Chapter 3

They started throwing whatever they had at him, and a sharp object scratched his face, leaving a bloody mark.

One of them yelled, "Say something! I bet you're just an undercover hater!"

Isaac stumbled and was shoved to the ground, about to get jumped by the furious fans.

The security guards rushed over. "Break it up! Move along!"

In his dazed state, Isaac was finally pulled out of danger and led inside.

After what had just happened at the entrance, he felt like something filthy that shouldn't be seen. He only wanted to quietly slip in and take one last look at Evelyn's rehearsal.

The sweet, melodious violin music faded away, and the room erupted in enthusiastic applause.

There was Jayden, dressed to the nines in a sharp suit, holding a massive bouquet of bright red roses, at least 999 of them. That kind of bouquet was way out of reach for most people.

Isaac thought about how many delivery orders he would have to run to save up enough for something like that.

He and Evelyn were worlds apart now.

On stage, Evelyn beamed, leaning in to smell the roses. "Mr. Olson, you really didn't have to go all out. It's only a rehearsal."

Jayden looked at her with heartfelt affection. "Evelyn, you deserve the best, always. You worked so hard today. Would you join me for a late-night bite?"

Evelyn blushed shyly and nodded.

That bashful, girlish shyness, Isaac had never seen Evelyn act that way around him, not even once.

To her, he was just someone she leaned on, like a big brother. Isaac realized it had all been wishful thinking on his part from the very beginning.

As they headed toward the exit, Isaac panicked and ducked into a corner, feeling like a total clown.

Later, driven by some reckless impulse, he asked a driver to follow them.

Maybe because his days here were numbered, he just wanted to see how Evelyn, the sister he treasured, acted when she was in love with someone else.

After all, this love was something he could never have, no matter what.

So he'd just be like a thief, quietly watching her happiness from afar.

Jayden took her to the most upscale place in the city, and the two of them were totally in sync. Evelyn kept laughing at his jokes.

Isaac looked so down-and-out, he didn't even belong at the door of a place like that.

All he could do was watch them from outside, catching glimpses of their happiness in the window's reflection.

At one point, Jayden took Evelyn's hand and kissed it, and her shy, delighted expression was seared into Isaac's mind.

So this was how Evelyn looked when touched by someone she liked. Even a kiss on the hand made her so happy.

He couldn't even bear to imagine what would happen if things got any more intimate between them. A tight ache twisted in his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

Isaac couldn't bear to watch anymore. What did it matter how jealous or unwilling he felt? Nothing would change.

Leaving was inevitable. There was no turning back. As long as Evelyn was happy, that was enough for him.

For the next few days, Evelyn was caught up in getting ready for her upcoming performance and didn't come back at all.

She gave Isaac the keys to the villa in Riverford and asked him to get things set up there for her.

Even if he wouldn't be living there himself, Isaac thought it'd be nice to take a look at the place Evelyn would soon call home before he left.

The villa was the kind of place most people could only dream of. Perfect view, perfect location, everything about it was top-notch.

Isaac took a quiet look around, inside and out, and all he wanted was to leave without anyone noticing.

As soon as he closed the door behind him, he caught the sound of renovation coming from next door.

He overheard the workers chatting. "I heard this whole row of villas belongs to Mr. Olson."

"We're working on the one right next door, too. Mr. Olson had people pay extra attention to every detail, inside and out. Honestly, I think he's doing all this for his special someone."

"Yeah, I've got some inside scoop. Word is, Mr. Olson practically gave that villa away for a steal just to make his girl happy. He'd drop a mountain of cash just for a single smile from her!"

So that was it. Isaac's heart grew heavier and heavier.

Jayden had been working behind the scenes, setting up a bright future for Evelyn and going all out for her. Anyone could see he was serious about her.

It was better this way. Compared to Jayden's grand gestures, everything Isaac had done over the years seemed small and insignificant.

Time flew by, and the day of the concert was here. Meanwhile, Isaac's flight out was already booked. He'd be gone in just two days.

Once he watched Evelyn's last performance live, he could finally leave without regrets.

The concert was absolutely packed, swarming with people everywhere you looked.

Isaac didn't pull any strings or use connections. He just queued up with the crowd, waiting for his turn like everyone else.

During the concert, Isaac was on his way to the restroom when he ran smack into a waiter coming from the opposite direction. The tray tipped, and dark red wine spilled all over him.

"I'm so sorry, sir! Would you like me to get you a change of clothes?" the waiter stammered.

Normally, Isaac wouldn't have made a fuss about something so minor. He knew people were just trying to make a living.

But today was different. Sitting in the VIP section, he needed to look his best while watching Evelyn light up the stage.

"Yeah, I'd appreciate that," Isaac said.

The waiter came back with a staff uniform. "Sorry, sir, this is all I could find. Would you be okay with this for now?"

After all the rough gigs Isaac had worked over the years, he couldn't care less about what he wore.

Isaac plopped back into his seat in the staff uniform, ignoring the curious stares from people nearby. Stuff like this didn't faze him at all.

Evelyn nailed every note, and as Isaac watched her shine on stage, he couldn't help but feel genuinely happy for her.

He also noticed the violin she was playing. It probably cost a lot of money.

But the violin he'd given her for her 18th birthday, the one she once treasured above all else, had long been left in a corner, gathering dust.

'Let all the good times stay in the past,' Isaac thought to himself.

The concert wrapped up perfectly, and Evelyn stood on stage, soaking in the flowers, applause, and all the cheers and blessings sent her way.