The entire hall fell silent for a full three seconds. Then, like a fuse had been lit, the place erupted in a frenzy of shock and disbelief.
Karin glanced at Peter, who looked as calm as ever, and suddenly understood.
“Oh, so you knew Niamh was BYC all along?”
Peter just shrugged and smiled.
Of course he knew.
He was the one who’d first discovered Niamh’s talent back in college.
Elmer was another rare exception—he didn’t seem the least bit surprised either.
He’d figured it out on his own.
The first time he saw the “Piano” collection, he guessed the designer had to be Niamh. Who else could have blended the lines of a grand piano and a set of wheels, and turned the theme of brokenness into something so striking? Niamh was the only one who came to mind.
That’s why, when he’d returned with a gift for her, he’d chosen the brand-new Grand Piano Collection music box—he knew Niamh had designed it.
Niamh had never planned to reveal her identity as BYC during this restoration competition. But with Marina and Susy pushing her into a corner, she decided to go with the flow.
She’d kept her identity secret, mostly because of Elmer.
The inspiration for her “Piano” series had come from Elmer’s accident—when he’d crashed on the way to her piano competition and ended up in a coma. The pain and guilt had been too much. She couldn’t face the reality of Elmer lying unresponsive in a hospital bed, nor could she bear to touch the piano she once loved.
So, she poured her grief and frustration into design.
She spent years developing her signature hidden seamless inlay technique—just to bring her vision to life.
She never expected her work and craft to become such an overnight sensation, winning acclaim from both the industry and the public.
But the more popular her designs became, the less she wanted to claim BYC’s fame. It felt wrong—profiting from inspiration born from Elmer’s suffering, while he lay lost somewhere between life and death.
But now, that hesitation was gone.
Because Elmer had woken up. He was here, by her side.
Niamh turned instinctively, locking eyes with Elmer.
She knew, without words, that he understood.
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