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Novel Catalog
Chapter 73 A Successful Launch
Compared to the surrounding crowd, Nathaniel remained notably composed, his posture impeccable, as if he were entirely unfazed by the spectacle unfolding around him.
Stella’s gaze shifted back to Cecilia, her words laced with a veiled challenge. “Although my first love and I went through many twists and turns, and we didn’t manage to marry, I believe that we will eventually be together.”
Cecilia understood the unspoken message—Stella was not only asserting her place in Nathaniel’s past but also throwing a subtle warning.
The music began, and Stella’s new song, “Ray of Light in the Dark,” filled the room. The melody was delicate, moving, yet strangely familiar. As the notes floated through the air, Cecilia’s mind whirred, trying to place the source. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall where she had heard it before.
“The melody is good,” Nathaniel murmured slowly, his tone almost dismissive. “It’s just a shame she ruined the song.”
Cecilia, distracted by her own thoughts, was pulled back into the present by his voice. She shifted her attention toward him, noticing that he seemed to be watching her more intently than the performance onstage.
Stella may have launched her career as a singer, but her voice wasn’t what people would call remarkable. Cecilia glanced at Nathaniel, who had noticed her lack of engagement.
“I remember that you used to enjoy singing, too,” he added, almost thoughtfully.
Had he not reminded her, Cecilia might have forgotten entirely. Music had always been an integral part of her life, likely influenced by her mother, Paula. Cecilia had always been attuned to melody and rhythm, even though her hearing impairment had made it impossible for her to pursue a career in the music industry. Nathaniel had once caught her humming a song, and she remembered his encouragement, telling her that she could easily make it big if she ever wanted to pursue it.
Cecilia hadn’t expected him to still remember her love for singing. Back then, Nathaniel had hated the noise of the house, so it was strange to think he’d even paid attention to her passion for music.
“Is that so? I can’t recall,” she replied, her voice calm, betraying none of the conflict that stirred in her chest.
Nathaniel’s gaze lingered on her, deep and intense. “Do you remember that Stella’s first love was me?” he asked, his voice carrying a weight that seemed to fill the space between them.
Cecilia stiffened, realizing this wasn’t just idle conversation. Nathaniel’s presence here tonight was more than coincidental—he was watching her closely, gauging her reaction to Stella’s words.
“You were the one who snatched me from her grasp,” he said, each word deliberate, like a knife twisting in the conversation.
Cecilia’s heart lurched, but she didn’t let it show. Nonsense. She knew the truth of that situation. It wasn’t her who had stolen Nathaniel from Stella; it was Nathaniel who had ended things with Stella first. Only after that had their families begun arranging her marriage to him.
But this version of events, this manipulation of the past, sparked a flicker of indignation in Cecilia’s chest. Still, she held her composure. “Is that so? I may have hearing impairment, but I’m not blind. Was my charm really so lacking back then that I had to compete with her for a man?”
She let the words hang in the air, the sharpness of her tone matching the sting of the moment.
Nathaniel’s expression stiffened, his jaw clenching. “Do you think other men are better than me?”
The question hung like a challenge, his voice low and dangerous. Had they been alone, Cecilia suspected Nathaniel would have demanded a more thorough explanation.
Sensing the growing tension in his voice, Cecilia wisely chose to back off, though she couldn’t suppress the bitter edge in her words. “I was just making a comparison, Mr. Rainsworth. Don’t overthink it.”
But Nathaniel did overthink it. That much was obvious. He watched her with an unreadable look, a storm brewing behind his eyes, but he didn’t push further. Instead, he turned his attention to the stage, where Stella’s performance was nearing its end.
Cecilia noticed that Nathaniel had barely paid attention to the song. He had only listened to the first few lines, and then his attention had drifted elsewhere.
The final notes of the song rang out, and the audience erupted into applause. Although Stella’s singing wasn’t particularly impressive, the song itself was undeniably beautiful—more so than any of her previous work. The melody was hauntingly pleasant, and many in the audience were certain it would be a hit once it was released.
Surrounded by praises and flattery, Stella’s gaze naturally sought out Nathaniel. There was a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes, a sense of triumph as she basked in the attention. In her mind, she had proven something tonight—she was still relevant, still important to Nathaniel, and no one could take that away from her.
After the media had left and the crowd began to thin, Stella made her way directly to Nathaniel. Her eyes glinted with pride, a quiet smirk curving her lips as she stood before him, her voice dripping with triumph.
“Nathaniel, I knew you would come. You never miss any of my important moments,” she said, her words full of unspoken meaning.
Cecilia, watching this interaction from the side, felt a surge of emotions she couldn’t quite name. As Stella stood before Nathaniel, confident and self-assured, Cecilia’s heart twisted. She knew that Stella was trying to make a point, to claim her place as Nathaniel’s one true love.
But to Cecilia’s surprise, she didn’t feel the sting she expected. Instead, there was a strange sense of clarity.
The classmates who remained in the room exchanged glances, and it was impossible not to hear the whispers floating through the air.
“Isn’t that Cecilia?” one of them murmured.
“Didn’t they say she was dead?” another voice responded.
The curiosity was palpable. People were wondering what Cecilia was doing here, and why Nathaniel, who had always been so distant, was now sitting with her.
But Stella’s eyes never left Nathaniel, and in her gaze, there was no room for anyone else.
