Chapter 197
“What’s the deal? Where’s the planist?” A slight hiccup unfolded at the wedding venue.
Such high–profile weddings were supposed to be flawless.
But the pianist they had booked was none other than a renowned maestro, and now, due to an unforeseen heart attack, he had been rushed to the hospital,
“What do we do? Does anyone here know how to play the piano? It’s too late to find someone now. The couple is about to walk through here, under a shower of rose petals. It won’t be the same without live piano music…”
As anxiety spread among the crowd, the guests looked bewildered,
The attendees were business moguls, celebrities, and fashion icons, mostly tagging along with the industry’s heavy hitters.
But the complexity of the piano piece was daunting, and nobody wanted to botch the wedding – playing a coherent piece from sight–reading was no easy task.
The bride was visibly upset as well – the meticulously planned segment was falling apart, and a recording just wouldn’t give her wedding that perfect touch.
“Mind if I give it a shot?” Kristin asked gently, feeling a connection with the bride.
“Are you sure you can handle it? Don’t mess up their big day,” someone skeptically interjected.
“Who is she? Who brought her along?”
“Looks like she’s with Rhett…”
“I’ve heard she’s just an assistant. She knows how to play the piano?”
Kristin didn’t respond. She simply wanted to help the bride.
“I trust you, give it a shot,” said the bride, guiding Kristin to the piano.
Kristin glanced at the sheet music and gently placed her slender fingers on the keys, pressing down with caution.
Something was off with the sound. Kristin stood up to inspect the piano strings.
“The tuning’s a bit off, I’ll fix it,” she murmured.
“Is she for real?”
“Ha… my bet is she doesn’t have a clue and is just making excuses.”
Kristin ignored the murmurs. She had learned how to tune pianos back when she was in a penitentiary.
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After tweaking the strings, she settled back onto the bench.
What the crowd didn’t know was that Kristin was grateful to the Turner family for nurturing her talents before they knew her true identity.
And Kristin was an exceptional talent, blessed not only with an amazing memory, but also a natural knack for the arts.
As her fingers danced across the keys, the crisp sound of the piano filled the air.
Rhett, who was deep in conversation, paused and instinctively turned to look at the piano. Then he saw Kristin play with so much ease and confidence, her inner glow shining through.
Hanson and Felix, too, were stunned by the sight of Kristin.
“She really shines, doesn’t she?” Felix teased Hanson. “Who was it that accused Rhett of being shallow for falling just for Kristin’s looks, saying she was nothing but a pretty face?”
Hanson grunted, his gaze never leaving Kristin.
Indeed, there was a strange magnetism about her that captivated the three brothers.
Hanson had to admit, he was becoming genuinely interested in Kristin.
“Who is she, a singer? She’s with Rhett, right?” the guests murmured among themselves.
“Mommy! That’s my mommy!” Liam exclaimed joyfully, pointing at Kristin.
The crowd was stunned – the mother of the Lewis family’s young heir?
The woman who bore a child for the Lewis family and then vanished?
Impressive… A woman tied to the Lewis family and Rhett was no simple character.
The wedding ended perfectly, with the bride and groom walking slowly to the altar, accompanied by Kristin’s piano music.
FE F = {
Watching the couple, Kristin felt a bittersweet pang in her heart.
It was a lie to say she didn’t envy them. Every women want to walk down the aisle with the man she loves, in the happiest and most beautiful moment of her life.
As the groom kissed the bride, Kristin looked away, fighting back tears.
She doubted she’d ever have a wedding of her own.
Suddenly, Rhett was behind her, enveloping her in his arms. “What other talents are you hiding from me, huh?”
Kristin managed a smile. “None… I just happen to play the piano, that’s all.”
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On? You seem like quite the prodigy… Rhett held Kristin close. “With such a quick learner you should get some tips from Harriet.”
Kristin blushed, replying without thinking, “Why don’t you learn?”
After her words, Kristin felt her legs weaken. She was getting too bold, daring to suggest her benefactor learn such things.
Rhett’s eyes narrowed as he teased, “Are you saying I’m not trying hard enough?”
Kristin stammered in fear, “No, no, I didn’t mean that.”
Rhett chuckled and, taking Kristin’s hand, led her away.
The bride was deeply grateful to Rhett and Kristin, and before leaving, she presented Kristin with a lavish gift.
Kristin was delighted – it was her first time receiving a wedding favor as a guest.
“The bride is so thoughtful,” Kristin remarked, unable to resist peeking at the gifts, all carefully chosen by the bride.
“And what favors do you plan to give at your own wedding?” Rhett asked, playing with her fingers and inspecting her hand.
Her fingers were so delicate; they would need a custom ring design.
Holding Kristin’s ring finger, Rhett sent the measurements and a photo to a renowned jeweler.
“Such beautiful hands,” the jeweler responded in awe.
“She’s the love of my life,” Rhett replied proudly.
“Leave it to me,” the jeweler sent an OK emoji.
“Design drafts within a month. Once I’ve made my choice, produce the rings as soon as possible. I need them for a proposal,” Rhett typed eagerly.
He planned to propose to Kristin officially after announcing their engagement.
“Designing for you will take some time. Give me two months,” the jeweler pleaded.
And so, amidst the whispers and the unexpected turn of events, Kristin’s hidden brilliance was slowly coming to light, weaving into the tapestry of an unforgettable wedding day.
“Asap,” Rhett replied before snapping his phone shut and tossing it to Kristin.
Today, at the wedding, he had seen a longing in Kristin’s eyes that he couldn’t ignore. For reasons unknown to him, whatever Kristin yearned for, he felt an overwhelming urge to provide.
Even if she whimsically wished for the moon and the stars, he’d find a way to lasso them
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down from the heavens.
It was likely, he realized, that he had truly fallen for her.
In the past, Rhett couldn’t fathom what it felt like to love someone.
Love, he discovered, was a biased, boundless preference, a trust that made him want to offer her the best of everything and believe that she deserved all the beauty the world could muster.
Kristin’s past was something he could not mend or be part of, but he wanted to safeguard her future.
Rhett was aware that Kristin had endured much pain, swallowed many grievances; he wanted to heal her scars and bring her joy.
If only Kristin would grant him that chance.
Yet, Rhett was also terrified–terrified of the truth from six years ago…
If it turned out that he was the one from that night, he knew Kristin would flee upon discovering the truth.
