Chapter 33
Violet's POV
"It's much better now, thank you for your concern." I gripped the phone tightly and quickly got to the point, "Today the hospital refunded some unused hospitalization fees, and I want to return this money to you..."
"Violet, I'm not calling about that insignificant refund." Julian interrupted me, his tone calm yet carrying a sense of control from someone in power, "Regarding the financial support I proposed, I had the legal department draft a formal sponsorship agreement. This is an educational fund without any conditions attached. You can view it as the Hall family's investment in young artists. I hope we can find time to meet in person to discuss this agreement face to face."
My breathing hitched slightly.
A formal sponsorship agreement? He even mobilized the legal department just to make me feel comfortable accepting his help?
"Mr. Hall, I..." I bit my lower lip, the huge class gap and sense of indebtedness making me instinctively want to retreat, "I really don't know how to repay your investment."
"I don't need you to decide immediately." He seemed to anticipate my hesitation, his voice softening somewhat, revealing a mature man's tolerance, "The agreement is ready. I'm giving you time to consider. When you're ready, contact Mark anytime."
After hanging up, I stared at the darkened screen, my mind unable to settle for a long time.
The next afternoon, after finishing the last harmony class at the academy, I hurried to L'Aura restaurant in the city center, carrying my violin case.
Although I was reporting to the City Symphony Orchestra next week, the official salary wouldn't be paid until the end of the month.
Before then, I still needed this hourly wage from the restaurant to maintain my basic living expenses.
I pushed open the employee entrance at the restaurant's back door and was changing into my performance outfit to get the music stand when the restaurant owner blocked my path with a cold expression.
"Miss Kane, you don't need to go to the lobby." The owner handed me an envelope containing a few bills, his eyes evasive, "This is today's wages, plus a little compensation. Starting tonight, you're fired."
"Fired?" I stood there frozen, looking at him in disbelief, "Why? Was there a problem with my performance last night? Did a customer complain?"
"Don't ask so many questions, Violet." The owner waved his hand irritably and lowered his voice, "You've offended someone you shouldn't have. My small business can't afford the wrath of those big shots. Take the money and leave quickly."
Offended someone I shouldn't have?
I clutched that thin envelope, a strong sense of absurdity surging in my chest.
I didn't take the money. Instead, I walked around the owner and pushed open the heavy velvet curtain leading to the restaurant's main hall.
I wanted to see exactly who was pulling these underhanded tricks behind the scenes.
In the luxurious, dimly lit lobby, the melodious violin had been replaced by soulless background music.
My gaze swept across those elegant booths and finally settled on two familiar figures at the VIP seat by the window.
Ethan wore an impeccably tailored suit, holding a wine glass.
And sitting beside him, Sienna had changed into a white Chanel haute couture dress today, her bandaged wrist deliberately placed in the most conspicuous position on the table.
The moment I saw them, all my doubts were answered.
I clenched my fists and strode toward that booth.
"Violet?" Sienna was the first to see me. She put down her knife and fork, her exquisitely made-up face immediately showing extremely fake surprise.
She leaned forward slightly, speaking in a nauseating, patronizing tone: "Why are you still here? I thought you'd already been kicked out. Since we've run into each other, why don't you sit down and eat with us? The French escargot here is quite good—you've probably never had it before, right?"
"Put away that disgusting fake mask, Sienna." I looked at her coldly, my eyes full of disgust, "You two had the owner fire me, didn't you?"
Ethan leisurely put down his wine glass and leaned back in his chair, looking down at me from above.
"I'm the one who had the owner fire you." He admitted it openly, his dark brown eyes revealing undisguised arrogance and malice, "Violet, I warned you before—don't be so ungrateful. You stubbornly refuse to apologize to Sienna, so you must pay the price for your willfulness."
He pointed sharply at Sienna’s bandaged wrist, his voice cold and cutting. "Your malice left Sienna with a bad soft tissue injury on her wrist—she can’t even touch her violin, let alone practice. She’s forced to put her training on hold, so you won’t get off scot-free. This is just the beginning. Keep being so obstinate, and I’ll ruin every chance you have of finding part-time work in Manhattan."
Looking at Ethan's self-righteous face, I only felt incredibly pathetic.
He was like a spoiled tyrant, recklessly using his power to crush others' living space while still considering himself the embodiment of justice.
"Ethan, you're simply an unreasonable lunatic." I took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to splash the wine on the table in his face, and said coldly, "Play your boring blacklisting games however you want. I don't have time to waste on you."
I turned and walked unhesitatingly toward the door.
"Stop!" Ethan roared angrily and violently slammed his wine glass on the table.
Following his voice, several young men sitting at the neighboring table immediately stood up.
They were all Ethan's rich second-generation friends. Several of them quickly spread out, blocking my path like a wall of flesh.
"Thinking of leaving?" Ethan stood, smoothing down his suit lapels, and strolled slowly to stand behind me. There was icy cruelty lacing his tone."Violet, I’ll spell it out plain today. Kneel to Sienna and apologize, or you’re never getting out of this doorway alive."
"Get out of the way!" I shouted sternly, staring hard at the men blocking my way, my fingers already quietly reaching for the phone in my pocket.
"Still so feisty." One of the blond-dyed rich kids sneered and stepped forward directly, roughly grabbing my arm, "Ethan's telling you to apologize. Don't you understand human speech?"
"Don't touch me!" I struggled desperately, trying to shake off his hand.
But another man also surrounded me. The two of them, one on the left and one on the right, held my shoulders like pincers. The huge force pressed down until my knees buckled, almost kneeling on the hard marble floor.
"Let go of me! This is false imprisonment!" I shouted angrily, drawing sideways stares from the other patrons in the restaurant. But intimidated by Ethan and his group’s upscale attire and commanding aura, not a single person dared to step in and interfere.
Sienna walked over slowly in her high heels, looking down at me being held down, her eyes glittering with the satisfaction of successful revenge. She sighed affectedly: "Violet, why do this? Just bow your head and say you're sorry, and nobody has to be so embarrassed."