Can't Win Me Back

When the piano concert officially began, Christina Hammond gracefully made her way to the stage,

dressed in a velvety navy gown.

She took her seat at the piano and proceeded to perform her self-composed song, the one that had catapulted her to fame-“Whispers of the Four Seasons.”

The audience sat in silence, captivated by the melody.

However, Alyssa couldn’t tear her gaze away from Christina’s exquisite navy dress.

It was a one-of-a-kind haute couture piece designed by the renowned fashion designer Sharon, who happened to be Alyssa herself.

Sharon’s creations were reserved for accomplished and talented celebrities like Christina.

Jasper, too, found himself distracted from the performance. His fists clenched, and he trembled visibly. Throughout the performance, he directed an intense and fiery glare at Alyssa.

Occasionally, Jameson and Alyssa leaned in to whisper to each other. She nodded and smiled, clearly

engrossed in their conversation.

Jasper’s lips remained tightly pursed. The veins on his fists were close to popping, and his face looked

pale as he continued to stare at Alyssa.

He pondered whether they truly had so much to talk about. He recalled that during their three years of marriage, she rarely spoke, even when they saw each other daily.

“Wow, why did it suddenly get so cold in here? I guess the air conditioning must be on full blast,” Landon

remarked, shivering in confusion.

After performing a few more pieces, Christina welcomed her mentee, Zoe Harper, onto the stage.

The young lady looked youthful and radiant, with her chestnut-colored hair cascading down to her waist. She wore a lavish green chiffon gown adorned with tiny silk flowers, resembling a forest fairy.

“Zoe! Look over here! It’s me!” Thrilled at Zoe’s appearance, Landon waved at his sister. Annoyed, Jasper

had an urge to kick Landon over the railing.

Zoe apparently did not notice her brother’s supportive gesture on the second floor. A confident smile bloomed on her moonlike face as she bowed at the audience.

She took her seat before the piano like a graceful swan. A melodious tune flowed from her fingertips,

It was Mozart’s “Turkish March”.

Alyssa was drawn in by Zoe’s dazzling presence onstage with a hint of envy.

Her left hand’s fingers started moving on her knee, instinctively playing the same tune from muscle memory. Even her previously paralyzed pinky finger seemed revitalized.

“I remember how great you were at playing the piano when we were young,” Jameson whispered, finding

her subtle finger movements endearing.

He added, “If you had pursued a career as a professional pianist, you could have easily outshone Zoe

Harper.”

“That’s impossible.” Alyssa curled her trembling fingers into a fist. “That will never happen.”

Years ago, she suffered a severe injury in her left hand fingers when she dragged a badly injured Jasper

back to the camp in Luminara.

Her pinky finger had become irreparably paralyzed. She dedicated days and nights to rehabilitating the

remaining four fingers, eventually restoring them to normal function.

Despite the injury, she never regretted saving Jasper. He might have hurt her, but they once fought for

world peace together.

The man she saved was not a jerk but a soldier in the Peacekeeping Forces. She perceived her finger

injury not as a trauma but as a badge of honor.

The concert concluded flawlessly. Christina brought Zoe back to the stage, and together, they bowed to

the applauding audience.

“Ms. Taylor, would you accompany me backstage?” Jameson asked Alyssa with a smile.

“What’s the matter?” she inquired.

“It’s something personal. I’d like to get Madam Christina’s autograph on a CD because my mom is a fan.”

“Christina is known for her arrogance. That might be a difficult task.”

He smiled, undeterred. “It’s alright. I’ll move her with my sincerity. As long as I get to meet her and tell her about the request, she will likely agree to it.” Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Landon beamed with pride as he led Jasper backstage, holding a large bouquet of flowers.