Chapter 154
“That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day!” Nate burst out laughing, nearly tearing up. “You’re seriously trying to say she’s some hidden violin prodigy? What is this, a fantasy novel? Have you completely lost your mind?”
Wendy looked ready to explode. She stepped forward, about to go off, but Sharon held her back. “Let it go, Wendy. The performance is about to start. He’s not worth it.”
Wendy fumed. “That guy’s seriously messed up in the head.”
Sharon replied calmly, “Maybe he picked up something from someone close to him-a terminal case of stupidity clouding his judgment.”
Wendy immediately switched to a mock-scared expression. “Then I better keep my distance. What if he trips in front of me and blames me for it? Come on, Sharon, Matty, let’s go.”
She knew Sharon and Matty were about to perform. Starting a fight now would just throw them off-not worth it at all.
Xavier’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “Well, I’ll be going too. And hey, don’t forget to grab a pair of glasses on your way home- clearly, you’re in desperate need.”
As the group walked away, Nate scoffed, “Tch. What a joke.”
Kelly, watching Sharon’s figure retreat, suddenly frowned. “Carter… are you sure Sharon doesn’t know how to play the violin?”
Carter shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen her play.”
Just then, Theo chimed in. “I saw Mom looking at sheet music at home once.”
Kelly turned toward him. “Sheet music? Did she say anything about the violin?”
Theo thought for a moment. “She said her mom used to be amazing at it.”
A flicker of recognition crossed Kelly’s eyes-the violin she’d seen recently in the music store. Shaluna. That’s what it was
called.
It had once belonged to Shayla McKinzie, a legend in the classical music world.
A true virtuoso, Shayla had swept through the scene like a storm, winning award after award and being crowned the Queen of the Violin. But at the height of her career, she’d died suddenly, leaving behind a legacy of sorrow and unfinished masterpieces.
Her compositions were timeless. Some were still used in today’s performance exams.
Back at the shop, Kelly hadn’t made the connection between Sharon and Shayla-at least not until Sharon mentioned the violin had belonged to her mother.
That had shaken Kelly more than she cared to admit.
But Nate just shrugged. “So what if her mom was good? That doesn’t mean she inherited it. Even Carter and Theo said they’ve never seen her practice. How good could she really be?”
Seeing Kelly still frowning, he added, trying to be reassuring, “Come on, Kelly. You’ve been practicing for years-sick or not, you never gave up. Sharon probably hasn’t touched a violin in forever. There’s no way she can outperform you. You’re overthinking this.”
Kelly considered it. He did have a point.
She turned to Carter. “Did Sharon agree to let me borrow that violin?”
“The violin?” Nate asked, confused. “What violin?”
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Kelly gave him a quick rundown.
Carter had nearly forgotten about it himself. So much had happened lately-one chaos after another, all because of Sharon. It felt like his whole life had turned upside down.
And now, with things between him and Sharon so strained, asking her for that violin? That wouldn’t go over well.
After a long pause, he said quietly, “Kelly… pick a different violin.”
Kelly’s eyes widened in disbelief. Since she’d come back, Carter had never denied her anything. Not even the wedding he’d once promised Sharon-he gave it to her instead.
And now, he was refusing her a simple request for a violin?
There was only one explanation: something had changed. He didn’t trust her like he used to.
She’d tried to explain what happened last time. Tried to tell him that she just hadn’t had the chance to finish talking to Theo before Matty cut in. She’d managed to brush it off for now-but that excuse was starting to wear thin.
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