Chapter4

I didn’t expect Amy to be there too. The moment she saw me, her brows immediately furrowed. “Chuck! Why is she here?” “She angered you yesterday—wouldn’t it be better to keep her around and torment her?” Chuck smiled. “But I don't want to see her!” “Darling, you're the only one in my heart.” I tried my best to make myself as invisible as possible, feeling like I could just crawl under the car and disappear. The car stopped at an exclusive club. All the eyes followed me inside, filled with curiosity and disdain as I walked in. There were already quite a few people sitting in the private room, all of whom were celebrities in the business world. “Mr. Carter! And who is this?” someone asked before Chuck could speak. Amy clung to his arm, smiling. “Chuck's new assistant. A bit inexperienced, be kind.” A whistle cut the air. “Mr. Carter has impeccable taste, even in assistants.” My palms were sweating as I clenched them, but I could only lower my head, pretending not to hear. Once everyone was seated, the waiters began serving dishes. I stood behind Chuck, ready to attend to him at any moment. He raised his glass, smiling at the crowd. “Allow me to introduce Beth Scott. Six years ago... she was also my companion.” The air thickened with implication. I knew he was doing this on purpose—deliberately bringing up six years ago, deliberately making others misunderstand my relationship with him. “Companion?” a portly man chuckled. “Lost interest, did you?” Chuck glanced at me, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “With Amy, who else could compare?” Amy tittered. “Beth was quite the prodigy at the Conservatory, you know. Such a pity, what happened later...” She left it hanging, but the mockery in her eyes was plain for all to see. My nails dug into my palms, a taste of blood filling my mouth. “If she's a prodigy, she must play!” another guest called out. “There's a piano right here! Let's hear her!” The room erupted in agreement. I looked at Chuck. He was sipping his wine slowly and deliberately, as if the matter had nothing to do with him. “I don't play anymore,” I said quietly. “Don't play?” Amy feigned shock. “But six years ago, your Moonlight Sonata at the freshman welcome was stunning! Surely you haven't forgotten in six years?” She walked to the piano, lifting the lid. “Just think of it as entertaining us.” I stood rooted to the spot, my whole body rigid. Six years. I hadn't touched a piano. Every time I saw one, memories would flood back: that fateful afternoon when everything fell apart, my parents’ disappointed stares, the disdain in my classmates’ eyes. “What? Your can not bear to let others hear you play?” Chuck finally spoke, his voice icy. I took a deep breath and walked to the piano, sitting down. My hands hovered over the keys, trembling slightly. As my fingers descended, I was back on that stage. Spotlights, the hushed crowd, my parents' pride in the front row. Chuck smiling from the wings. But when the music started, it was nothing like the smooth, melodious tune of that day. It was halting, fragmented, riddled with mistakes. The harder I tried to play well, the more my fingers refused to obey. “Hmph, so you really have forgotten how to play.” Amy let out a scoff. I slammed my hands down, standing. “I apologize. I can't.” “Useless,” Chuck muttered, his voice not high but the word reached me clearly. I turned to leave, but his hand shot out, gripping my wrist painfully. “Who said you could go?” he stared at me. “Sit. Play. Until you get it right.” Tears finally fell. I sat, playing Moonlight Sonata over and over. I don’t know how many times I played—until the sky grew dark, the guests had all left, and only Chuck and I remained in the private room. At last, the piano notes flowed smoothly, carrying an indescribable tinge of sorrow. When the final note faded, I stood up and looked at him. “Are you satisfied, Mr. Carter?” “Worthless.” Chuck’s voice hit like shards of ice. He tossed his suit jacket onto the couch, his gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses lingering on me like I was some dusty, forgotten relic. “Six years without touching a piano, and your fingers have already atrophied?” My knees felt stiff and achingly sore as I stood. “If you want smooth playing, Mr. Carter, you can hire a professional pianist. Someone as worthless as me is probably only fit to pour your tea and fetch your water.” “At least you’ve got self-awareness.” He circled around to face me, his fingertips suddenly clamping down on the spot between my shoulder blades—where, beneath the skin, his name was still etched. “But this bears my name. You’ll never escape me.” A sharp pain crawled up my spine. I wrenched free, glaring at him. “Don’t forget, Mr. Carter—you were the one who turned that name into a brand of shame. Now you’re touching it? Doesn’t that disgust you?” His face darkened instantly, and he reached for my hair. Just then, my phone erupted in violent vibrations. It was the hospital’s number. My heart stopped. I shoved him away and answered, the nurse’s panicked voice spilling through: “Ms. Scott! Your grandmother just went into shock! The doctors are rushing to save her...” “What? I’m on my way!” I grabbed my bag and bolted for the door, but Chuck’s grip on my wrist locked tight. Fury blazed red in his eyes. “You dare leave without my permission?” “Let go of me!” I all but screamed, tears mixing with desperation as they splashed onto the back of his hand. “My grandmother is dying! If you have an ounce of humanity, Chuck Carter, you’ll get out of my way!” Amy frowned, her tone haughty. “Your grandmother dying is none of our—” “Anyone who stops me today, I’ll kill them!” Chuck must’ve been startled by the madness in my eyes; his hold slackened for a split second. I tore free, stumbling out of the club in my heels. Hailing a taxi, I noticed a long tear in the hem of my dress, and a bleeding gash on my calf from the struggle. But Amy blocked my way at the door, watching me with that same superior sneer. “Move.” “Beth Scott, back then, whatever I said, Chuck believed. A few tears in front of him, and you lost your spot in school. You really think you can outmatch me?” I shoved her hard, hiking up my dress to run. “Your man? I couldn’t care less.” Amy fell to the floor, spitting mad. “Six years ago, I ruined your reputation. Six years later, if you dare show your face around Chuck again, I’ll do it—Chuck...” Chuck emerged from the elevator, his face pale. I didn’t stop to think, just kept running. The whole ride, I begged the driver to go faster, faster.