The young woman had made quite a match-her husband''s family was loaded.


    To keep Mr. Walden from pestering her any further, she returned every cent he''d ever given her, repaying all the support he''d provided when she''d needed it most. But was it really the money that mattered to Mr. Walden?


    He''d invested so much of himself, so much time and heart, only to wind up being used as a stepping stone for her marriage.


    From that moment on, Mr. Walden developed a deep aversion to the idea of the so-called "stay-at-home wife.” In his mind, a housewife who hadn''t touched her violin in five years—no matter how gifted she once was would have had her talent worn down to nothing by now.


    With a heavy sigh, Mr. Walden realized he''d lost hope in ever finding the person he was searching for.


    He stood up and said, "Well, if that''s the case, then let''s just forget it."


    Seeing he was about to leave, Rachel hurried to block his path.


    "Mr. Walden, I''m actually her junior from the academy. Would you... would you consider giving me a chance?"


    Mr. Walden''s reply was measured. "If you''d graduated from the Vanderbilt Academy of Musical Arts and had a rmendation from Mr. O''Brien himself, perhaps I''d take you into consideration. But Neo-Vespera University..."


    He shook his head. "I''m afraid not."


    It wasn''t that Mr. Walden looked down on Neo-Vespera University. It was simply that, in his experience, true prodigies always made it into the school''s Hall of Fame.


    He''d never even heard of this Rachel. No one ever mentioned her.


    Talent... Well, she probably wasn''t anything special.


    Rachel''s face flushed with embarrassment at being dismissed so bluntly, not even granted a moment''s thought. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked pleadingly at Haynes, her expression pitiful and vulnerable.


    Haynes furrowed his brow, then rose and walked over to Mr. Walden.


    "Mr. Walden, if you''d be willing to give Rachel a chance, consider it a personal favor to me."


    Mr. Walden didn''t budge. "Mr. O''Brien, plenty of people want me to owe them favors. If everyone tried to shove their protégés at me while stacking up favors, I''d have apprentices all over the world by now."


    His refusal, so blunt and unyielding, made both Haynes and Rachel look distinctly ufortable.


    Still, Mr. Walden was no ordinary man-he knew who not to offend, and when to soften his tone.


    He shifted slightly, his words less final. "However, I am preparing to select a new group of promising musicians for my uing research fellowship. Ms. Pearce, if you''re confident, you''re wee to sign up for the audition. If you make the cut, I''ll dly give you a chance."


    With that, he nodded to them both and left the room.


    At the café, Ste sat across from a handsome, refined man, taking in his calm demeanor.


    "Mr. Richards, you called me out here in such a hurry-what''s so important?" The night before, Ste had gotten a sudden call from Foreman Richards, saying there was something urgent he needed to discuss. She''d pressed him for details, but he refused to say anything over the phone, insisting they meet in person.


    The truth was, Ste''s feelings toward Foreman wereplicated.


    She used to think highly of him—after all, he was the only one who''d ever spoken up for her when she was falsely used.


    But after he''d lied to herst time, things changed. She understood he had his own reasons, but she couldn''t ept being deceived "for her own good."


    Foreman''s deep, gentle voice cut through her thoughts.


    "Is it true-you''re divorcing Haynie?"


    It wasn''t much of a secret; even Jasper Wilkinson knew.


    Ste didn''t bother hiding it. "Yes, I''ve already filed for the mandatory waiting period. In thirty days, the divorce will be finalized."


    Foreman''s eyes darkened. "Star, the reason I asked you here today... I needed to warn you. Leaving Haynie won''t be that easy. Haynie and Jasper-they''re already plotting something against you.”