Chapter 3

In the days that followed, Leo suffered frequent episodes. The sound of a spatula clinking against a pan while I cooked would make him lie on the sofa, complaining of a headache.

The sound of a courier ringing the doorbell would cause him to smash a water glass in irritation. Even the faint sound of a car horn on the street would agitate him so much he couldn’t sleep.

And every time, he would call only my name.

“Layla, help me massage my temples.”

“Layla, pour me a glass of water.”

“Layla, make them be quiet!”

I tried asking Riley to look after Leo, but he always waved the idea away. “Riley needs rest for her violin practice; don’t disturb her.”

Everytime she heard this, Riley would seize the opportunity to decline as well.

“Layla, Leo is your boyfriend; it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to take care of him.”

Watching the two of them in such perfect sync, I found it laughable. They were intent on saddling me and me alone, with the responsibility of caring for Leo.

A day later, I listed the house on a real estate website.

A few days later, I received a message from the agent: [The buyer is ready to sign the contract; you can move out in the next few days.]

I replied: [Okay.]

I also booked a flight to Norfolk City for the following week. After receiving the ticket confirmation, my phone suddenly started buzzing incessantly.

A flood of videos appeared on social media.

[A genius struck down! All to tune his lover’s instrument strings]

[Who destroyed the country’s youngest conductor?]

[Injured for love: who bears the blame for his loss of musical ability?]

The video spliced ​​together clips of Leo’s past performances with footage of his injury. It accused me of being the jinx who caused a genius to lose his gift overnight, effectively ‘killing off’ his talent.

The worst of all was that it claimed that my famous original compositions weren’t actually written by me. They were supposedly composed by Leo, then credited to me to pave the way for my career.

Not only had I become the bad omen who caused the genius conductor’s injury, I was now branded a fraud who had built a reputation on lies.

Leo’s parents sought me out. We sat around a table in a private dining room. Leo had brought Riley along as well.

“Layla,” Sandy began, casting a resentful glance my way. “Leo can no longer stand at the conductor’s podium; you have to take responsibility.”

“Exactly,” Ralph added, staring at me. “His rehabilitation will be a long process. You need to look after him until he fully recovers.”

Riley watched me with an air of leisurely amusement, as if enjoying a show.

“Layla, Uncle and Auntie make a valid point. Leo’s career is at a standstill right now; you really shouldn’t be so selfish.”

“Selfish?” I raised an eyebrow at her. “Then why aren’t you taking care of him?”

Hearing this, her hand paused on her teacup, then she smiled innocently. “Me? Why would I? I wasn’t the one who caused Leo’s injury. Besides, you’re his girlfriend.”

Leo moved his hand from the tabletop to clasp Riley’s hand, hidden beneath the tablecloth. A dark look flashed in his eyes as he gazed at me with displeasure. “Isn’t that marriage certificate what you want?” he said. “Once I recover, I’ll marry you.”

Hearing that, I lowered my head and let out a faint, barely perceptible chuckle.

I had already checked his marital status. He was married. The spouse was listed as [Riley].

Yet here he was, in front of his parents and his wife, promising to marry me. In another life, I would have believed him. But this time, I wouldn’t wait for that hollow promise.

“Alright.” I traced the rim of the teacup in front of me. “Leo was injured because of me; naturally, I have to take responsibility.”

The expressions of those present softened slightly at my words.

“The current house is in a bustling downtown area; it’s not suitable for his recovery. I plan to buy a detached house in the suburbs, but I don’t have enough cash on hand. I need three million. Can you do that?”

Sandy frowned. “You caused my son’s injury, and yet you’re asking us for money?”

I shook my head. “You put up the three million to secure the villa first. Once I sell my current house, I’ll pay off the remaining balance immediately. To make it up to Leo, the house will be registered solely in his name.”

Leo looked at me, his slender fingers tapping twice against the table. I knew exactly how much wealth he had.

He wouldn’t lose out on this bet. Three million in exchange for a villa worth ten million on the market was a good deal.

It was bait, enough to bleed him dry, just as I had been in my past life.

“Fine,” he said.