"Finn, the soundproofing here is terrible. Aren't you worried she'll hear?"
"Worried about what? Isn't it more exciting this way? Just let go a little. Even if she finds out, I can explain."
"She owes me for saving her—that washed-up heiress. She'll believe anything I say."
"Besides, her parents are bankrupt, and she's carrying my child. She can't leave me."
My eyes flew open. My nails dug into my palms, and sleep was no longer an option.
I dragged myself up and sat at the piano, letting the music drown out their noise.
It didn't take long for them to show up at my door.
The moment I opened it, I was met with Finn's deep frown—and Kate in a short skirt and plunging nightgown.
"Isabella, do you have any idea what time it is? You're banging away on that piece of junk just to keep Katie awake, aren't you?"
Kate chimed in, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "I'm really sensitive to noise. Even a little sound keeps me up. I hope Miss Henson can be more considerate."
I looked at them both and let out a cold laugh. I had nothing left to say.
"Fine. Got it."
I shut the door and called my dad.
"Dad, I want to come abroad and take over the new company."
I heard him leap up from his office chair. "That's wonderful! Your mom and I miss you so much. Hurry and come!"
After hanging up, I made a pallet on the floor of the piano room and slept there.
When I woke the next morning, half the piano keys had been pried off.
This piano was the only thing Mom and Dad left me after the bankruptcy. It had been with me for six years. I was deeply attached to it.
I couldn't hold back anymore. I stormed into the bedroom and yanked Kate up by the arm.
"Who told you to touch my piano? Who said you could go into my room?"
Just as I was about to slap her, Finn grabbed my wrist.
He was holding a pack of sanitary pads—probably something he'd just bought for her.
"Isabella, have you lost your mind? Who said you could hit anyone?"
I ignored him and tried to wrench free.
Finn's face went cold. He roared at me.
"Enough! You're just looking for reasons to pick on Katie. You're attacking someone over a broken piano!"
"And the house is mine. Since when is that room your private space? Katie has every right to go in. Stop acting like you own the place!"
I lowered my hand. In his eyes, I was just a lunatic.
While I was trying to figure out how to repair the piano, Finn called in a few workers.
He ordered them to drag it out and throw it away.
I tried to stop them. I fought so hard I split my head open.
In the end, I lost my strength and could only watch as the piano was hauled off like scrap metal.
After that, Finn sealed up the piano room and took back my key.
He brought over a first-aid kit and carefully bandaged the wound on my forehead.
Seeing me sitting there in a daze, he leaned in to kiss me—but I pulled away.
His brow furrowed, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. "Bella, why are you avoiding me?"
"I'm doing this for your own good. So you'll stop fighting with Katie over a piano. It's not good for either of you."
"You're pregnant. You can't afford intense mood swings, you know?"
I almost laughed. This piano room had been personally designed and renovated by Finn.
Knowing I'd loved piano since childhood, he'd bought stacks of sheet music for me.
He used to sit with me for hours while I played.
When he got lost in the music, he'd pull me into his arms.
"Bella, will you play piano for me for the rest of our lives? What I mean is—I want to spend my life with you."
I cut off the memory and ripped off the bandage he'd just applied.
