My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 608

Emily Blair had just finished a careful inspection—every visible corner of the piano was spotless, and even with so many people playing it day after day, its tone remained as clear and precise as ever.

She smiled to herself, pressed her fingers gently onto the keys, and began to play.

The piece was "Love," a song Isabella Austin had famously plagiarized. Emily had always disliked the tune. She’d only ever heard Isabella perform it at competitions; otherwise, she’d never bothered to listen or even glance at the score.

No matter how skilled she was, that inner resistance meant her rendition would never be perfect.

Still, for a café setting, it was good enough.

When she finished, the applause was even louder than before, with a few cheers thrown in for good measure.

Sliding off the piano bench, Emily realized Rose Ward was still standing nearby, staring at her in disbelief.

Even as Emily met her gaze, Rose’s expression didn’t change.

Emily ventured, “Rose, is something wrong?”

Rose snapped out of her daze, shaking her head with a slightly faded but still gentle smile. “No, no, I’m just… surprised, that’s all.”

Emily gave a half-laugh. “Did I play that badly?”

Rose shook her head again, more emphatically this time. “Not at all. You played beautifully. I just didn’t expect you to choose that piece.”

Leaning back against the wall, Emily shrugged. “It was composed by Isabella Austin, after all. Sure, it’s not as famous as her other works, but it’s still a solid piece. Really nothing to be surprised about.”

She added lightly, “Besides, I’m a big fan of hers. I just really like this song, so I figured, why not?”

Rose stared at her for a long second, then forced a small smile. “You’re a fan of hers? That’s… that’s nice.”

Picking up on Rose’s odd tone, Emily smiled gently. “Rose, I heard you graduated from the Royal Academy of Music. Would you be willing to give me some pointers? I know you’ve been patient with me, but I’m well aware I’m not exactly a virtuoso.”

Rose pressed her lips together, shaking her head. “Sorry, I’ve got work to do. There are still orders to fill for other customers.”

Emily tried not to look disappointed. “Alright, I won’t keep you, then.”

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