Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 423

Chapter 423 The Melody of Memory

The two took their seats.

Finished

There were very few guests in the entire establishment; it was clear the restaurant had been reserved for a private party.

When the waiter presented the menu, Tatiana didn’t take it. “Give it to him. Since I’m paying, order whatever you like.”

Jasper didn’t refuse and began to order. However, every dish he selected was tailored to her specific tastes. He remembered every detail perfectly.

Tatiana forced herself to ignore it, focusing only on finishing the meal as quickly as possible so she could put some distance between them again. With that thought in mind, she remained mostly silent, counting down the minutes.

Once the delicacies were served, she kept her head down and ate, until his voice drifted across the table.

“How are Ann and Hubert doing lately?”

Since he was asking about the children, she couldn’t simply ignore him; after all, he was still their father. She gave a brief update on their recent activities. Upon hearing that the children had made new friends, a faint smile touched Jasper’s lips.

“They are happy with you. Far happier than they were with me.”

He knew the children preferred their mother, and he knew she needed them just as much. As long as they were doing well, he could endure the loneliness.

Tatiana looked up slowly, noting the dark circles under his eyes. During the time they had spent apart, he clearly hadn’t been taking care of himself.

Her lips softened, and she found herself talking more, sharing several amusing anecdotes about the children. Gradually, the atmosphere grew lighter. He seemed to truly be there just for the meal, with no intention of trying to take the children away. She began to relax.

Midway through the meal, a violinist began to play, the beautiful/music filling the air. Tatiana froze. She realized the piece being played was one of her own compositions. For a moment, she felt lost. It felt as if her peaceful life as a composer was a lifetime away.

Noticing her dazed expression, Jasper asked softly, “Want to give it a try?”

He gestured toward the grand piano sitting in the corner of the restaurant. She looked at it, offered a self- deprecating smile, and stood up. She walked over and sat down.

She rested her hands on the black and white keys, paused for a moment, and then began to play. There was no set structure; she simply played whatever came to mind. The elegant melody poured from her fingertips. She was utterly focused, a faint smile on her profile. She was immersed in the music, radiating a light that drew his gaze and held it captive. He couldn’t even bring himself to blink.

Outside the restaurant’s massive floor–to–ceiling windows, passersby couldn’t help but stop and look. An elegant, beautiful woman playing the piano while a handsome man in a black suit sat opposite her–the

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Chapter 423 The Melody of Memory

scene was so aesthetically pleasing that people began to whisper.

“Are they filming a movie? They’re stunning!”

“The chemistry is incredible!”

50

Finished

“The music is so beautiful! What song is that?”

When the piece ended, before Tatiana could even stand, a round of applause broke out. She startled and turned to see a crowd had gathered outside the window. They were clapping for her.

She gave a genuine smile and, on a whim, stood and gave a deep, formal bow to her audience. She realized that during those few minutes immersed in the music, her chronic headache had actually eased.

Jasper walked over. “A new composition?”

“Yes.”

She closed her eyes, replaying the spontaneous melody in her head, arranging the notes and committing them to memory. Her fingers began to tap a rhythm out on the table instinctively.

The meal ended on a pleasant note; she had even walked away with a new piece of music. When it was time to part, Jasper suggested going somewhere else for a drink, but she declined immediately.

“I have things to do. I’ll see you next time.” Her tone was dismissive.

“When is next time?” he persisted.

She didn’t give him a straight answer. “Next time is next time.” She climbed into her car and closed the door without a backward glance.

As the car sped away, Jasper stood on the sidewalk, his eyes dark as he watched her disappear.

Tatiana didn’t expect their next meeting to come quite so soon.

Following Dr. Xander’s list, she prepared for her second task: skydiving. An extreme sport.

She had a bit of a headache just thinking about it and had personally asked Dr. Xander if this was strictly necessary. She was, after all, a bit afraid of heights. But Dr. Xander had merely told her tonelessly, “It is. This is a mandatory requirement.”

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