Chapter 513


    Alivia felt the sting of the remark as if she’d been pped across the face. Her chest heaved with


    barely contained emotion.


    The societydies who had just been showing off their Italian were now flushed with embarrassment.


    They had intended to make Brielle the butt of their joke, mocking her with anguage they thought she


    couldn’t understand. To their chagrin, Brielle’s Italian was even more fluent than theirs.


    The atmosphere turned awkward; the moment they had spoken, they had be the jesters of the


    evening.


    Brielle wasn’t about to let Alivia off the hook. “Ms. Alivia, don’t you understand Italian?” she asked, her


    voice tinged with nonchnce.


    The question cornered Alivia. Admitting she understood meant she knew the other women were


    ridiculing her, when she told Brielle they weed her. iming ignorance would suggest that she was


    less cultured than Brielle, who had mastered thenguage. Having presented herself as gracious and


    friendly towards Brielle all evening, choosing the former would expose Alivia’s duplicity to everyone.


    Suppressing the turmoil within, Alivia managed a strained smile. “I really don’t understand. Did they say


    something unpleasant?” Her gaze swept innocently over the other guests, while the instigators avoided


    her eyes, shifting ufortably.


    Barely holding back her rage, which felt like a taste of blood in her mouth, Alivia addressed the crowd.


    “Brielle’s not out often, and we rarely gather like this. This evening isn’t just a wee party for Jaired;


    it’s also the first time Brielle’s been at a social event like this.”


    She looked at Tessa, who was ring daggers at Brielle. From the moment Tessa had seen Brielle, her


    mood had plummeted. Her eyes met Alivia’s, and without words, they agreed that Brielle must be


    humiliated tonight.


    At Alivia’s cue, Tessa rose, her face pale but flushed with excitement at the thought of Brielle’s


    impending disgrace. Unaware that Alivia had easily manipted her emotions. Tessa was out of her


    depth against such cunning.


    She approached the grand piano and casually asked, “Alivia, may I? I’ve heard this is a collector’s


    pride. I’ve been practicing a piece recently, and seeing this piano makes me want to give it a go. Ms.


    Brielle, you wouldn’t mind apanying me, would you?”


    Tessa, having been sheltered, must have honed other skills. She yed the piano beautifully and was


    sure Brielle, an orphaned girl whoter joined the Haywood family, couldn’tpare. After all, would


    the Haywoods have ever provided her with a proper education?


    Nodding. Alivia said, “Of course, this piano was indeed in a gallery before being brought here for a


    private concert.”


    Tessa’s smile grew as she turned to Brielle. “Ms. Brielle, you y, don’t you? Since it’s our first


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    Chapter 513


    time at such a gathering, let’s rx with some music.”


    Relieved, the otherdies were ready to settle scores.


    “Right, it’s just a casual get–together among friends. If you’re practicing, Brielle, why not join in?”


    “Surely, you can y the piano? Our tutors were world–ss.”


    “Don’t pick on her, guys. She probably doesn’t even know the make of this piano.”


    As the chatter continued, Alivia finally found some sce in their words. She turned to Brielle, feigning


    kindness. “If you’re not up to it, I could assist Tessa. She loves ying, and now she’s just inspired.”


    These women were born into privilege, well–versed in the arts. They had always enjoyed the finest,


    which was their fortune, but it was wrong for them to trample on those less fortunate.


    Alivia, ever gentle, took hold of Brielle’s arm. “Brielle, it’s okay if you can’t y. I’ll help Tessa.”


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    Chapter 514