Chapter 3

The next evening, Avery arrived at the concert hall right on time. Lara's piano was set in the most prominent spot on the stage. Avery kept quiet, assuming Lara was just rehearsing. After all, it was her concert. There was no way Lara would try to upstage her. However, the piano stayed in place until the performance began. When Avery moved to confront Lara, someone locked her inside the makeup room. By the time she was finally released, the concert was nearly over. Without further delay, Avery signaled for her cello to be brought onstage. But the moment she stepped forward, the audience greeted her with jeers. "We want our money back!" "Give us a refund!" The crowd's jeers cut deep, each shout feeling like a blow to Avery's heart. Amid the noise, her eyes fell on the empty seat reserved for Elijah. The concert she had poured her heart and soul into was ruined in an instant. Avery's heart ached for her disappointed fans. Surrounded by her bodyguards, she made her way through the hostile crowd and finally reached the safety of her home. The moment she opened the door, darkness swallowed the room, and an icy chill filled the air. Elijah sat on the couch, his eyes dark and bottomless like an abyss. Anyone who knew him well could see the storm of fury within. The smart ones knew better than to get too close. "Did you go through my stuff?" he asked. Avery didn't hesitate. She simply nodded, owning up to it. Elijah froze for a moment before letting out a bitter laugh. "Whatever. It's time you understood your place. You're nothing but a pawn in this marriage. You'll never hold a candle to Lara." Avery met his gaze without a word. Elijah frowned, sensing something unusual. But before he could ask, the master bedroom door clicked open. Rubbing her eyes, Lara stepped out. She was dressed in Avery's pajamas. Avery had long believed that growing up as an heir had made Elijah cold and unfeeling. Even when she was bedridden, he threw parties at home like it was business as usual. Back then, she had stumbled out in a daze, only to be met with his cold, dismissive remark. "What does this have to do with me?" But now, the entire house was silent, each person mindful not to wake Lara. Not even the lights were allowed to be turned on. Elijah waved his hand idly, deliberately egging Avery on. "Lara's staying for dinner tonight. Make sure it's ready." But to his surprise, Avery didn't react with anger or embarrassment. Without a word, she rose and made her way to the kitchen. As he watched her retreating figure, Elijah rubbed his fingers unconsciously. That strange, familiar feeling was creeping back to him. Even though he had brought Lara home, Avery continued to cook without complaint or bitterness. The depth of her love was undeniable. Compared to her selflessness, Elijah's feelings for Lara barely held weight. In the kitchen, Avery moved confidently, washing and chopping ingredients like it was second nature. It was hard to imagine she had once been a sheltered young lady who never assisted around the house. "Let me help you, Avery," Lara chimed in. Before Avery could react, the knife was ripped from her hand. Lara's smile lingered for a heartbeat. In a sudden motion, she brought the blade toward herself. Blood soon trickled from her fair arm. Out of nowhere, a sudden force sent the knife flying from Lara's hand. It grazed Avery's cheek before embedding itself in the wall. Her heart skipped a beat. Pain flared across her face, followed by the warm trickle of blood. When Elijah finally noticed her, a surge of guilt passed through his eyes. "I'm sorry, honey… I didn't mean to." But before Avery could say a word, Lara spoke. "Eli, I only wanted to help Avery cook, but she…" Lara didn't finish. Her uneasy expression said everything. The guilt in Elijah's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, menacing glare. "Did you do it on purpose? Did you try to hurt Lara?" Before Avery could answer, Elijah brought the knife out from behind him. His eyes narrowed, and his tongue pressed tightly against his back teeth. "All Lara did was perform a few pieces at your concert. How could you go so far as to injure her in revenge?" Avery shook her head firmly. "It wasn't me. She's the one who hurt herself." Elijah sneered. "Lara is a pianist, for crying out loud. She cherishes her hands above all else. How am I supposed to believe she'd harm herself?" Avery lifted her chin defiantly, locking eyes with him. "It was her own doing," she repeated. Taking a deep breath, she added, "I'm a cellist. If I told you I'd be willing to hurt my own hands, would you believe me?" While Avery didn't care if Elijah misunderstood her, she would not allow herself to be falsely accused. Elijah froze, taken aback by her defiance. "You—" Before he could continue, Avery seized the knife and slashed her palm. Blood poured out immediately, spreading across the floor. A flicker of emotion crossed Elijah's eyes. Just as he reached out to stop her, Lara spoke. "Avery, why would you hurt yourself just to get back at me?" The moment the words left her lips, Elijah's face hardened. The knife wavered in Avery's hand. She closed her eyes, despair washing over her. Her strength ebbed away under the pain, pulling her into the grip of unconsciousness. Elijah's cold, indifferent voice reached her just before the darkness closed in. "If you hadn't been imitating Lara so well, do you really think I would have even noticed you?"