The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Ryan, ever the gracious audience, murmured appreciatively, “Wow. That’s amazing.”

Charlotte and William, though they disapproved of Evelyn forcing Nora to perform, still gave slight nods of appreciation at the music.

The piece swept into a brilliant allegro passage, with flashy octaves, leaps, and trills coming one after another. Nora’s fingers flew across the keys, hitting every note with mechanical precision.

The final chord landed with a decisive, resonant clang, and the music stopped abruptly.

Nora’s hands dropped to her sides, trembling faintly. She didn’t rise immediately. Her head was bowed, her shoulders slumping almost imperceptibly.

“Bravo. That was incredible.” Ryan was the first to applaud.

Charlotte offered a sincere compliment, trying to lift the mood. “Truly wonderful. Your hard work really paid off, Nora.”

“Excellent. Well done,” William agreed with a nod.

“Oh my, you’ll give her a big head,” Evelyn replied, practically beaming. “Ethan, you play the piano, too. What did you think of Nora’s performance?” Her gaze landed on the only other pianist at the table, clearly fishing for praise.

Ethan smiled, “I only know the basics. Nora’s playing is naturally excellent.”

Nora finally turned around, her face blank. She gave a brief, mechanical bow and returned to her seat without a word. She picked up her utensils and stared at her plate, saying nothing.

Natalie’s eyes, beautiful and clear, rested on her.

The piece Nora had played had held none of her own understanding or emotion. It had been nothing more than a high standard technical demonstration, a task completed to satisfy her mother’s expectations. and prove her own worth.

Nora moved like a puppet on strings, with Evelyn pulling them. No matter how polished the movements, it was only imitation, without life.

Natalie shook her head, thinking, ‘A mother who pushes too hard, a father who says nothing, and a girl who never gets to be a kid.

Everyone started eating again. Evelyn, sensing the moment was right, pressed on. “Charlotte, Nora has worked so hard. She’s stubborn that way. She knows she’s not the most naturally gifted, so she practices like crazy.

“Her fingers have bled more times than I can count. She practices until she’s soaked with sweat in the summer. In the winter, her hands go stiff from the cold, but she never stops.”

Evelyn spoke while watching Charlotte and William out of the corner of her eye, “As parents, it hurts to watch. But we also know that if she wants to pursue this professionally, she has to put in the work.

12:03 Fri, May 15 MMO

Chapter 37

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“Hard work alone isn’t enough, though. She needs a great teacher to guide her, to set her on the right path.”

She shifted gears, finally getting to the point. Her gaze turned eager as she looked at William. “William, you’ve been around. You know people. Do you think you could help Nora and introduce her to Mr. Lopez?

“I’m not asking for anything special. Just a chance for her to play for him, get his honest feedback, and find out if she really has what it takes.

“If Mr. Lopez says she doesn’t, then we’ll accept it. She can focus on her studies instead. But if he’s willing to give her some guidance, then maybe there’s a future for her in this.”

Evelyn’s words were full of emotion. She made Nora sound dedicated and hardworking, and she framed her request as only an opportunity, which made it hard to refuse outright.

Charlotte and William exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing slightly.

They could see that Nora didn’t play because she loved the piano. It felt more like an obligation, a performance she’d grown numb to. Pushing her toward Edward might not be the right thing for her.

Besides, Edward had a reputation for being difficult, and they didn’t even know how to reach him. But Evelyn had laid it all out in front of everyone. Turning her down cold would seem harsh.

Jonathan squirmed in his seat, his face flushing with embarrassment. He felt his wife was putting everyone in an impossible position. He couldn’t help but mutter, “Evelyn, that’s enough.”

“It’s fine. Let’s eat.” William, sensing the tension, quickly tried to smooth things over. “Of course we all want what’s best for Nora. But I can’t make any promises.

“Mr. Lopez has kept a low profile for years, and we don’t really have any connection with him. I’ll have someone look into it. We’ll see if we can reach him and find out if he’s willing to give Nora a chance.”

Evelyn was overjoyed. She figured if the Mitchell family reached out, Edward would have to show them some respect. “Thank you, William. Nora, thank your uncle.”

“Thank you. Uncle William.” Nora’s voice was flat.

“Aunt Evelyn,” Natalie, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up calmly.

“Yes? What is it, Natalie?” Evelyn asked, caught off guard.

“Does Nora actually like the piano?” Natalie asked.

At that, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at her. The fragile warmth that had been barely holding the meal together vanished, replaced by a sudden chill.

The joy on Evelyn’s face froze, replaced by a flicker of offended annoyance, But given who Natalie was, she forced it down and mustered a smile.

“Natalie, why would you ask that? Of course Nora likes the piano. She’s loved it since she was little. Why else would she have stuck with it all these years?” Evelyn asked.

“Is that so?” Natalie’s tone stayed even. Her gaze, cool and clear, cut straight to Nora, who had been avoiding eye contact. “What do you think, Nora? I want to hear the truth.”

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12:03 Fri, May 15 MM ·

Chapter 37

88

55 vouchers

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