Chapter 10
Violet's POV
The last trace of secret hope deep in my heart completely turned to ashes in this moment.
"Slap!"
My palm went numb from the shock, chest heaving violently.
Ethan's head jerked to the side from the hit, several red marks quickly appearing on his cheek.
He covered his face in disbelief, then whipped around to stare at me, eyes flashing with vicious light.
"You dare hit me?" He advanced through gritted teeth.
"Get out!" I didn't retreat. I grabbed the phone from the table and aimed the screen at him. "If you don't get out now, I'm calling the police! Trespassing, plus intimidation and extortion. Ethan, guess whether the police would be interested in the Hall family's young master?"
Ethan's steps froze.
He stared hard at the phone in my hand, chest heaving violently.
He knew very clearly that if this got out and reached Julian Hall's ears, he'd definitely be in for it.
"Fine, very good." He laughed in fury, pointing at me. "Violet, you remember this. I gave you a chance. You threw it away yourself. You better think carefully and don't regret it."
With that, he kicked the doorframe hard, turned and strode into the dim hallway.
The door slammed shut with a "bang," shaking plaster from the walls.
The room fell back into deathly silence.
I leaned against the door, all strength seeming to drain from my body in an instant.
I slowly slid down the door panel to sit on the floor, arms hugging my knees, tears finally breaking loose without warning.
I bit my lip to keep from making a sound, but the tears wouldn't stop.
For that forty-five thousand dollar student loan, for those three years of youth, for my dignity trampled underfoot.
I cried until my heart broke, until midnight, until my throat was so hoarse I couldn't make a sound.
The next morning, the alarm went off on time.
I stared at the ceiling for a long time. My eyes were swollen like walnuts, head heavy as if filled with lead.
But I still forced myself to get up. Today was the city symphony orchestra final selection. I had no time for self-pity.
I washed my face with cold water, changed into my most presentable black dress, carefully packed my grandmother's violin into the case, and slung it over my shoulder.
The autumn morning was bone-chillingly cold. A thin layer of mist shrouded the streets.
To avoid the morning rush hour crowds, I deliberately chose a route through an abandoned industrial area.
Though this road was remote, it could save nearly twenty minutes.
I quickened my pace. My heels echoed monotonously on the empty cement road.
Just as I was about to pass through a narrow alley, a harsh roar of engines suddenly came from ahead.
My heart sank sharply.
Three heavy motorcycles emerged from the mist at the end of the alley like ghosts, screeching to a stop right in front of me.
Immediately after, engine sounds came from behind. Two more motorcycles blocked my retreat.
The acrid smell of exhaust permeated the air.
On the black Ducati in the middle, Ethan took off his helmet and casually hung it on the handlebar.
He wore that familiar leather jacket. His cheek still bore the faint red mark I'd left last night.
Beside him were those tattooed bikers, looking me up and down with malicious eyes.
"What do you want?" I instinctively stepped back, hands desperately protecting the violin case behind me. Cold sweat instantly soaked my back.
Ethan dismounted and walked toward me step by step. His eyes were cold and vicious, like looking at a dead person.
"I told you last night to think carefully." He stopped in front of me, lips curling in a cruel smile. "But it seems you didn't take my warning to heart."
"Get out of the way!" I forced myself to stay calm, glaring at him through gritted teeth. "The selection is about to start. Ethan, this is a crime!"
"Crime?" Ethan laughed as if he'd heard the biggest joke.
The bikers behind him joined in the laughter.
He suddenly stopped laughing, eyes turning sinister. "Violet, you really won't give up. Insisting on stealing Sienna's orchestra position. Don't blame me for teaching you a lesson my way."
He jerked his head at the bikers beside him. "Do it."
Two burly men immediately stepped forward, pressing down hard on my shoulders from both sides.
"Let go of me! Don't touch me!" I struggled desperately, but their strength was too great. My resistance was like an ant trying to shake a tree.
Ethan stepped forward and grabbed the violin case strap on my back, yanking hard.
"No! Don't!" I screamed. Tears instantly poured out. That was the last thing my grandmother left me, all my hope and life's work!
"Rip—" The canvas strap was torn off.
Ethan held the case in his hand, weighing it, then looked at me with an extremely nasty smile.
"You care about this broken violin, right?" He said coldly. "You want to use it to compete with Sienna? Today I'll smash it. Consider it punishment for you, this arrogant bitch who doesn't know her place!"
With that, he raised the black violin case high.
"No—!"
"Ethan, please!" I almost screamed. Tears instantly broke loose. My voice became shrill and distorted in the empty morning alley.
I abandoned all dignity. My knees buckled and I dropped heavily onto the cold, rough cement ground.
The wound on my knee instantly tore open. Blood seeped through the black dress, but I couldn't care about the pain.
"Take anything else, whatever you want! But don't touch it!" I stared at the black violin case in his hands, shaking like a leaf in autumn wind. "That's the only thing my grandmother left me! Ethan, I'm begging you, give me back the violin..."
Ethan looked down at me from above. Not a trace of mercy in his dark brown eyes, only condescending mockery.
"The city symphony orchestra seat is everything to me. It's my livelihood!" I looked up at him, tears blurring my vision, voice hoarse with pleading. "Sienna doesn't even care about that position! She just needs it as a stepping stone to the Ivy League. Even if she doesn't join the orchestra, the Cole family will pave every road for her! But not me. Ethan, without this chance I'll die!"
"So what?" Ethan sneered, lips curling in a cruel arc. "This world isn't fair to begin with. If Sienna wants it, you have to give way."
He held the case by its strap, looking at it like examining a piece of trash.
"A sewer rat like you doesn't deserve to stand on the same stage as Sienna."
The moment his words fell, he raised the case and smashed it hard against the rough brick wall beside him.
"Bang!"
A dull thud.
The black leather split open. The case's lock broke off by force.