Chapter 514
Her smile was as tender as a spring morning, but the words that slipped through those lips were as fake as a three–dollar bill.
Brielle’s silence spoke volumes, prompting a knowing glance between Alivia and Tessa, both shimmering with smug satisfaction. How could a woman who couldn’t even play chopsticks on the piano have caught Max’s eye? It seemed unfathomable. She could only hold someone’s attention for so long before being tossed aside like last season’s fashion.
That was the collective thought buzzing around the room. A few snickers broke out among the crowd.
However, Brielle stood up amidst the laughter and piercing stares, exuding a calm that seemed to quiet the room. “What can I do for you, Ms. Tessa?”
When Brielle spoke, Tessa’s brow furrowed into a frown, her voice laced with mockery. “Play a duet with me. Either we do a four–hand performance on the piano, or perhaps, Ms. Brielle, you’d like to sing us a song instead?”
The insinuation was clear. Was she insinuating that Brielle was some kind of entertainer, there to sing for her supper?
might play? If it turned out to be something Brielle didn’t know, she’d be caught in a trap, her embarrassment serving as
the men continued
in with feigned concern, “Brielle, if you’re not up for
yourself.”
join Tessa for the duet, but Brielle had
the strings, the music
chances
instruments. Alivia had mentioned an upcoming mini–concert for the
a nightingale in the still of the night,
composure shaken. Alivia’s expression also soured; her fingers curled
1/2
13:02
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!