59 Discordant Notes at the Crescendo

In the grand Crescendo Opera House, Lily sat uncomfortably beside Michael, his intense gaze unsettling her. She leaned in, whispering urgently, "Michael, my friend Diana expects me at a concert tonight. She'll be devastated if she sees us together." Michael's response was perplexed. "Why not be honest with her? She could join us." Lily grappled with her emotions, her secret marriage to Michael weighing heavily on her. Revealing it would expose her to his dangerous world, a risk she couldn't afford to take. "Nobody knows about our marriage," she confessed quietly. Michael's expression darkened, pained by her evident shame. "As you wish," he muttered, returning his focus to the stage. The concert atmosphere was charged with tension, mirroring the unease between Lily and Michael. The bodyguards sensed their boss's mood shift, reflecting on how a single woman could so dramatically affect him. As the concert began, Lily's fears materialized. Diana arrived, sitting further bac