Chapter 455

Afternoon. Jane and Vivienne wheeled Walter over to the open-air stage in the Smith family courtyard. While Jane and Vivienne went to prepare Bryan, Harold, Mina, and Rosalia stayed by Walter's side. After Jane left, Walter’s kind gaze lingered on Bryan. His lips trembled several times as if he wanted to say something, but each time, he held back. Remembering Vivienne's words—that their eldest brother, John, had no intention of acknowledging them—he swallowed down all the questions burning in his heart. Soon, the clear, melodious notes of a flute rose from the stage, followed by the harmonious accompaniment of other instruments. In an instant, the audience’s attention was drawn to the performance. Vivienne stepped onto the stage in a flowing red opera costume, adorned with cloud-like shoulder drapes and a jade-belted skirt. Though age had long since stolen the grace of her youth, her delicate makeup and the elegance of her movements—her expressive eyes, the turn of her wrist—still carr