Chapter 57 Quite Unlike His Usual Self

Chapter 57 Quite Unlike His Usual Self

Rebecca's POV

I grabbed Everett's hand. "What are you doing?"

He looked up at me, his eyes pleading. "Rebecca, you have to believe me, it was all Daphne's idea. I was wrong, I shouldn't have listened to her. Can you forgive me?"

I turned his words over in my mind. Was it really all Daphne's idea?

The scene from outside the private room that day rushed back. Daphne sitting on his lap, dabbing medicine on him—that moment was seared into my memory as if it had just happened.

I took a step back. "What exactly is your relationship with her?"

He crawled forward on his knees, grabbing my hand. "There's nothing between us, Rebecca. I only love you, you know that."

I stared at his face, feeling my resolve waver. If Daphne had been the one to approach him, that wasn't completely impossible.

But was all of this really just Daphne's fault?

Even if she suggested it, why did he agree? Why didn't he tell me beforehand? If he'd just mentioned it once, I wouldn't have been left standing on the sidelines like last night. What's more, his closeness with Daphne had already crossed the line of ordinary friendship.

My head started pounding. I didn't want to think about it anymore. I just felt trapped in a mess I couldn't easily escape.

Seeing my silence, he wrapped his arms around my calves, pressing his whole body to the floor.

"Rebecca, I love you. I made one mistake, but don't write me off completely. Give me a chance to make it up to you, okay?"

I looked down at him, torn. He made it sound like just one tiny slip in an otherwise perfect record.

I knew he'd screwed up, and some part of me felt I should forgive him. To him, last night might have just been a moment of losing control. He might genuinely have thought Daphne was only applying medicine.

Seeing my expression soften, he immediately stood and reached out to hug me.

I turned aside and pushed him away.

"Go take a shower. We still have class soon."

He had no choice but to let go, quickly kissing my forehead.

"Honey, thank you for forgiving me. I knew you were the best. I'll always love you."

The bathroom door closed. I stared at it as my emotions slowly settled.

Fine. I didn't want to dissect every detail anymore. Things were messy enough—I didn't want to get stuck replaying the same memory over and over.

He kept calling out to me from the bathroom, as if afraid I'd leave.

I answered him each time.

"I'm here, Everett. Just shower, I won't leave."

He finished quickly. The desperate exhaustion from when he first walked in was gone. He'd returned to the way I first knew him—clothes crisp, expression easy.

He walked over.

"Rebecca, come to school with me."

I hesitated. Last night's events still sat heavy in my chest. I didn't really want to be alone with him.

He held my hand, his eyes full of hope. It wasn't easy to pull away completely right now. After all, we were still together. I couldn't find a reason to refuse outright.

"Okay."

We arrived at the school entrance together.

He walked with me toward the music classroom. Usually he almost never walked me here, but today he kept following.

I stopped at the door and looked back at him.

"Aren't you going to class?"

He pointed to his lips.

"You haven't given me a kiss yet."

I looked at those lips, still damp from the shower, and felt resistance rise inside me. I bit my lower lip and didn't move.

I still cared about what happened between him and Daphne. This feeling made kissing him now seem wrong.

I was still hesitating when he suddenly leaned in, brushing my lips lightly, then nudged me toward the classroom door.

"Alright, Rebecca, go on in."

I pushed open the door. Something popped overhead, streamers rained down, and cheers erupted all at once. Everyone looked at me.

"Rebecca, Rebecca!"

Principal Howard Jennings emerged from the crowd, his smile broad.

"Rebecca, you performed wonderfully. I congratulate you on behalf of the school."

He opened his arms and hugged me. I instinctively hugged back.

"Thank you, sir."

Serena stood to the side, approval in her eyes. Classmates crowded around me, congratulating me one after another.

I was swallowed up by praise, like being suddenly shoved into the spotlight. I couldn't adjust right away and could only try to respond to everyone.

Everett stood at the door, holding up his phone and waving at me, gesturing that he was leaving.

I glanced down at my phone—messages from Elsie and David.

Elsie: [Rebecca, you're amazing, I knew you could do it.]

David: [Congratulations, girl, you've proven yourself.]

I couldn't help but smile. Everyone's support felt like a lift, making me feel lighter.

Soon practice began, and I gradually settled down from the high.

As I sat at the piano, I let the music take over my focus.

When I was lost in the melody, Serena's baton suddenly tapped on the piano.

My chest tightened. I immediately stopped and looked up at her.

I thought I'd played fairly steadily today and couldn't figure out if I'd made a mistake.

Serena stepped aside.

A tall man with a quiet presence walked forward.

He extended his hand and introduced himself simply.

"Hello, I'm Alfonso Warren. I'll be your new teacher for this session. Just call me Alfonso."

I instinctively reached out to shake his hand. His palm was broad and solid, his skin slightly cool.

His green eyes were clear but carried something hard to read.

Serena looked at us and nodded.

"Rebecca, Alfonso is a very accomplished musician. The Duke specially invited him to work with you."

I was caught off guard. I hadn't expected the Duke to take this banquet so seriously.

"H-hello, Mr. Warren."

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Don't be nervous, just call me Alfonso."

I nodded.

"Okay, Alfonso."

Serena glanced at us.

"I'll step out then. Practice well, you two."

Alfonso ran his hand lightly across the piano, as if checking its condition. His movements were steady and unhurried as he approached the instrument.

"Rebecca, it's fortunate your name is already on the banquet performance list."

I looked up at him, confused.

He sat down at the piano. The moment he settled in, his whole presence seemed to naturally merge with the instrument. Even just casually pressing a few keys, the sound immediately caught my attention.

He turned his head toward me.

"Beautiful girl, may I play something for you?"