"So, you really want me to cancel our engagement?" Nicole asked, feeling intimidated.

It was her greatest threat, and the one that used to shake me the most.

In the past, I could never swallow my pride. Deep down, I always felt reluctant to accept it.

Even though Charles met her before I did, he never truly loved her. If he had, why would he have married that old lady in the first place?

And why, when he found his name missing from her will, did he divorce her and come searching for Nicole?

Thinking about that, I couldn’t help but laugh.

And so, I asked, "Wouldn’t that be exactly what you want?"

At my question, Nicole furrowed her brows. Turning away, she grabbed two around-the-world tickets.

One was for her.

The other...

My heart skipped a beat.

It had my name on it?

I froze.

I had once mentioned to her before that I wanted to travel the world before the wedding.

'Was she really giving me a ticket?'

But in the next instant, Nicole tore the tickets apart. With a casual flick, she tossed the pieces into the air, and they fluttered down around me.

Then she picked up her phone and said aloud, "Rebook the tickets for Charles and me."

She clicked her tongue and then nodded. "Mm, that’s right. Change it.”

After the call, she glanced at me, her lips curling into a smug, disdainful smile. She brushed past me, her shoulder grazing mine as she walked away.

I couldn’t help but wonder if buying me the plane ticket had been merely a show for her mother. Someone who disliked me as much as she did wouldn't act kindly without an ulterior motive.

I touched the brooch on my chest, my fingers lingering for a moment.

I closed my eyes.

It was the only keepsake my father had left me, and it was my family’s centuries-old inheritance.

There was no way I’d give it up.

Carefully, I removed the brooch, placed it in a velvet box, and tucked it into my suitcase. I had planned to leave that night, but then an email notification arrived in my inbox.

It was an invitation to the memorial concert for my father’s fifth anniversary.

They wanted me, his only living descendant, to perform his classic pieces.

I hesitated for a moment, considering the timing.

Then, after a moment, I called Sharon Kennedy.

“Would it be all right if I arrived a couple of days later?”

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"Have you changed your mind?" Sharon asked.

"How could I?" I chuckled softly. "I’ve just got something to take care of."

After a beat, she said, "Alright, I believe you. I’ll wait for you.”

A wave of warmth washed over me.

"Okay," I said softly.

The concert was only two days away.

In the meantime, I didn’t send Nicole any messages.

And, as usual, she didn’t reach out to me either.

I relished the peace, focusing on practicing my father’s music. Though I had it all memorized, I still wanted to present the best version of myself at his memorial concert.

...

That morning, I woke up early.

But when I opened the red velvet box, the brooch was gone.

I froze.

A sense of dread slowly crept over me.

I immediately called Nicole.

On the other end, I could hear the concert hall's background music. It was a symphony, strings, applause.

Instantly, my stomach dropped.

"Are you at the concert? Did you take the brooch?"

Nicole’s voice was as indifferent as ever as she answered, "Charles has never attended performances like these. He’s always dreamed of music, but his family couldn’t afford it. You come from a family of musicians. These kinds of events are second nature to you.

She spoke slowly and deliberately. "Charles’s birthday is coming up, so think of this as your gift to him."

"Nicole!!" My voice echoed through the room.

But all that came back through the receiver was the dull beep-beep of a disconnected line. I dialed again, but no one picked up.

Panic set in.

Within minutes, I was in the car, rushing to the venue as quickly as I could.

The moment I stepped out of the car, the music inside froze me in my tracks.

"No! This song cannot be played at this kind of event!"

On the concert stage, a familiar figure, masked and elegant, sat at the piano.

On his chest was none other than my father’s brooch!

The McDermott's heirloom.

The audience eagerly awaited, hanging on every moment as Charles raised his hand and pressed down on the first note.

"No!" I shouted, desperate to stop him.

But the venue was enormous, and my voice didn’t carry far enough.

By the time I reached the VIP seats, the crowd had already broken out.

“What are you playing?” someone shouted.

"Don’t you know the composer of that piece insulted Mr. McDermott?"

Someone in the crowd even added, "Patrick McDermott was a groundbreaking musician! How could you play the enemy’s music at his memorial concert?"

"Yeah! This is supposed to be a tribute to Mr. McDermott, and as his son, you choose not to play his classics but instead play the enemy’s tune? What the hell are you thinking?"

Anger swelled within the audience, transforming their murmurs into loud shouts.

Had security not intervened, they would likely have stormed the stage by now.

Charles leapt up from the piano bench, visibly trembling. I could almost see the fear in his eyes, even behind his mask.

Meanwhile, Nicole rose from her VIP seat, giving a few swift commands to the bodyguards. In the next moment, her team stepped forward, forming a tight line and gently pushing the angry crowd back, keeping them at a distance of five meters from the stage. Then she stepped forward and shielded Charles, escorting him backstage.

I stormed forward, pushing aside the backstage curtain.

"Charles!" I yelled.

Without a word, I lunged at him for the brooch he stole from me, but a hand seized mine.

"Let me go!" I struggled, frantic to reach Charles.

Nicole’s voice rang out. “Have you lost your mind? Charles didn’t even care that you stole his identity, and yet you keep targeting him! He didn’t ask for anything valuable from you. He just wanted a simple apology and a broken brooch! For you, it’s just a meaningless concert, but for him, it’s a dream! Can’t you show a little heart?"

Ignoring her, I retorted, “Get out of my way!”

I shoved her, pushing her back without thinking.

She stumbled backwards, just managing to catch herself.

