After I Vanished, He Finally Realized What He Lost

Chapter 8

I nodded, feeling a surge of confidence. I had no doubt about Jarren's current abilities. While his fame in the industry wasn't quite on par with Linus's, I knew that with the right opportunity, Jarren's brilliance would eventually capture the world's attention. I just hadn't expected that day to come so soon.

Every orchestra follows its own performance schedule, with different phases of excitement and anticipation. On this particular day, after the final performance had officially wrapped up, I stood at the side of the stage, applauding for Jarren and the rest of the musicians.

Suddenly, Jarren locked eyes with me, his gaze confident, and made his way toward me. My heart skipped a beat. Just as I began to wonder what he was up to, he took my hand and led me toward the center of the stage.

In that moment, Jarren brought me into the spotlight. The crowd's applause filled the air, and I basked in the acknowledgment I had longed for over the past ten years but had never received. The bright lights above illuminated us, and the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause. For the first time, I felt the glory that had always been rightfully mine.

I silently thanked Jarren, but he just smiled and said, "This is exactly what you deserve."

There was warmth in his eyes, and I tried to conceal it by lowering my gaze. But just then, I noticed Linus sitting in the front row, his eyes bloodshot, staring at us with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine.

In the blink of an eye, he was on his feet, storming onto the stage. "The great artist Jarren really knows how to make a spectacle," Linus sneered. "You'd think his skills were something out of the ordinary! With all that talent, I wonder if you're bold enough to challenge me live!"

I had never seen Linus lose his composure like this, especially in front of an audience. He had always been regarded as a highly esteemed genius, commanding respect and admiration wherever he went. Now, his provocative behavior seemed completely at odds with the proud image he once held. The audience murmured in confusion.

"Isn't that the piano genius Linus? He's actually challenging someone?"

"Yeah! Everyone knows he's always been so arrogant, claiming there are no rivals in the world. What he just said, he's definitely paying attention to Jarren!"

"By the way, that lady on stage seems to be Linus's former manager and ex-fiancée. With all the drama lately, could Linus have come here to win her back?"

"Don't you think? The tension between the three of them is pretty obvious!"

The audience's curiosity was palpable. Although I couldn't understand why Linus had chosen to cause a scene like this, I was determined not to let our past drama overshadow Jarren's moment.

"You don't need to compete with him," I whispered to Jarren. "Just ignore him. Your talent doesn't need to be validated through this."

Jarren met my gaze, his expression unwavering. "Don't worry about me. Everything I lost in that competition ten years ago, I intend to take back today."

His resolve was clear, so I didn't press him further.

Turning my back on Linus's inexplicably sorrowful gaze, I stepped aside to give them the space they needed.

They both sat down at grand pianos, and the competition began. The music filled the room, echoing from speakers on both sides of the hall. Linus played with fierce intensity, his performance charged with raw energy. On the other hand, Jarren remained composed, delivering a warm, gentle sound that was unmistakably his own. The contrast was striking.