Chapter 6
Emilia chose her words carefully as she continued, “Mr. Kaufman doesn’t seem happy either. Last night, I saw him sitting in the living room, staring at your photo for a long time. I think he wants you to come home.”
Listening to that made me nauseous.
“What happens in that family is no longer my concern. Don’t bother reporting it again!”
I drank the Love Eraser, so I had no love left for them.
I continued being Troy’s mom.
Six months later, he made a name for himself at the International High School Piano Competition, winning the North American division. championship.
This time, he practically blew up the internet.
Grinning from ear to ear, I hugged my precious son and planted two big kisses on him.
Troy blushed, like a shy little rose.
I cheered him on, “Keep it up! Go for the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the end of the year. If you win there, the prestige will be off the charts!”
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was one of the world’s most prestigious contests. Back in college, I had dreamed of competing, but Antonio had cut that dream short.
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Troy blinked and suddenly suggested, “Grace, there’s no rush for me, but you should go for it. I think you play better than I do. You could totally win in the adult category.”
I was stupefied for a moment, but then I realized he was right.
Why shouldn’t I go for it?
Eighteen years of suppression and torment had eroded my dreams and ambition.
Somewhere along the way, I started believing I wasn’t worthy of having dreams at all.
“Alright! I’m going to challenge the best pianists in the world!”
I found my dream again. I practiced like a maniac, compressing my already tight schedule.
I cut meal times and sleep to increase practice hours. I even cut all my social activities.
By the end of the year, I boarded a plane for the competition.
Three days later, I stunned the world at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition!
I placed second in the adult category.
It was not the championship, but I was more than satisfied. As I accepted. my award, tears streamed down my face.
No one knew how long I had waited for this moment.
A dream from my youth finally realized, with eighteen years of hardship
in between.
Chapter &
On the day I returned home, a small crowd of fans was waiting at the airport. Among them was Troy.
For the first time, he hugged me on his own, his eyes red.
When we got home, he pointed angrily at a huge pile of luggage in the backyard and said, “Grace, the day after you left, your husband and son moved all your stuff here. They said you don’t have to go back anymore.”
I had actually received messages from Antonio the day I left town.
He was angry. “Grace, how long has it been since you came home? I don’t really care, but you’re the wife of the Kaufman Group’s CEO. Do you know how many people are watching you? You ran away from home and took in some godson. Don’t you find that humiliating?”
“I also found out you’re flying out of town for some stupid competition. Are your stupid hobbies more important than me and our son?”
To him, my dreams were nothing but stupid hobbies.
So I replied, “Everything I do is more important than you and Fraser.”
That must’ve set him off, because he shot back a warning. “If you don’t come home tomorrow, then don’t ever come back.”
Of course, I agreed.
Who the hell wanted to go back?
“Good.” I glanced at the luggage in the backyard and found nothing valuable.
This was just Antonio and Fraser throwing a tantrum.
Men can be ridiculous sometimes. They act like they don’t care if you love. them, but the moment you actually stop, they can’t stand it.
55 91%
Whatever.
I’d got better things to do.
My stunning performance at the contest made me famous. Some people visited me just to pay their respects, and others invited me to perform.
I turned most of them down until I received an invitation from my alma
mater.
The college president personally sent an invitation for me to attend the centennial celebration.
