Chapter 3

Silas lifted me and placed me in the backseat of the car. His movements were incredibly smooth, as if he had practiced it a thousand times.

As the car merged onto the highway, the passing trees and the familiar streets of the city I hadn't seen in three years triggered a flood of memories.

Julian and I grew up together.

Our families had arranged our marriage before we were even born.

Both of our families were known for producing musical prodigies.

Since I was a child, my life revolved around playing the piano. I played tirelessly, and Julian was my only audience.

At seven years old, my performance shocked the world, and I was hailed as a prodigy.

Then came the world tours.

Julian followed me across the globe, remaining my sole audience for ten years.

He loved holding me close, whispering gently in my ear:

"I want to be your audience for the rest of my life. I want to be the first one to give you flowers."

The promises back then were so simple.

He loved me to his bones, giving me everything he had without reservation.

He treated me like a precious child, even though he was only three years older than me.

He used to read me bedtime stories. If anyone bullied me, he’d stand in front of me. When I was exhausted from practicing, he’d sneak me out to play.

My entire past was him.

Which was why, at eighteen, when danger struck, I pushed him out of the way without a second thought.

I let myself get buried in the collapse.

A steel bar pierced my left hand. I fell, and my legs were crushed under giant boulders.

The only light from the exit was blocked.

At that moment, I really thought I was going to die there, at eighteen.

But I didn't.

Julian went mad trying to save me. He called the rescue team, dug through the rubble with his bare hands until his fingers were bloody raw.

Back then, he loved me so fiercely.

He was fearless.

I thought that kind of love would last forever. I was wrong.

I was in a coma for two weeks.

When I woke up,

I learned that I could never play the piano again. My parents, hearing the news, instantly discarded me like a broken chess piece.

They immediately shifted their focus to grooming another prodigy.

Overnight, I lost my parents' affection and my lifelong dream. The despair was suffocating.

It completely consumed me.

Julian stayed by my side, crying, "I'm sorry, Vivian. It's all my fault."

"If it weren't for me, you'd still be the brightest star."

I couldn't blame Julian. Saving him was my choice. But I couldn't save myself, and I didn't know what to do.

Later, I developed severe depression and borderline personality traits. I was violent, self-destructive, and constantly on the edge. Time after time, Julian pulled me back from the brink of death.

He sent me abroad for treatment.

He said, "Vivian, when you get back, let's get married, okay?"

But after that, his visits to Europe grew rarer. The toll of my illness was breaking him, too.

When I threw things, he threw things back.

With bloodshot eyes, he knelt before me and roared, "Vivian, I didn't beg you to save me!"

"I'm trying my best to help you!"

"What more do you want from me?!"

And then, he cheated.