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!"

"You!"

A mouthful of blood shot out of my mouth.

I was already injured, and now, with anger rushing to my head, everything in front of me went black.

In the meantime, the voice that had been so calm just moments ago turned frantic:

"Lawrence?"

"Lawrence, wake up!"

Someone urgently shook my shoulders.

In my dazed state, I thought I heard Charles’s voice shouting.

"Nicole! Where are you going after leaving me?"

When I regained consciousness, I felt someone gently stroking my cheek. As soon as I moved, the hand quickly pulled back.

"Once you're better, go apologize to him," Nicole said coolly.

I furrowed my brow, still struggling to focus.

“He took a punch from you,” she added. “It still hurts. Just apologize, and then we’ll…”

She hesitated before finishing, "Get married."

Her eyes were red, rimmed from staying up all night by my bedside. She must have been sitting by my bed for a while. But was all of this just an attempt to get me to apologize to her first love?

With that, I said hoarsely, "Nicole, what makes you think I have to be with you?"

She froze.

I let out a bitter laugh. "That punch? I only wish I had hit harder!"

The veins on my hand bulged as I clenched my fist. Even the blood in the IV tube began to backflow.

Nicole's expression tightened. She furrowed her brow, clearly unnerved.

Leaning over, she sneered in response, Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep this up."

With that, she turned and strode out of the room.

By the time the nurse arrived, I had lost a fair amount of blood.

Fearing Sharon would be worried, I checked out of the hospital that evening.

...

At the airport, Nicole and Charles had already begun their journey around the world.

Charles noticed something odd about Nicole. She seemed distant, her mind clearly elsewhere. Ever since their return from the hospital, she had been preoccupied.

Could it be...that man?

No, that’s impossible. Nicole hates him.

But just as they were about to board, Nicole pulled out her phone. Charles glanced over and saw that the top contact wasn’t his name.

Nicole opened the pinned contact and dialed.

The automated voice on the other end responded, "The number you dialed has been powered off."

Nicole frowned slightly.

"Nicole, who were you calling?" Charles asked carefully. "You don’t look happy..."

"It’s no one," she replied, forcing a small, awkward smile. "Just an unimportant person."

'Unimportant? Would you pin someone unimportant?' Charles thought, his brow furrowing.

Then she reached out, took his hand, and smiled again. This time, it was brighter.

"You’re the most important to me," Nicole assured him.

Hand in hand, they walked toward the gate together.

As they passed through the crowd, a man wearing a mask and pulling a suitcase brushed past Nicole, heading toward the opposite gate.

At that moment, neither of us noticed the other.

Later, I would learn that this was the final chapter of our fate.