Chapter 164
“You’re killing me with laughter! Are you seriously trying to tell me she’s some undercover queen of disguise?” Jasper was practically in stitches, tears brimming in his eyes. “Hahaha, have you been reading too many thrillers and now you’re just daydreaming?”
Abby was about to explode with anger, ready to march over, but Stella held her back.
“Let it go, Abby. The show is about to start. Don’t let someone like that ruin the performance.”
Abby was fuming. “What’s wrong with that guy?”
Stella shrugged, “Maybe he’s been hanging around someone who’s seriously lost
it and now he’s caught the fever himself.”
Abby threw up her hands in exaggerated terror. “I’m staying five feet back – wouldn’t want to ‘accidentally’ trip and get blamed for damaging national treasures.” She jerked her chin toward the exit. “Star, Marvin – wheels up before the drama catches fire.”
She knew Stella and Marvin were about to take the stage. Stirring up trouble now could mess with their performance, and that was the last thing Abby wanted.
Neville grinned slightly, “Alright folks, I’m out too. Don’t forget to get yourself a new pair of glasses on the way.”
After they left, Jasper couldn’t help but curse under his breath. “Ugh, what a piece of work!”
Rachel watched Stella’s retreating figure, her brow furrowed with curiosity.
“Haynie, are you really sure Stella can’t play the violin?”
Haynes shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen her play.”
Then Keen piped up, “I once saw Mom looking at sheet music at home.”
Rachel turned to Keen, “Sheet music? Did she ever mention anything about the violin to you?”
Keen thought for a moment, “Mom did mention Grandma once, said she was a pretty amazing violinist.”
Rachel recalled seeing a violin named “Nocturne Stella” at a music shop not too long ago. It had belonged to the renowned violinist Nora.
Nora was a prodigy in the music world, sweeping countless violin competitions and reigning supreme during her peak. Tragically, she passed away at a young age, leaving a void that many mourned. Her compositions became timeless classics, some even making it into the standard exam repertoire.
When Rachel first saw Nocturne Stella, she didn’t connect it to Stella or Nora. It wasn’t until Stella mentioned that it was her mother’s violin that Rachel was truly taken aback.
Jasper, hearing all this, shrugged it off. “Just because her mom was great doesn’t mean she is. Haynie and Keen both said they’ve never seen Stella practice. How good could she be?”
Seeing Rachel still deep in thought, Jasper reassured her, “Rachel, remember, it takes years of practice to shine on stage. Even if you’re sick, as long as you’re able, you’d keep practicing. Stella hasn’t played in years. How could she possibly compete with you? You’re worrying over nothing.”
Rachel considered this and realized he was right. She turned to Haynes and asked, “Haynie, did Ms. Cameron agree to lend me that violin?”
“A violin?” Jasper asked, intrigued. “What’s going on?”
Rachel quickly filled him in on the situation.
The violin had completely slipped Haynes’ mind, buried under the dumpster fire Stella kept lighting in his life. Now, with her looking at him like he was something scraped off her shoe, convincing her to surrender it seemed about as likely as putting out those flames with gasoline.
After a short silence, Haynes sighed, “Rachel, maybe you should consider using a different violin.”
Rachel’s eyes widened in surprise. Since she’d returned, Haynes had never denied any of her requests. He even gave her the wedding with Stella he’d planned.
Asking for a violin seemed like a piece of cake. It must be the recent events that had shaken Haynes’ trust in her.
She’d managed to brush off the last incident with Haynes by explaining that Marvin had interrupted before she could finish talking to Keen, but she knew this was far from over.