Chapter 831 Public Display of Affection
Jessamine’s facial expression stiffened in an instant, and she looked at Alexander in astonishment. Then, she couldn’t help thinking, He’s so blatantly defending Anastasia now? As expected, a woman’s sixth sense is always accurate. Because of Anastasia’s appearance, Alexander suggested an early termination of our contract.
“Mr. Griffith. Miss Jessamine. It’s time to enter the hall.” The server’s reminder interrupted Jessamine’s thoughts, and she quickly suppressed her surging jealousy.
Then, she held her head high as she caught up with Alexander’s pace and entered the concert hall. Regardless of what happens in the future, at least at this moment, I’m still the future Mrs. Griffith, and I’ll be able to retain my honor as long as I keep this status. The concert started not long after they were seated.
Unlike usual, Jessamine’s attention was all on the concert hall’s audience today. Her gaze swept across every corner of the front row seats calmly. She only retracted her gaze in satisfaction and focused on looking straight ahead with a confident and determined eye once she confirmed that Anastasia and her children were nowhere to be seen. I was right. As expected, Anastasia and her children are not at the same level as us all.
Jessamine smiled dazedly as she listened to the music. It was as if the music had a magical power to put a smile on her face. So she kept smiling for more than an hour, and the muscles on her face got a little stiff by the time the concert ended.
At this moment, the staff suddenly bent down and rushed toward the spot about half a meter in front of the stage. The team then hurriedly retreated after leaving three small benches.
After a while, with his hands holding Alexia and Mimi, Irvin ran out from behind the curtain on the side of the stage. Then, they sat side by side on the three small benches.
Jessamine’s pupils shrank in shock, and she abruptly sat up straight. What?! They’re really sitting in the front?! What’s more, they sit on the seats that are specially added?! I don’t understand! What’s going on here?!
Before Jessamine could comprehend the situation, the host took the microphone and returned to stand in the spotlight. Then, the headlights on the stage went out, and the staff removed the musical arrangement of the previous repertoire behind him, leaving only a piano in the end.
“Everyone must have wished to continue listening to the music, am I right? Fret not. Today, our orchestra has invited a mysterious guest to make an appearance at the finale. I believe everyone will be able to return home to their heart’s content after listening to the performance by our mysterious guest. Now, let us welcome Maestro Yorkson’s protégé, Miss Cardashian, to bring us a wonderful recital of “Swan Lake”!”
At once, thunderous applause sounded throughout the entire concert hall.
In the blurry darkness on the stage, a slender figure slowly walked toward the piano and finally sat down gracefully.
Jessamine’s heart was in her mouth when she saw this. In that instant, she could feel panic ensnaring her heart like a vine, and she chanted in her mind, It better not be Anastasia! Please let it be someone else!
Thunk—
The lights in the hall went out. Seconds later, the spotlight made a big circle as it followed the music that kept the audience at the edge of their seats as they tried to guess just who this mysterious performer was. Then, finally, the spotlights focused and shone on the stage.
Just as Jessamine feared, Elise appeared on stage. She wore a champagne-colored dress, and her hair was done in an elegant updo. Then, she lifted her hands as naturally as a river following its course, placed all her fingers on the piano keys after taking a short breath, and started playing the repertoire that touched the audience’s heartstrings.
Her opening performance alone had earned her another round of applause from the audience.
Even Alexander, sitting on the side of the concert hall, listened to her performance with relish.
Meanwhile, Jessamine was rigid with shock on her seat like she had been struck by lightning. Anastasia is actually Cardashian?! The woman whose talent had shocked the world is actually a single mother of two?! And there I was still recklessly inviting Anastasia to compare notes together just now! Wasn’t that just like me displaying my meager skills before an expert and humiliating myself? Most importantly, I even made a remark about Anastasia’s children being uneducated in front of Alexander! Yet, in reality, the two little fellows might have known the piano maestros since childhood and have no class distinction. Great. I’m being deemed as a petty woman for no reason, and all my efforts to humble myself have gone to waste!
