Chapter 2

Marcus froze, looking a bit awkward.

"I didn't look back because I went to get help." I went on, clarifying further.

But Marcus just wouldn't let it drop, his tone sharp with accusation. "So why didn't you come see me?"

"Your mom told me you've been busy with piano practice. Did you seriously not have even a couple of minutes for me?" Marcus pressed. "Didn't you keep saying I was the one you loved most?"

I let out a quiet sigh. "Didn't Cassie already visit you for everyone in the class? Like you saw for yourself, I really don't have the time."

Suddenly, Marcus lunged at me, his voice tight with urgency and panic. "I don't want them visiting me. I want you."

I instinctively shoved him away.

He lost his balance and crashed to the floor, his wound ripping open. Blood burst through the white gauze, stark and shocking to behold.

My hand instinctively reached out to help, but I forced myself to halt in midair, hesitating awkwardly.

I pressed my lips together and strode past him, the sharp clack of my heels echoing—each echo growing sharper and more resolute.

Behind me, Marcus kept shouting my name again and again, driving me annoyed.

I tried to block out his calls by focusing on memories from my previous life, shutting out everything but those old regrets.

In my previous life, I married him with all the hope in the world, convinced I'd finally gotten everything I wanted. But our marriage turned cold.

Anniversaries? No gifts. Birthdays? He was nowhere to be found. All that affection he acted out in front of others? Just for show.

I was so caught up in my own idea of happiness that I just let everything slide and kept making excuses for him.

Right before our wedding, I actually caught Cassie Jane coming to see Marcus.

She was crying pitifully, her eyes swollen, clutching tightly to Marcus's sleeve and sobbing about how she couldn't bear to part with him.

When I walked in, Cassie hurriedly explained she was just devastated about having to go abroad, saying she'd miss all of us so much. That was why she was crying.

Later on, I heard she got married and had a kid overseas.

While sorting through Marcus's stuff after he passed, I stumbled upon a whole stack of round-trip tickets to Mosnia, hidden deep in the bottom drawer of his study.

That discovery shattered me so badly that my heart literally just couldn't take it anymore—I ended up dying from a brain hemorrhage.

Now, I was dead set on breaking free from Marcus once and for all. No more ties, no more crossing paths with him ever again.

Surprisingly, just the next day, when I walked into the practice room to work on my piano, I bumped right into Cassie.

Cassie stood next to the piano and asked, "Did Marcus come to see you yesterday?"

I settled onto the piano bench, flipping through the sheet music as I replied, "Yeah. He's so badly hurt. Why'd you let him run around when he needs some rest?"

Cassie's brows pinched together as she shot me a glare. "Vivian, Marcus got hurt so badly, and it's all your fault. You're a walking disaster."

I looked up at her, a bit amused. "Me? He was the one who went and called out the school bully. How is that on me?"

"If you love him so much, you should've taken that knife for him." She slammed her hand down on the piano lid.

I let out a soft laugh. "If I recall, you came out after Marcus, too, and saw what happened. So why didn't you put yourself in the line for the guy you love?"

"I... I went to get help." Her face flushed bright red.

"Same here," I said.

"Vivian, I'm warning you. Stay away from Marcus. The farther you are, the better. Quit hanging around him," Cassie snapped.

I nodded, not really caring. She huffed, stomped her foot, and stormed off.

Right then, Theodore Linden showed up.

I'd gotten to know him from the piano club. He was seriously the sweetest guy, plus, he got real skills on the keys.

"Vivian, these are the official rules for the International Piano Competition. Check them out," Theodore said, handing me the paper.

I shot him a quick smile, took the paper, and started poring over the rules, determined to catch every detail.

Theodore had managed to borrow this practice room, and the Steinway Piano was the official competition piano. We spent hours here, taking turns at the keys, swapping feedback, and helping each other perfect our playing.

The week before the competition, Marcus never came to see me again.

All my hard work finally paid off. This time around, I took first place at the competition, and Theodore came in second.

After the competition, Theodore and I stepped out of the hall and ran straight into Marcus and Cassie.

Cassie had her arm hooked through Marcus's, while he locked eyes with me with a cold, distant look.

"Congrats. Heard you took first place," Marcus said, his voice flat.

I raised my trophy with a practiced smile, giving him the standard, polite thank you.

Cassie, never one to miss a chance at drama, jumped in. "We just saw you two up there getting your awards. You and Theodore look like a perfect couple in the photos."

Marcus gave a dry little snort. "A perfect couple, huh? Theodore, you and Vivian that close these days?"

Theodore didn't have the faintest idea about any drama between me and Marcus. He just thought we knew each other.

He flashed a friendly smile. "Yeah, we've gotten to know each other pretty well. Been teaming up for piano practice all the time lately."

Marcus drawled out an "oh," giving me a look that seemed to be accusing me of doing something wrong.

"In the practice room?" he asked.

"Yeah," Theodore replied.

Marcus tilted his eyes downward and then broke into a flirty, mocking grin.

My fingers clenched tighter around the trophy, and my breathing turned shaky, heart pounding in my chest.

I knew exactly what he meant. That one time we crossed the line happened right here in this practice room.

That day, I was playing Mariage d'amour, bathed in sunlight, when Marcus just couldn't help himself—he leaned in and kissed me.

Feelings burst out between us like a floodgate opening.

It wasn't until we were about to go all the way that I came to my senses, but I was half swept along, half reluctant, and somehow found myself following him to the hotel in the end.

Theodore caught the uneasy look on my face, his eyes narrowing with concern as he asked in a gentle whisper, "You alright?"

I answered him a little late, my thoughts scattered, still trying to steady myself.

"Sorry, I've got something to take care of. I'll head out now," I said, trying to sound casual.

Marcus smirked, waving at me with a lazy, almost mocking gesture.

"Alright then, later, Vivian," Marcus teased, the sarcasm clear in his voice.

My last glance locked onto Marcus and Cassie, their fingers tightly entwined.