Chapter 4

She gently set the sheet music on the stand, playing the part of the devoted, angelic sister to perfection.

Richard and Eleanor watched me with complicated gazes.

Eleanor parted her lips before finally saying, "Brooke, it's fine if you aren't good at it yet; you've never touched a piano before.”

“Vanessa has a month's head start, so let her teach you. When the Davenport gala comes, the two of you can play a duet."

I shrugged. "Sure."

I sat down and randomly slammed a key.

A harsh, discordant screech echoed through the room, making everyone wince and cover their ears.

"Brooke, you need to play this part softly. Banging on it like that is too..."

Vanessa struggled to keep her composure, forcing a gentle tone to correct me.

"Too heavy-handed, right?"

I cut her off, smashing down two more abrasive chords.

"Well, I've got farmer strength. Years of heavy manual labor build muscle, you know. Might as well put it to use."

Vanessa’s lips twitched visibly.

Five minutes later, I abruptly stopped mid-key, turned around, and looked at Eleanor.

"I'm starving. Can I get a snack?"

Eleanor was utterly bewildered.

Vanessa’s expression soured, but she took a deep breath and tried to coax me sweetly.

"Brooke, just a little longer. It's not a hard piece, as long as you put your heart into it..."

"I am putting my heart into it," I said, throwing my hands up.

"Guess I'm just too stupid. I grew up in a shack where I never even saw an instrument, let alone knew how many keys a piano has. How am I supposed to learn a classical masterpiece in two days?"

I stood up and stretched lazily. "That's enough for today. My fingers are swollen."

Ethan frowned heavily, stepping forward. "Brooke, don't think you can slack off your way out of this!”

“Keep this up, and I'll send you straight back to the countryside! If I remember correctly, your adoptive parents were looking to marry you off to an old bachelor for cash!"

I froze, and my eyes welled with sudden, panicked tears.

As if terrified by Ethan’s threat, my voice trembled. "B-but... I'm really trying..."

Seeing me cower, a flash of smug satisfaction crossed Vanessa’s face before she masked it with concern.

"Ethan, stop scaring her! Brooke really hasn't had the chance to learn before. We need to give her time."

Vanessa turned to me with a sweet, comforting smile. "Don't be afraid, Brooke. If this piece is too difficult, we can switch to an easier one, like—"

"No," I shook my head stubbornly. "I'll stick with this one. I refuse to believe I can't learn it."

Vanessa paused, then beamed even wider. "Great! That's the spirit. I'll practice right beside you."

From that day on, I showed up in the music room on time every single morning.

It looked like I had abandoned my slacking ways and was practicing with all my might.

Richard, Eleanor, and Ethan had their own busy schedules, so they rarely checked in.

Vanessa stayed with me for the first two days, but soon lost her patience.

In my previous life, she loved shopping, clubbing, and living it up.

Unable to resist, she started sneaking out during our practice hours, claiming she was attending private masterclasses, when in reality, she was out partying with her rich friends.

Whenever she returned, she would hear the gorgeous, flawless melody of the piano echoing throughout the Hayes mansion.

The maids would whisper to her, "Miss Brooke practices twelve hours a day without stopping."

Vanessa let her guard down completely.

One afternoon, I overheard her talking on the phone in the hallway.

"Don't worry, that country bumpkin is practicing like a maniac every day. I don't have to lift a finger..."

She hung up, humming a cheerful tune as she skipped away.

I stood in the shadows of the corner, watching her back with an unreadable expression.

In my last life, you made sure I died with open eyes and an agonizing soul.

In this life, I'll teach you what true despair feels like.