As soon as the recital of the repertoire ended, the audience immediately stood up and gave her thunderous applause to pay their highest respect to such a wonderful recital. Finally, under the appreciative gazes of the masses, Anastasia rose to her feet and thanked the audience gracefully.
Meanwhile, Jessamine missed the timing and stood up slightly later than the rest of the audience. Yet, just when she stood up, she saw a staff member run out quickly from behind the curtain and hand a bouquet of roses to Alexander.
Alexander took the bouquet of roses, checked his outfit, and tidied himself. Once he did that, he moved his feet, preparing to make his way to the stage to present Anastasia with the bouquet of roses.
Jessamine hurriedly grabbed his sleeve and begged him lowly. “I’m still here. Can’t you give me a little respect in front of these people?”
Nonetheless, Alexander was unimpressed by her words. “I remember that this was also written in the contract, no? You should cooperate and act like a graceful, gentle ex at moments like this.”
“But why must it be an occasion like this?” Jessamine asked in frustration, “This is too high-profile. What will others think of me if you present her this bouquet?”
“You should’ve considered this before you signed the contract,” Alexander said as he withdrew his hand indifferently. Then, he added again, “How can my feelings for her be visible if I don’t make it flashy?”
Once he said those words, he walked up to the stage without hesitation. He gave Elise the bouquet of roses in his hand with a flourish as he praised lowly, “As expected of my wife, your piano skills are still as excellent as ever.”
As he spoke, he directly spread his arms and continued to say, “Care to give your loyal audience a hug, Miss Cardashian?”
Elise didn’t know what to do with the man before her. But, she wasn’t going to deny that this surprised her. Hence, she briefly gave him a light hug and immediately released him. Alexander’s daringness truly caught me off guard.
As expected, such a public display of affection naturally raised a storm of conjecture.
“Did you see that? The wealthiest man in town has a new target!”
“But the two of them seem like a perfect match. They look similar to one another.”
“It’s good to be wealthy, isn’t it? So no one dares to make harsh criticism against you even if you’re being greedy and insatiable.”
“Where did Alexander find these women? They’re all women’s role models. I would’ve gone on stage and stirred up trouble if it were me. Yet, Jessamine can actually still watch as this sight unravels in front of her so calmly!”
In the meantime, Jessamine stood still expressionlessly. Her hands that hung by her side clenched her skirt tightly in barely concealed rage and envy, and her face was livid with anger. No doubt, it was an exciting sight for the audience.
Elise and Alexander stood side by side on the stage, allowing reporters to take close-ups to their heart’s content.
Elise only left Alexander again and walked toward the host after the flashing light of the camera continued for several minutes. Once she thought enough was enough, she politely requested the host for his microphone and announced proudly, “Everyone, thank you for coming to the musical concert tonight. In addition to tonight’s repertoire, I plan to publish a personal autobiography in Cittadel. I welcome all of you who have great taste and are brave enough to introduce me to the publishers so that they can come and negotiate a collaboration with me.”
At the same time, Margaret, watching the live broadcast in front of the TV, smashed the remote control in her hand toward the TV screen.
“Anastasia, you b*tch! You’re neither enticed by the carrot nor brow-beaten by the stick, yet you actually wish to surpass me and publish your own autobiography?! Dream on! In that case, may the best woman win!”
As Margaret spoke, she whisked out her phone and issued a notice to the entire publishing industry. ‘Bankruptcy awaits whichever publisher dares to accept and negotiate a collaboration deal with Anastasia White!’
…
After the musical concert, Alexander and Jessamine were more estranged than before despite still looking calm on the surface.
Alexander still held onto his mannerism as a gentleman and drove Jessamine’s two children to school as usual.
Since he knew that this day was the international school’s parent-child event, Alexander stayed behind with Jessamine to accompany her children.
After they had engaged in various activities all morning, a child’s soft voice suddenly sounded not far away just when Alexander was about to take a quick break.
“Mr. Handsome!”
