Chapter 1681


    Shortly after Vermont’s departure, Felicity found herself alone in the empty apartment. She felt an


    indescribable emptiness in her heart. Her emotions had shifted from anger upon learning the truth to a


    current state of bewilderment.


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    Seeking sce, she decided to call Ste.


    Ste had just finished attending a concert with Marshall featuring a well-known orchestra from abroad.


    Despite Marshall’s enthusiastic introduction of the group, Ste could not recall their name.


    The music was beautiful, and the concert hall’s acoustics were impressive.


    However, Ste struggled to discern anything special beyond that. Marshall noticed her constant nods


    to the music and realized that something was amiss.


    In a low voice, he asked, “Do you not like the music?”


    Ste shook her head. “It’s not that I don’t like it; I just don’t know how to appreciate it like you do.”


    Marshall paused for a moment and whispered, “I’m sorry. I thought you’d like this since you y the


    piano.”


    “I learned to y the piano because my family forced me to. I don’t really like ying it. When I was


    younger, I pretended to be sick to skip sses. In order to make my mom give up on forcing me to


    learn the piano, I intentionally injured my hand, iming that it was a piano practice injury.


    “But my mom thought that it was due to the quality of the piano at school. So, she used the money she


    saved for a car to buy me a piano. It cost over a hundred thousand dors. The salesperson told her


    that a famous pianist was using the same brand. They said that if I practiced for over ten hours a day, I


    would be better at it. My mom believed them and extended my daily piano lessons from two hours


    to four.”


    Marshall could not help but chuckle when he heard that.


    “It’s not funny. I’m telling you the truth,” Ste said earnestly.


    Marshall responded warmly, “I don’t find it funny. I just feel sorry for you.


    However, it’s impressive that you could y the piano so well despite disliking it.”


    ‘That’s because you’ve only heard that one piece I’m good at. Meanwhile, Keegan had to endure all the


    other torturous pieces I’ve yed,’thought Ste.


    When the concert hall emptied out, Marshall proposed Ste to go up on stage and y the piano.


    “What?”


    Don’t you want to experience how it feels to y in a venue that can fit thousands of people?”


    But, it’s the orchestra’s instrument. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to use it?”


    “We just need to ask for their permission,” Marshall said, as he grabbed her hand before she could


    respond.


    Ste tried to pull away, but then she noticed a glint of light shing from somewhere in the venue. She


    froze and allowed Marshall to guide her onto the stage.


    Only one person remained on the stage, packing up the instruments. Marshall approached them and


    engaged in a brief conversation in Deutsianian. After getting the person’s approval, he called out to


    Ste toe over.


    As Ste approached, Marshall exined, “I told them it’s your birthday today and asked if we could


    borrow the piano to y a piece as a celebration.”


    Ste was surprised. “And, they agreed?”


    No. I told them I’d pay, and they allowed it.”


    Marshall’s reply left Ste speechless.


    “There’s no need to spend your money like that,” she said