After I Amazed the World the Cold Alpha Regretted

Chapter 164

Holt chuckled lightly, trying to downplay her skepticism.

"Good? No, Aria, it was beyond that. You wouldn't understand-it's something only a true connoisseur could grasp "Excuse me?" Aria straightened up, crossing her arms defensively. "I play plans row, you know. I'm not a layman." Holt looked mildly amused but didn't respond, choosing instead to pull out his checkbook

He uncapped his pen and began to write my payment.

re he could finish, Aria snatched the pen from his hand.

Her voice was cold as she spoke.

"Elizabeth is our enemy, Uncle. You can't be supporting her, not when she's done so much damage to our Oceanheart Tribe. If you choose her, I'll tell my father everything."

Holt hesitated for a moment, visibly troubled as he paced the room, before returning to the study.

His face wore an apologetic smile that didn't quite reach his eyes as he said, "I'm terribly sorry, Miss Elizabeth. It appears that my client just called me... He's not too happy with the performance." The words hit me like a cold slap.

My eyes dimmed, and the hopeful smile on my lips faltered.

A wave of disappointment washed over me, so heavy it felt like my chest might cave in.

**The fruits of years of practice and passion, dismissed so easily.**

There are few things more devastating than pouring your soul into something, only to have it rejected.

I forced a small smile, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

In that case, forget it." The words were empty, like an attempt

step, as though the weight of my unspoken frustrations and shattered expectations pulled me deeper

and manicured bushes, faded into the background

poured everything into that

practiced for endless nights, playing until my fingers ached, refining every note until

carried my dreams, my passion, and

it had been dismissed so easily by Holt and the mysterious client

time, I wasn't

time I arrived home, the sun had already set, casting

the piano room, but instead of turning on the light, I sank into the darkness, allowing it

darkness understood how

the door

maid, her voice tentative. "Miss, dinner

replied quietly, not

an

Chapter 164

D

you're done,

sensing something was wrong, but she didn't push

a moment later, the faint sound

off. She left earlier looking upset, and now she's back but won't eat or talk. I

finish this meeting in

Leo arrived, the villa