Chapter 4
Deep into the night, the old mansion finally fell silent as the cameras stopped rolling.
I was sprawled out on the big bed, zoning out at the ceiling, when a video call invitation suddenly flashed on my screen.
On the other end, Alexander was sitting in a leather swivel chair in his hotel room, his tie half undone, and his eyes behind those gold-rimmed glasses looked unusually tired.
"Did you have fun today?" His voice was deep and magnetic, and it made my ears buzz.
"Madeline's actually kind of fun," I said, shifting to a more comfortable position and propping my phone up on the pillow.
"My assistant John Clark has already reported that 3 million," he said, lowering his gaze slightly as his fingers absently twirled his pen. "Claire, you don't need to use Mom's name for things like this. Claire Sutton's name carries more weight in Ostville than mine."
He paused, his eyes locking onto my left hand. "Why haven't you taken off the ring? Didn't you say it was bothering you?"
"Ethan said it's like a seal of office for the lady of the house," I said, wiggling the plain band in front of the camera with a teasing tone. "Alex, you gave it to me so casually, I almost thought it was some cheap knockoff from a dollar store and tossed it out."
Alexander looked at me, that restrained darkness in his eyes swirling like a storm. His voice was a little hoarse. "That ring is proof I want to keep you by my side, Claire. Go ahead, try throwing it away."
I burrowed under the covers and grumbled, "Why are you acting so tough? If you don't come back tomorrow, I'm seriously going to trash Ethan's piano. His playing is unbearable."
Alexander let out a low, amused laugh on the other end. Moonlight spilled across the old mansion's rooftop, and somewhere in the quiet night, a storm of getting called out was brewing beneath the surface.
By the third day of filming, Madeline had clearly gotten over the sting of last night's three-million-dollar donation.
She knew it was pointless to try and outspend me, so she shifted her focus to the Suttons' legendary piano room. Hidden up in the attic of the old mansion, it featured a limited-edition Steinway that Alexander had shipped all the way from Vindora, spending a fortune to get it.
"Claire, Ethan told me the piano in the Sutton Family is a real collector's piece," Madeline said.
She looks effortlessly elegant in her tailored French velvet dress. "I've been practicing a song for my new movie lately. If you don't mind, maybe you could show me a thing or two?"
I was leaning against the hallway railing, absentmindedly trimming my nails, and raised an eyebrow at her. "I wouldn't say I can give you pointers. I only know a little myself."
I wasn't exaggerating. Ever since I came back three years ago for that family marriage deal, I haven't really performed for anyone.
The skills that once took me to the top of the Chopin Grand Prix are now used to casually play a lullaby or two for Alexander when he gets home late.
Madeline Summers caught sight of my clueless expression, and a flicker of contempt flashed in her eyes.
She probably thought I was some trophy wife who'd married into money and, at best, taken a couple of hobby classes. She sat down at the piano with practiced grace, took a deep breath, and then her fingers began to move.
It was one of Richard Clayman's classic beginner pieces. I had to admit, Maddie had definitely practiced. Her rhythm was on point. But to my ears, her playing was flimsy, like she was running on empty, and the emotion? All technique, no soul.
Maddie's fans in the livestream chat were already hyping her up like crazy.
["Maddie is seriously the total package. With piano skills like that, she should be selling out concert halls."]
["Claire is standing there, looking completely clueless. So embarrassing."]
["Claire should stick to buying luxury bags. High art? Not her vibe at all."]
When Maddie finished the last note, she glanced at me with lingering pride and a provocative, almost condescending look. "Claire, I heard Alex picked out this piano for you. He must really enjoy your playing, doesn't he?"
She was deliberately steering the conversation toward Alex. Both Sutton brothers were present, and Ethan was sitting on a nearby armchair, his expression hard to read, caught somewhere between awkward and conflicted.
"He doesn't listen," I replied honestly. "He says I'm too loud and it distracts him from his financial reports."
Truth is, Alex thinks the way I get so absorbed in playing is too alluring. He can't concentrate on work when I'm at the piano.
Maddie stifled a laugh behind her hand. "What a shame. Ethan always says Alex scolds him for practicing at home. I thought maybe you could help him out.
" Why not give it a try? Something simple, like 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'. I could even teach you if you want."
As soon as she said that, Ethan, who'd been zoning out, suddenly looked like he'd gone from awkward to pure panic.
He shot up from the couch, his gaze flicking wildly between Maddie and me, finally locking onto my long, elegant fingers. His voice cracked as he blurted out, "Maddie... stop talking. Do you even realize who you're talking to?"