Chapter 57
The ballroom glittered under dazzling chandeliers. A crowd hovered around Emily Lowell, fussing over her delicate condition. She reclined limply on the sofa, her face paper-white and pitiful.
"Don't blame yourself, Emily. This wasn't your fault."
"You're so fragile. You should rest more."
"Composer T nearly smashed the piano in his rage earlier..."
A faint smile curled Emily's lips as her gaze found Sophia Laurent across the room. "Sister..." Her voice trembled. "The livestream incident... I truly didn't mean to..."
Sophia leaned against the champagne table, idly tapping her glass. She caught the fleeting triumph in Emily's eyes and chuckled. "Thanks to you, I gained three hundred thousand followers."
Emily's nails dug into her palms. Her attempt to sabotage Sophia had backfired spectacularly.
"Sister..." Tears welled in her eyes. "Are you really suing Mother? After all she's done for us..."
"Done for me?" Sophia swirled her champagne. "By abusing me?"
Emily opened her mouth to protest when she noticed Nathan Lowell's conflicted expression. She seized his hand dramatically. "Fourth Brother, I feel so faint..."
Sophia observed the performance coldly before speaking. "Nathan, ask your question now."
Her glass met the metal table with a sharp clink.
"After tonight, we're strangers."
Nathan wrenched his hand from Emily's grasp. "Why did you revise my score?" His voice tightened. "Why keep it from me?"
The ballroom fell silent. Emily's face drained of color, her perfectly applied lipstick cracking under bitten lips.
Sophia met his gaze.
"I once considered you family." She turned away, her skirt flaring decisively. "Now you're not worth explaining."
Nathan froze as if struck by lightning. A memory surfaced—three years ago, a timid girl hiding in hallway shadows, calling him "Fourth Brother" with hopeful eyes he'd ignored.
"Composer T." A deep voice broke the silence. A broad-shouldered man approached with raised glass, amber liquid reflecting his chiseled features. "An honor to finally meet you."