Chapter 515
Brielle’s violin solo continued to weave through the air, now even more enchanting without the accompaniment of the piano. A sudden shift in the melody brought a more intense, somber aura to the hall.
Alivia and Tessa bit their lips so hard they turned pale as sheets.
Max stood amidst the crowd, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he watched Brielle play. Jaired, standing beside him, narrowed his eyes in thought, but everyone shared one notion: Brielle was utterly captivating. Her complexion and aura were gentle, yet the music she drew from her violin spilled out like quicksilver, sharp and piercing. It cut through the silence like a visitor from death itself.
It was hard to imagine a woman possessed of such intensity.
When the last note faded, Brielle lowered her violin and flashed a coy smile at the socialites who looked on with grim expressions. “Pardon my little performance.”
Tessa remained seated at the piano, lips quivering, unable to utter a single coherent word. She wanted to faint right there and then, but that would only make her the laughingstock of the evening. Her fists clenched, slick with sweat.
Alivia also remained silent, her fingernails digging into her palms, wishing she could slap Brielle’s smug face.
Such a show–off.
The silence hung heavy as the other ladies refrained from any further criticism of Brielle, but neither could they bring themselves to compliment her, resulting in an awkward atmosphere. Then Jaired stepped in with a smile. “There’s a meteor shower at nine o’clock tonight, and we’ve got the best view right here. Why don’t we all step outside and take a look? If we miss it, we’ll have to wait another year.”
His words presented a graceful exit for the ladies. Unable to praise Brielle and eager to leave, they took the opportunity to watch the meteor shower as a convenient excuse.”
The crowd rose, their faces a mix of relief and embarrassment.
“Oh yes, I almost forgot about the meteor shower.”
“It’s almost time, let’s not dally.”
One by one, they left the hall.
Jaired glanced at Alivia and couldn’t resist placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Alivia trembled, her gaze catching Brielle approaching Max.
Max set his wine glass on a passing waiter’s tray and, with a brazen hand at the back of her head, pulled Brielle into a kiss.
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Chapter 515
Shock flitted across Brielle’s eyes as she noticed the other men freeze, some even dropding their glasses. Her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, heart racing. Max kissed her in front of all these people. The blush on her cheeks deepened,
The other men, already stunned by Max’s public display of affection, were left in disbelief.
Max, who rarely attended such events and never with a date, was not only present but also kissing a woman. It seemed he was declaring to all, this was his significant other, not some fleeting arm candy, but a genuine girlfriend.
With the many eyes upon them, Max’s kiss was brief and gentle. Their lips just touched. But even such a fleeting moment was fraught with intimacy, turning the cheeks of the socialites who witnessed it red with envy.
Alivia’s whole body shook, her heart was heavy with humiliation, and her eyes were red with unshed tears.
Brielle, you bitch!
Tessa, still seated at the piano, was pale as a ghost. Her music had faltered and failed to keep up with Brielle’s performance. Her scalp tingled with rage, and she felt so weak with hatred that she nearly fainted.
Seeing the couple’s blatant affection, Tessa clenched her fists in frustration. She longed to find Andrew for some solace, but Andrew was nowhere to be seen in the crowd. Did he think she was an embarrassment? Did he regret bringing her?
Tessa’s resentment soared, her gaze venomously fixed on Brielle.
Max had already released Brielle, his hand sliding from her hair to pat her back. “You played beautifully.”
He adored her confidence in public, the subtle menace in her music, and most of all, the way she blushed like a bunny when she faced him.