"Nicole!" Charles shouted as he lunged forward to catch her.

She stared at me in disbelief. "You... pushed me?"

Breathing heavily, I snapped, "First of all, this is a memorial concert for my mother. Second, that brooch is my family’s heirloom! Only a true McDermott by blood has the right to wear it!"

Nicole froze, caught off guard by my words.

Charles’s eyes turned red.

"You’re lying! If this was really about honoring him, why haven’t you held a concert before? Why now, when I’m holding a birthday concert, do you suddenly care? You can’t stand seeing me accomplish something you never gave me credit for! If you hate me that much, just say it! But don’t you dare lay a finger on her!"

I opened my mouth to respond in anger when a voice from the event organizers outside interrupted.

"Everyone, please calm down! There’s been a misunderstanding. The man on stage wasn’t Mr. McDermott’s son; it was a mistake by the staff. Please, don’t be upset."

"That's impossible!" someone yelled.

The furious voices from the audience echoed through the speakers:

"He’s wearing the McDermott's insignia! I recognized it instantly!"

"Exactly! No one outside the McDermotts could have that brooch!"

"Unless you bring the real one out here, we won’t believe you! Do you dare? Do you?"

The organizers, clearly in a panic, scrambled to respond, "We’ll sort this out, we’ll sort this out..."

"Nicole..." Charles’s voice shook slightly.

I glared at him, my tone cold. "Nicole, make him leave.”

"Nicole..." Charles pleaded, his voice trembled even more.

"Nicole!" I snapped, clenched my teeth, anger swelling in my chest. "This is his fault!"

Nicole hesitated for a moment. Then, with a reluctant sigh, she raised her hand.

Nicole took off Charles’s brooch and said, "Lawrence, change clothes with him."

I thought I misheard. "You... want me to admit that I played that kind of song?"

Nicole didn’t respond, but simply nodded in agreement.

"My father was a revolutionary musician! How could I play that kind of music? It’s Charles’s lack of skill and improper stance! What does it have to do with me?"

"Charles just made a momentary mistake!" Nicole raised her voice, her frustration growing. " He didn’t have the same formal training you did. He doesn’t know as much about musicians as you do, so you can’t blame him.

Then, with a sigh, she said, "I promise, just this once, after it’s over, I’ll marry you."

Still, I adamantly replied, “I refuse!”

I took a step forward, trying to grab the brooch, but Nicole was quick. She easily dodged me and held the brooch out the window.

In panic, I yelled, "Don’t!"

Nicole extended her hand out the window, her voice calm but firm. “You’d really let him bear this humiliation?”

My eyes reddened as I fought to keep my composure.

"And what about me?" I snapped. "Can I bear it?"

For a brief moment, I saw a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.

"Sorry, Lawrence. I’ll marry you," she said. "No one will dare to bully my person."

I clenched my fists, still feeling the weight of her words.

"But," Nicole suddenly switched gears, her voice colder. "If you don’t agree, I’ll have no choice but to destroy the brooch."

"Wait!"

I watched in helpless frustration as the brooch dangled loosely from her fingers, swaying in the wind.

My hands trembled. "I’ll go..."

Before I could finish, the curtain was lifted, and I was pushed out onto the stage in Charles’s suit.

The microphone slammed into my forehead with a loud bang!

Angry shouts filled my ears:

"Traitor! How can you live with yourself after your father’s teachings?"

"When your father hears what you played from the afterlife, how can he rest in peace?"

I gritted my teeth, my anger rising. "I'm sorry..."

The audience continued hollering:

"What good is saying sorry! If you truly feel guilty, then go die!"

"That’s right! Go die!"

"Die!"

With no stop, their voices merged into a furious chant.

My body trembled under the barrage of hatred.

I clenched my teeth tightly, trying to stay steady.

Bending down, I muttered, "I'm sorry..."

Rotten vegetables, shoes, and even phones came flying toward me.

The impact left blood on my forehead.

When I looked up, a familiar figure appeared behind the crowd.

Nicole stood there, watching me.

At that moment, I actually saw a hint of pain in her eyes.

I thought... maybe I was just dazed from the blows, but Nicole turned and walked away.

When I stumbled back to the backstage area, the brooch was, as expected, safely nestled in the velvet box.

It had been wiped clean, looking brand new.

"Here, it’s for you from Nicole," Charles muttered as he reluctantly pushed the box toward me.

My hands trembled as I reached for it. Just as I was about to touch the brooch, another hand snatched it away.

Charles’s cold smile flashed before my eyes.

The next moment, the brooch hit the floor, shattering into pieces.

"You think I’ll really give this to you?" Charles sneered. "Dream on!"

I could no longer contain my patience as my fist struck his face, leaving a dark red imprint.

He stumbled back and fell hard.

"Bastard!" I roared, raising my fist again as fury took over me.

But someone yanked my wrist back.

Another sharp slap echoed through the room.

The sting on my face was sharp, sending pain through my entire body.

I fell to the ground and saw Nicole standing over me. She had never hit me before, not once. Even when she had completely ignored me in the past, the worst she ever did was mock me.

This time, she raised her hand for Charles. Her stiletto heel forcefully crushed the broken brooch into dust.

"The brooch is already with you," she said coldly. "Why did you have to hit Charles?"

I muttered in pain, "Nicole..."

"That's enough, Lawrence!" She gritted her teeth, her voice trembling with fury. "I thought you were just being willful, but you’re even more pathetic than I imagined! Your father never had to see you act like this; it’s truly a blessing for him!"