingered In the air, the sound echoing in the silence that followed.
The applause that erupted felt distant, almost unreal, as I stood and gave a polite bow before exiting the stage.
My heart was still racing, but it wasn’t from the performance.
It was from the thought of what waited for me in the garden.
Instead of heading straight there, I found myself wandering through the ballroom, grabbing a glass of wine from a passing
waiter.
I sipped it slowly, letting the alcohol dull the edges of my thoughts.
Did I really want to go?
Could I face him, knowing how much had changed between us?
The answer wasn’t clear, and so I let the minutes slip by, lingering as the party slowly wound down and the guests began to disperse.
Eventually, I couldn’t avoid it any longer.
I made my way to the outdoor garden, the cool night air a welcome relief from the warmth of the ballroom.
The garden was a peaceful oasis, the soft glow of fairy lights twinkling in the trees, casting a gentle light over the manicured hedges and flower beds.
A river ran alongside the garden, its surface reflecting the lights like a mirror, adding to the tranquility
⚫ scene.
And there, by the riverbank, stood Leo. His broad figure was silhouetted against the night sky, and when he saw me, a small smile of relief softened the usual coldness in his expression.
It was a look that made my heart ache, reminding me of the man I had once loved so deeply.
“I’m glad you came,” he said as I approached.
I stopped a few feet away from him, crossing my arms as if to protect myself from the vulnerability his presence always
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Chapter 116
brought out in me.
“What do you want. Leo?”
