Chapter 629

Evelyn Sinclair froze.

Her body tensed, instinctively bracing for confrontation.

But the group of black-clad bodyguards rushed past her without a second glance.

A relieved breath escaped her lips. Not their target. Good.

Exhaustion tugged at her limbs. Spotting a nearly empty rest area ahead, she headed toward it. An elegant grand piano stood at its center, gleaming under the soft lighting.

She settled onto the bench, fingers hovering over the keys. A few experimental notes rang out—clear, bright, perfect.

Without thinking, her hands moved into a familiar melody. Kikujiro’s Summer. The cheerful, carefree tune matched her mood—lighthearted after hours of indulgent shopping.

It had been so long since she’d felt this unburdened.

Lost in the music, she barely registered the presence beside her until another pair of hands joined hers on the keys. The new chords wove seamlessly into her own, enhancing the playful rhythm.

Startled, she glanced sideways.

Gregory Thornton.

His warm smile met hers, fingers never faltering as they danced across the piano.

They played in perfect sync, as if they’d rehearsed this duet a thousand times. The lively melody flowed effortlessly between them, light and joyful, drawing smiles from the few onlookers nearby.

Evelyn laughed softly when they finished.

Gregory exhaled, grinning. "Hope I didn’t ruin your performance."

She arched a brow. "Ruin it? Your improvisation was brilliant. If anything, I should be embarrassed."

Few would dare jump into an unrehearsed duet. Their chemistry had been effortless.

"I’ve always loved this song," he admitted. "It’s impossible to feel stressed while playing it."

Evelyn nodded. "True." Then, noticing the growing crowd, she lowered her voice. "We should go. People are staring."

What had been a quiet corner was now uncomfortably crowded. And the more eyes on them, the higher the chance someone would recognize her.