?<strong>Chapter 334:</strong>


    This was… different.


    “What is it?” she asked, tilting her head as she tried to guess.


    Oliver’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “You’ll see once it’s inside.”


    Carrie followed the workers as they carefully maneuvered the crate through the grand entrance. When they pried it open, her breath caught in her throat.


    Before her stood a grand piano, its body gleaming like crystal, refracting the light in delicate, dazzling patterns.


    Her voice came out in a near whisper. “The piano from Always Be with You?”


    Oliver nodded, his tone pleased. “It was the centerpiece of today’s auction in Orkset. Mr. Norris insisted on winning it for you.”


    Carrie stepped closer, her fingers trembling as she traced the piano’s smooth edges. Its beauty was mesmerizing, and its connection to the beloved film made her heart swell with nostalgia.


    Though she wasn’t an aplished pianist, she had cherished a childhood dream of owning a piano. Especially one like this, imbued with meaning from a beloved film.


    Oliver, noting her reaction, added with a touch of pride, “Mr. Norris remembered you used to y. When he saw this, he didn’t hesitate. He wanted you to have it.”


    Her fingers stilled, and a strange heaviness settled in her chest. The joy in her eyes dimmed, reced by something unspoken.


    “Hmm,” she murmured, her tone distant.


    Kristopher didn’t know its story.


    The story behind the piano flickered to life in her mind. In the movie, it wasn’t just a gift; it was a testament of love. The male lead had risked his life to obtain it, only to die before he could deliver it.


    Hisst wish had been for the piano to reach the woman he loved, bing a symbol of his undying devotion. The piano became as symbolic as an engagement ring, representing his eternal love. The female lead yed the theme song “Always Be with You” on the piano, a tribute to the man she would always remember.


    To Carrie, the piano had always embodied hope, passion, and the idea of love that transcends loss. To Kristopher, it was a status symbol, a glittering trophy meant to impress.


    She let out a soft sigh. Without its story, the gift felt hollow, like it had lost its soul.


    “Why sigh after receiving such a gift?” Kristopher’s voice, low and smooth, came from behind her.


    Carrie flinched.


    Before she could turn, his arm slipped around her waist, pulling her close with effortless confidence.


    Carrie turned her head, carefully masking the swirl of emotions beneath her calm exterior. “I just think it’s too extravagant,” she said, her voice even.


    Kristopher stood close, the faint scent of his body wash lingering in the air. His damp hair fell casually over his forehead, framing the rxed smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.


    “Extravagance is just a value we assign to things,” he said smoothly. “At its core, it’s just a tool.”


    As expected…


    .


    .


    .