Chapter 45

Chapter 45:
The sound of the piano drifted through the air, as gentle as a soft breeze, while the man’s eyes shone with pride and affection for his daughter. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ.net
He looked at her and said, “Look at you now—you’ve made it, haven’t you?”
Wonder swept across the girl’s face as she stared at her hands, her fingers gliding over the keys and filling the room with sweet music.
A bright smile appeared on her face. “Dad, I actually did it!” she said, joy ringing in her voice.
He answered with a proud nod and a gentle smile. Then, he turned his attention to the woman who leaned gracefully against the grand piano, her chin resting in her palm as she watched father and daughter with a look full of warmth.
Her beauty was impossible to ignore. She wore a bold red dress, and her long curls tumbled over her shoulders in lazy waves, giving her a captivating presence.
A soft pat on the girl’s shoulder signaled the man’s next move. He strode over to the woman.
With one hand tucked behind his back and his body bent in a polite bow, he extended his hand, inviting her to join him. “Would you dance with me, sweetheart?”
Her eyes sparkled as she slipped her hand into his. “I’d love to,” she replied, her voice gentle and bright.
Music from the piano filled the space, rising with energy as the man spun the woman around. Her red dress fanned out, the moment captured like a painting in memory.
Meanwhile, the little girl continued playing, each note chosen with care and happiness.
Another breeze swept through, and she glanced up, watching the light curtain billow softly in the moving air.
Beyond the glass, she spotted a young boy on the balcony of the neighboring villa, dressed in a cream polo, quietly observing the scene inside.
His hair was tousled across his forehead, and his eyes, deep and steady, held a keen sharpness.
L𝑎t𝑒st ch𝑎pt𝑒rs in
Moments slipped away, and Millie watched the boy’s youthful features fade, gradually blending into the more serious and composed look of Brandon as an adult—someone marked by quiet strength and hidden edges.
A shrill sound broke the spell. “Beep, beep, beep.”
Millie’s eyes snapped open inside the hospital room. Everything swirled before her, and the white ceiling spun above her head.
A wave of nausea rolled over her, sudden and intense. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled her nose, and pain throbbed along her temples.
It took her a moment to realize she was lying in a hospital bed. The sensation was so unsteady it felt like she was adrift at sea.
The images from her dream flickered in her mind. She saw her parents sharing a dance from years past. Young Brandon’s steady gaze also kept appearing, as if he lived inside her memories.
Without making a sound, tears slipped down Millie’s cheeks. She couldn’t tell if it was the pain in her body or the weight of old memories that brought them on.
Someone from the hallway shouted, “So now you’re desperate to shift the blame because you were the one who hit her?”
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