It was obvious Vernon held no fondness for Jennifer. His expression stayed distant as he ignored her and took another sip of coffee.
A flicker of discomfort passed over Jennifer's face, and her hands tightened against the sides of her wheelchair.
Theo gave her a look, and she caught on right away. With a small nod, she guided herself toward the front.
Facing the crowd, she spoke in a soft tone. "It's Vernon's birthday today. I'd like to play something on the accordion to wish him a happy birthday."
Her voice stayed gentle. Under the lights, dressed in white, she sat straight in her wheelchair, every movement measured.
Her fingers pressed against the keys, and the music began. The tune came out steady, yet it lacked depth. A few notes slipped off pitch.
When she finished, the guests responded with polite applause.
Many of them were well-versed in music. They could tell right away it wasn't refined. Their smiles stayed in place, but their thoughts told a different story. It barely reached a beginner's level, yet she had the nerve to perform before them.
As soon as she left the stage, Theo spoke up without hesitation. "Jennifer is a talented accordionist. She'll be holding her own concert soon."
A quiet laugh escaped Olivia. Just to protect Jennifer, Theo didn't mind making himself look foolish.
Moments later, Theo turned to Vernon, and a rare softness appeared in his expression. "Jennifer's concert is coming up. It would mean a lot if you could attend and support her."
Each word cut into Olivia like a knife.
She had stood on stage countless times with the orchestra, yet Theo had never once been there. Now he was asking his grandfather to show up for Jennifer?
Her gaze dropped, and a shadow crossed her face.
A scoff left Vernon. "Absolutely not. I don't waste my time on things like that."
After a pause, his tone turned warmer. "If it were Olivia's concert, though, I'd be sitting right in the front."
The color drained from Jennifer's face.
She understood what that meant. Without Vernon's approval, becoming part of the Harvey family would never happen.
And in her mind, Olivia was the reason.
A thought took shape, and she moved back beside Theo. Turning toward Olivia, she put on a soft, teasing smile. "Olivia, you're known as the youngest accordionist in the country. With a day like Vernon's birthday, how could you not play something for him?"
Her gaze drifted to Olivia's wrapped hand, and a faint smile followed.
On any other day, she knew she wouldn't stand a chance.
But now, with that injury, Olivia couldn't possibly perform.
Jennifer had already decided. She would make sure Olivia embarrassed herself in front of everyone.
Making her perform now would only push the injury further. There was no outcome where Olivia could come out on top.
Olivia's eyes dropped to her aching hand, and discomfort showed on her face. "I can't—"
Theo didn't let her finish. He leaned in, and his voice lowered, his breath brushing her ear. "It's Grandpa's birthday. Think about what you're doing. Jennifer already played. Are you really going to turn this down?"
He had noticed her injury. Still, not once had he asked about it. Instead, he was urging her toward the stage.
Something tightened in Olivia's chest. The pain in her hand flared, yet she kept her expression steady as she looked at Vernon. "Since someone like Jennifer could perform, it wouldn't be right for me, as Theo's wife, to sit this out."
Rising to her feet, she gave Jennifer a small, polite nod before heading toward the stage.
She reached for the same accordion Jennifer had used. It wasn't the one she preferred, but its quality was undeniable.
After a brief adjustment, she began to play the very same piece Jennifer had played.
Just a few notes in, Jennifer's face went pale. "She's playing the exact same piece as me!"
As she turned toward Theo, hurt filled her eyes, but his attention stayed fixed on Olivia. He didn't even look her way. Jealousy rose within her.
Under the lights, Olivia's hands moved swiftly over the keys. Blood slowly soaked through the bandage.
She pushed through the pain and pressed harder on the keys as the image of Theo standing with Jennifer filled her mind, each note carrying the anger, hurt, and defiance she refused to voice.
The rhythm picked up without warning. What began steady soon burst into something fierce and uncontrollable.
A voice broke from the front. "Is that... blood?"
Red spread across the pale surface of the accordion. Olivia's injured hand gave way under the strain, smearing the keys as drops fell onto her gown and stained the floor beneath her.
Still, she didn't stop. Her hands kept moving. The sound climbed higher, sharp and unyielding, pulling everyone in.
"Bravo!" someone called out. Then more voices followed, until the room filled with applause. No one could look away.
Set against Jennifer's earlier performance, Olivia's felt overwhelming, like it belonged to a different world entirely.
Moisture gathered in Vernon's eyes. "My poor Olivia," he said quietly. "She's hurt... and she still did this for me."
Under the lights, Olivia sat there, pale and stained with blood, yet nothing in her expression wavered.
From the crowd, several young heirs watched closely, their admiration clear. Even a well-known playboy let out a low whistle. "Mrs. Harvey... you're something else."
Watching from where he sat, something twisted inside Theo. A possessive tension settled deep within him.
Jennifer caught it. Her expression tightened.
Why?!
Even like this, Olivia still outshone her.
Even like this, she still held his attention.
The thought burned, and a decision formed. She wouldn't let this continue much longer.
When the last note faded, Olivia slipped away to the restroom to tend to her hand. The moment she stepped back out, Theo grabbed her and pushed her against the wall.
He closed the distance between them without hesitation, his hold firm and unrelenting. She pushed against him, but his grip didn't loosen.
What he had seen on that stage stayed with him. The way others looked at her stirred something he couldn't ignore. All he wanted was to keep her away from them.
When she finally drew in a breath, he pulled back slightly, his hand still holding her in place. His voice dropped. "Olivia, you belong with me. Don't forget that."
