Chapter 1

In the opening concert of Matteo Arnaut's world tour,a piano prodigy and also a boyfriend of mine,the audience packed the venue,eagerly awaiting his fingers running over the piano keys.

The moment he reached the final piece,he suddenly stopped his fingers.

His gaze shifted to the seating,but not on me,instead on Louisa Shannon,the recently reclaimed heiress of Shannon Group,sitting in the front VIP row seat.

"This piece‘The Light You Keep On’,dedicated to the one who's been a light in my darkest times,the one who's now sitting in front of me."

Just then,the spotlight fell on Louisa with a shy and blushing face behind her hands.

However,behind the shadows of her spotlight,I sat gripping my hands.The worn and a bit rough hands from years of washing dishes.

That piece,that melody...was the one I often hummed to Matteo in our cramped and a bit stuffy rental apartment whenever he suffered a panic attack.

Even,I was the one who supported and accompanied him during his studies at a renowned music conservatory.

And now,with hundreds of eyes watching,he was dedicating the piece to another girl.The piece that represented our struggle,our happiness.

Amidst the thunderous applause filling the hall,I quietly booked a flight to Boston.

——

The bright and blinding spotlights exposed Louisa’s blushing and sweet smile right in front of me.

The pain and anger I had been bottled up all this time finally erupted as Matteo,on the stage,continued to express his gratitude to her.

My chest tightened and my voice caught in my throat as if swallowed by the darkness.Tears streamed down my face.

The seven years I had sacrificed for him vanished.

For seven years,I worked three part-time jobs and scrimped on all my own needs,to ensure Matteo could complete his study.

And in the lowest point,I even stole leftover from the customers at the restaurant where I worked,just to ensure Matteo wouldn't miss a single lesson from the renowned piano lecturer who was mentoring him.

Whenever I handed him a thick stack of cash each month,he would hug me tightly,looking pained and tender."Esmee...."

He said,"Once I make it,I will tell the whole world just how amazing and wonderful my girl is."

I believed his words.

That's why,I had spent up thirty dollars today to dress up and wear a white haute couture gown I had never worn before.

Yet,the amazing and wonderful girl standing under the spotlight,was another girl entirely,not me.

Louisa,adorned in high-end jewelry and an haute couture gown,stepped onto the stage gracefully.She took and raised Matteo's wrist.

On his wrist,was a red cord bracelet I knotted for him with my own hands.

"It took me a long time to learn and make this red bracelet for him.I hoped he'd made his dream and I'm so happy he did."

"I've been by his side for seven years.I gave up my own study and worked three part-time jobs at once to ensure him complete his study."

"Even in the winter,the dishwater was so cold but thinking of him,I endured it."

I stared in disbelief as soon as her words reached my ears.

Every word she said,every single thing,was things I had done for Matteo,things only Matteo and I had shared.

Her voice was filled with affection as she looked at Matteo beside her.

Matteo,then,pulled her into his embrace.

In an instant,thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall.

Seven years of devotion,seven years of love,and seven years of waiting—all of it vanished into nothingness in that instant.

The audience whispered among themselves,calling them a perfect match and blessing them.

I was the only one in the seats—like a joke.

I roughly wiped the tears from my face and tremblingly pulled out the phone Matteo had discarded.

My fingertips brushed against the shattered phone screen,and without hesitation,I booked a flight to Boston.