The piano’s melody flowed like electric currents, instantly sending shivers down Karen’s spine. Gazing at the scene in the grand hall, she stood transfixed in place.
In the center of this luxurious ballroom sat a grand piano, and a man dressed in a suit was seated at it, elegantly playing. Though she could only see his back, Karen was more familiar with that back than anything else – the very back that had haunted her midnight dreams.
Oh, that back was too handsome!
Sophia too was caught in a trance, her familiarity with that back even greater.
How could this be? Sophia thought, her mouth gaping in astonishment.
And then she realized the truth: the one playing the piano was none other than Leo!
Even though Leo had booked the entire Wyndham Grand Palace Hotel, he hadn’t restricted the entry of others. The ballroom was now filled with people. The hall’s acoustics were impeccable, and everyone was immersed in the beautiful, slightly sorrowful melody of the piano. Apart from the piano’s music, there was no other sound.
This scene made Sophia feel like she was dreaming.
Karen’s emotions swung between two extremes – she was excited to finally see the piano man she had longed for, yet the likeness of that back to Leo was unsettling.
Heavenly Father, please, please don’t let it be Leo!
Karen prayed desperately in her heart.
“Please follow me, Miss Sophia,” the man in the suit extended his hand.
Sophia glanced at Karen, then followed the man with a heart filled with excitement, walking down the aisle paved with a red carpet. Rose petals cascaded from above, as if falling in a shower of roses.
Step by step, Sophia approached Leo, who was still playing the piano. Tears welled up in her eyes, and tears of happiness finally flowed uncontrollably.
Tears of happiness couldn’t be more fitting.
Karen’s tears also began to flow, for she had finally seen the face of her piano dream man.
It was Leo.
Her dream shattered, her heart ached.
As Sophia approached Leo, he had just finished playing the melody.
Rising from his seat, Leo smiled with eyes full of affection as he looked at Sophia. In a gentle tone, he said, “Sophia, I dedicate this ‘Marriage D’amour’ to you.”
Sophia could no longer restrain her emotions. She threw herself into Leo’s arms.
This scene ignited an indescribable envy and jealousy within the hearts of all the women present.
It was truly romantic, romantic enough to die for.
Among the many attendees who didn’t know Leo and Sophia, they assumed that his love proposal had succeeded and began applauding.
Finally, Sophia wiped away her tears of happiness, released her grip on Leo’s hand, and playfully scolded, “You’re such a trickster! Weren’t you the one who said you couldn’t play the piano? How do you explain this now?”
Leo chuckled tenderly and replied, “As long as you’re happy, I can do anything. Are you willing to be deceived by me for a lifetime?”
“Do you have that ability?” Sophia stared directly into Leo’s eyes.
Leo didn’t answer with words. Instead, he pulled her close by the waist, lowered his head, and pressed his lips against her rosy ones.
Sophia remained still, neither resisting nor refusing.
The hall erupted once again in applause and shrieks of joy.
On the sidelines, Karen’s face was streaming with tears, not from sadness, but from being moved by the atmosphere and the romance unfolding before her.
Although her dream had shattered, her dear friend Sophia had found happiness. Regardless of how Leo managed to achieve this, at least for the moment, Sophia was filled with happiness and contentment. And that was more than enough.
That pianist’s back, that elusive figure, would forever remain deep within her heart.
The scene at the Wyndham Grand Palace Hotel that day was more spectacular and unforgettable than that love proposal three years ago.
Among the people present were aristocratic sons and wealthy heirs, and they were more curious about Leo. He had managed to reserve the entire Wyndham, so he shouldn’t have been unknown in Langstel. Why hadn’t they heard of or seen him before?
If they knew that today’s protagonist had held a wedding here four years ago, and that he was once a useless son-in-law to a wealthy family, their reactions would be quite different.
Today, Leo only cared about Sophia. Everything else was irrelevant.
The celebration continued late into the night, and Leo and Sophia finally returned home together.
Tonight was truly memorable because Sophia had agreed to let Leo sleep in her bedroom. Even if it was just on the floor, Leo was thrilled.
Leo understood Sophia well. In matters of love and intimacy, she was conservative. Progress needed to be gradual – after all, haste makes waste.
Leo promptly fetched his blanket from next door and set up his makeshift bed near Sophia’s. After getting ready for bed and turning off the lights, he lay there.
Amid the faint scent of perfume in the room and the memory of Sophia in her nightgown after her shower, Leo found himself increasingly restless, tossing and turning without sleep.
It seemed that Sophia wasn’t asleep either.
“Are you cold?” she suddenly asked.
In the midst of summer, the room was even somewhat warm. Despite Leo having just a thin blanket covering him, he certainly wasn’t cold.
So, without much thought, Leo blurted out two words, “Not cold.”
As soon as those words left his mouth, Leo realized his answer was all wrong. He regretted it deeply.
Such a good opportunity, and he had wasted it with such a response. His reaction and lack of wit were truly frustrating.
Hearing no more words from Sophia, Leo had no choice but to weakly ask, “Sophia, what did you say just now? I couldn’t quite catch it.”
Sophia had already pulled her blanket over her head. She had worked up the courage to say those words, but she didn’t expect Leo to be so oblivious.
Hearing Leo’s question, Sophia felt too embarrassed to repeat it and shyly replied, “I didn’t say anything, let’s just go to sleep.”
Hearing this, Leo closed his eyes in despair. The most regrettable thing in the world was right now.
The next day, after dropping Sophia off at her workplace, Leo drove to the Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company. Since the renovation at the clinic was almost complete, he decided to take Jennifer and Sarah there.
Once Grace was able to walk again, Dr. Davy and his daughter would go on a trip, so the clinic needed someone to manage it.
Leo had a plan: Jennifer could handle the financial management, and Sarah, who graduated from the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, could manage the herbal ingredients.
Arriving at the Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company, Leo parked his car in the parking lot and headed to the security office to find Curitis. He wanted to meet his former comrades in the army Curitis had recommended to him a few days ago.