Weston and Lucas were of one mind when it came to this matter. “If there’s nothing important, don’t go to places like that anymore,” Weston warned. Stella, fully aware of her position now, didn’t argue. “Okay. I understand.” She agreed quietly, her mind already focusing on something else—the future.
She would remember this day. The last day of October. In exactly one year, she would break free from the cage that held her. From that moment on, she would be counting down the days until she could leave Weston behind. The thought of leaving him brought a sense of relief. The weight she had carried for so long seemed to lift, if only for a moment.
She wasn’t sure where he was taking her, but as the car drove on, she let the wind from the open window tousle her hair. Noticing the mess it made, Weston rolled up the window slightly. “Be careful. Don’t put your head out,” he said, his tone that of someone speaking to a child.
Stella rested her chin in her palm, looking out the window. Through the reflection in the glass, she could see his profile. It was only a fleeting reflection, but she couldn’t help but notice the sharp lines of his jaw. She stared at him, her expression neutral.
She understood why Guinevere was so taken with him. He was handsome, charming—everything a woman might desire. But Stella had learned the hard way that beneath that pleasant exterior was nothing more than a selfish man. When she lost her child, she had also lost any love she had left for him. Now, as someone who was only half a soul, she no longer found him attractive, not in the least.
The car came to a stop in front of a piano shop, and Stella blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected this. She thought Weston had taken her out simply to relax, but now she stood staring at the familiar sign in front of her.
“Musx?” she murmured softly, almost in disbelief.
She had learned to play the piano as a child, and Musx was a name she knew well. As one of the most renowned brands for musical instruments, it was a symbol of excellence. For music enthusiasts, an instrument from Musx was like an inseparable part of their soul. It was the Rolls-Royce of musical instruments, revered for its unmatched quality.
Her parents, always supportive of her passions, had spared no expense when it came to her education. They had bought her a piano from Musx, a beautiful instrument she had cherished for years. But after their deaths, the weight of their debts forced her to sell it. That loss had hurt her more than she had let on, as the piano had been one of the few things that truly connected her to them.
The name Musx alone was enough to evoke longing in any music lover. The craftsmanship was unparalleled, and the annual production of these pianos had declined as the master craftsman aged, making them even more precious. The few people who could afford to buy one had to wait for years, such was the demand.
Stella was no stranger to the difficulty of obtaining one of these instruments. Musx’s owner was an eccentric old man, known for his grumpy nature. Yet, his skill was undeniable. Every instrument he crafted was meticulously tailored to fit the player. Many wealthy businesspeople had tried to persuade him to mass-produce his pianos, but he had turned them all down. Musx was a brand with a soul, an instrument crafted for the passionate, not for the profit-driven.
When Weston saw the excited, almost longing expression on Stella’s face, he knew they had come to the right place. “Go inside and take a look,” he said, giving her a gentle pat on the head.
Skip to content