No Strings Attached

Chapter 261

Those words cut through Heidi, leaving her with nowhere to hide her shame. Turning to Ian with a pitiful look, she pleaded, "Ian, I didn't mean to embarrass Clara. It's perfectly normal not to have any special talents. Not everyone is gifted, you know. You don't have to be so protective of her."

Her words implied that Clara was devoid of any talent and that any attempt would be a spectacle of embarrassment.

Ian was about to speak up when Clara's delicate hand covered his mouth. With a twinkle in her eye, she reassured him, "As a proud attorney, do I really need Mr. Hayes to speak for me? Don't worry, Ian, I won't let you down."

Turning her gaze to Heidi, Clara asked confidently, "So, what would you like to challenge me to?"

Heidi feigned embarrassment, "Oh, I was just speaking off the cuff. Don't take it to heart. It's okay if you can't perform. I just thought Grandma Rose has been so good to you, and it would be a shame not to do a little something for her birthday, don't you think?"

Clara nodded in apparent agreement. "Well, you have a point. But I only know a bit of piano, and I gave it up in high school because the coursework was just too demanding."

Heidi's heart swelled with glee at Clara's admission. "It's all right, darling. Grandma Rose won't mind. You must still remember 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,' right? Or even 'Happy Birthday' would do."

The thought of Clara playing 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' in front of all the guests, as the future matriarch of the Hayes family, tickled Heidi. What a comical scene that would be! Clara would be out of her depth in no time.

With a sly gleam in her eye, Heidi anticipated Clara's fall from grace.

Clara frowned slightly as if troubled. "Well then, I shall oblige. Let's see what I can remember and improvise." With that, she approached the grand piano on stage.

Whispers followed her, but Clara seemed unaffected, taking her seat at the piano with composure.

Indeed, she played 'Happy Birthday' to everyone's surprise. The performance drew murmurs from the crowd. Such a simplistic piece was unheard of among the elite youth's recitals. Heidi's satisfaction bloomed at the corners of her eyes.

However, as the final chords of 'Happy Birthday' faded, and everyone anticipated Clara's awkward exit, the hall was filled once more with the intricate melodies of a piano.

Heidi was stunned. This was 'Chasing Snow,' the same piece she had played earlier. The song was fast-paced, intensely rhythmic, and notoriously difficult to perform. Yet Clara played with ease and grace, her rendition devoid of the chill of snow but instead filled with joy and boundless passion.

It was like watching two lovers frolic and chase each other through a snowy landscape, a blend of romance and the picturesque beauty of a winter wonderland.

The audience was entranced.

Heidi's fists clenched involuntarily.

Impossible.

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Clara hadn't played the piano for years. How could she still be so good, even better than Heidi by leaps and bounds?

The most unsettling thing was the resemblance of Clara's style to May's. Heidi could barely contain herself, worried that someone might realize Clara was May's daughter, especially her grandmother, who had been reminiscing about her own daughter lately.

As Clara's performance came to an end, she bowed deeply to the crowd, which erupted into enthusiastic applause and genuine praise, far warmer than what Heidi had received.

At that moment, Marian, who had been watching from below, stood up and approached Clara. Taking her hand with tears streaming down her face, she asked in an emotion-filled voice, "May, is that you?"