Chapter 3

Before anyone could stop me, I turned and left, just before I completely broke down.

For five years, I had cherished and carefully preserved this ring, waiting for the day Rhys would marry me so I could wear it openly.

I just never imagined this would be the day it left its hiding place in my bedside table.

When I returned to the main hall, Rhys was standing by the window, adjusting his tie.

He started walking toward me when he saw me.

I held the ring out to him. He froze, clearly not expecting me to actually bring it back.

He looked stunned for a moment as I placed it in his palm, but he took it.

"Maeve." He then leaned in and lowered his voice. "I'm warning you, don't screw anything up tonight."

"Noa is a woman who deserves to be respected and cherished. Remember your place, and don't embarrass me."

I didn't even want to respond.

In his eyes, Noa was to be respected and cherished. And what was I?

I looked at the bastard I had loved for over a decade and felt like I'd been blind, but the sharp pain in my chest still made it nearly impossible to breathe.

Just then, the sound of a car engine came from outside.

Fifteen minutes later, escorted by bodyguards in black suits, Noa entered the hall with poise.

The family leaders immediately began to chat warmly.

As the conversation deepened, they were already discussing the specific arrangements for the engagement party during this first meeting.

Meanwhile, Rhys sat beside Noa, making no effort to hide his admiration for her. "Noa, you're even more beautiful than I remember."

He was her loyal knight, pouring her wine and serving her food, all the ruthless decisiveness of an Underboss erased.

They were laughing and talking, and I was clearly not needed as a prop. I didn't want to waste any more time and looked for a chance to slip away.

But Noa suddenly turned to me gracefully. "You must be Maeve. I've heard so much about you. The famous 'piano goddess of the underworld'."

Caught off guard by being singled out, I quickly waved my hand. "Thank you, but that's an overstatement. Just some flattery from friends."

I thought they would change the subject, but Noa clearly had no intention of letting me off the hook. "Oh, I'm not exaggerating. A lot of family heirs used to say you were the woman of their dreams. For a while there, they were all fighting for your affection."

Before I could respond, Noa's smile widened. "I'm just curious, you and Rhys grew up together and you're so close, why didn't you two end up together?"

"You look so good together, too."

All eyes in the room turned to me.

The atmosphere became incredibly uncomfortable.

I had barely met Noa, but I had to admit I disliked her for some reason.

Maybe it was my own sensitivity, or maybe it was Rhys's effusive attention to her that made me uneasy.

I couldn't shake the feeling that beneath her gentle, harmless exterior, her intentions were anything but kind.

I hoped it was all in my head.

As I was trying to figure out how to respond, Rhys shook his head and elegantly cut a slice of cheesecake for Noa. "Noa, you're overthinking it."

"Outsiders wouldn't get it. Maeve and I are practically siblings. Who falls in love with his own sister? The thought is ridiculous."

"And don't listen to that 'piano goddess' stuff. You have no idea…" He suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but chuckle.

"You didn't see her when she was little, getting so nervous at an important recital that she messed up her piece and embarrassed herself in front of all the distinguished guests."

"I knew right then she wasn't cut out for the big leagues."

That was a recital when I was eight years old. It was my first time facing such a large audience, and I did get stage fright.

But Rhys was the first one to rush onto the stage to comfort me back then. He told me, "Maeve, you played wonderfully. Those people just don't understand music."

Now he was using it to humiliate me.

Laughter echoed through the room, and my cheeks burned. He was mocking me in public, turning my past humiliation into a punchline.

I couldn't take it anymore and stood up abruptly.

"I have an engagement, so I must be going." I cut him off, my voice ice-cold, but I managed a polite smile for the elders. "I'm sorry, please excuse me."

Noa immediately put on a hurt expression. "Did I say something wrong to make Maeve angry?"

Rhys immediately moved to shield her, glaring at me. "Maeve, you're scaring Noa."

He completely disregarded my feelings, effortlessly casting me as the villain.

"I apologize if my presence is making someone uncomfortable," I said, grabbing my handbag. "But I really do have to go."

"Where are you going this late at night?" Rhys demanded.

I turned to face him and smiled, a hint of seduction in it. "I have an important date with the principal conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic. If I don't leave now, I'll be late."

All expressions vanished from Rhys's face, his expression instantly turning grim."Since when do you have dates with other men?"

The moment my foot crossed the threshold, Rhys grabbed my wrist, his grip tight enough to break bone. "How come I didn't know?"