Chapter 4

On the concert stage, a familiar figure, wearing a mask, elegantly sat at the piano.

And around her neck was my mother's necklace!

Under the expectant gaze of the audience, Seraphina's graceful fingers lifted, pressing down on the first note.

"No!"

I tried to shout for her to stop.

But the venue was too large; my voice couldn't reach far enough.

By the time I rushed to the VIP seating, someone suddenly stood up.

"What song is that?! Don't you know the composer of that melody promoted hateful ideologies?!"

"Eleanor Vance was a celebrated humanitarian composer, a symbol of peace! You're playing music by a composer known for hate speech – what does that mean?!"

"This is a concert to honor Eleanor Vance! As her daughter, you're not playing her classic compositions, but instead a controversial melody – what are your intentions?!"

Audience members started standing up.

If it weren't for security holding them back, they would have likely stormed the stage by now.

Seraphina stood up, startled.

I could almost imagine the terrified expression beneath her mask.

Julian rose from the VIP seating, giving a few quick instructions to his bodyguards.

The next second, the furious crowd was held back by Julian's men, five meters from the stage.

He, meanwhile, escorted Seraphina backstage.

I pushed aside the backstage curtain.

"Seraphina!"

Without a word, I lunged for her neck.

But a hand firmly grabbed my wrist.

"Let go!"

I desperately tried to get to Seraphina, when Julian's voice came from above me:

"Have you made enough of a scene?!

"Seraphina doesn't mind you taking *her* place in my life, yet you're constantly targeting her! What's wrong with you?!

"She's not asking for anything valuable, just a simple apology and a cheap necklace! This concert might be insignificant to you, but it's *her dream*!

"Can't you have a heart?!"

"Slap!"

My hand landed hard on his face.

"Julian, darling!"

Seraphina shrieked and threw herself at him.

Julian looked at me in disbelief. "You... hit me?"

I was breathing heavily.

"First, this is a concert to honor my mother.

"Second, that necklace is the Vance family's legacy! Only I, a Vance, have the right to wear it!"

Julian flinched.

But Seraphina burst into tears.

"Aurora, you're lying! Why aren't you usually celebrating, but suddenly you are now that it's almost my birthday and I want to hold a concert?

"You just look down on me, you don't want me to achieve my dreams! You could have just said so, I would have stepped aside! Why lay a hand on Julian, darling?!"

She cried even harder after that.

I was furious and about to speak, but the organizer's voice from outside interrupted me.

"Excuse me, everyone, that's not Ms. Vance's daughter at all; our staff made a mistake. Please, calm down."

"Impossible!"

The angry voices of the audience roared through the microphone across the venue.

"She's wearing the Vance family heirloom around her neck! I recognized it immediately!"

"Exactly! Who else but a Vance would have that necklace?!"

"Unless you bring out the *real* one, we won't believe you! Do you dare? Do you dare?!"

The organizer was extremely flustered.

"We're coordinating, we're coordinating right now..."

"Julian, darling!"

Seraphina shrank into Julian's arms.

I glared at him.

"Julian, make her go out there."

"Julian, darling..."

Seraphina's tears fell instantly.

She pressed even closer to Julian.

"Julian!"

I gritted my teeth. "This is entirely her fault!"

Julian paused.

He raised his hand.

And took off Seraphina's necklace.

"Aurora, switch outfits with her."

I thought I'd misheard.

"You... you want me to admit that I played *that* song?"

Julian gave a silent affirmation.

"My mother was a humanitarian composer! How could I play that kind of music?!

"It's Seraphina's poor judgment and lack of understanding! What does that have to do with me?!"

"Seraphina was just careless for a moment!"

Julian raised his voice.

He pulled Seraphina closer.

"She's not a trained musician; her knowledge of composers isn't as extensive as yours. You can't be so harsh on her.

"I promise you, just this once. After this, I'll marry you."

"I refuse!"

With that, I strode forward, trying to snatch the necklace.

But Julian was too tall.

He easily dodged me, extending the necklace out the window.

"No!"