Keen said, "But... when I studied French with my tutor, Mom never once joined us. And besides..." He nced toward the stage at Ste, his voice softening, "She speaks even better than my French teacher."


    Jasper scoffed, unconvinced. "That''s just your opinion. If Ste''s French was really that good, why would you need a tutor in the first ce? She could have just taught you herself. I bet she just got lucky-knows a few phrases and now she can''t wait to show off."


    Deanna, overhearing their muttered conversation, couldn''t resist butting in. "What exactly did Ste say?"


    Rachel pressed her lips together, clearly reluctant, but finally tranted Ste''s words for Deanna.


    Haynes sat in silence, his gaze fixed on the woman standing confidently under the stage lights. For a moment, his gray eyes seemed distant, reflecting something soft and unceable-like the memory of a song drifting in from another room.


    A memory, long buried, suddenly surfaced.


    They had been at the O''Brien estate then. Deanna had brought up the idea of hiring a tutor for Keen to learn a foreignnguage. Ste had quietly offered, "I could teach Keen," only to be cut off by Deanna''s dismissive retort:


    "You? Teach Keen? We''re hiring a professionalnguage tutor. What could you possibly teach him? If Keen falls behind because of your meddling, I''ll hold you responsible."


    After that, Ste never mentioned it again.


    Haynes found himself surprised astonished, even-by how much he didn''t know about his former wife. So many things he never expected.


    Astonished? He paused at the word. To him, Ste had always been as in and unremarkable as a ss of water. He had never once imagined she could surprise him.


    To Haynes, love and marriage were separate things. Over the years, he''d never loved Ste, but he''d always believed that simply fulfilling his duties as a husband was enough. He''d never bothered to truly understand her.


    But now, watching Ste shine beneath the stage lights, he felt strangely unmoored, as if seeing her for the first time.


    Across the auditorium, Mr. Burton burst outughing. "Well said! Ste sure put those shameless judges in their ce!"


    Abby looked at him in surprise. "Mr. Burton, you speak French too?"


    Mr. Burton shot her a mock re, feigning offense. "What, you think I''m just some country doctor?


    traveled the world when I was


    traveled


    young. A few foreignnguages are nothing!"


    Abby grinned, quick to tter him.


    "Wow, Mr Burton, not only are you a


    brilliant doctor, but you''re also anguage whiz. What a wonderful surprise! We''re so lucky to know you."


    Her easy charm had Mr. Burton beaming. "You''re a sharp one, aren''t you? I like that! Trust me, your good luck''s only just begun!"


    Neville, overhearing, gave Mr. Burton a thoughtful look before turning his focus back to Ste.


    He''d only ever helped her because of Marvin, or so he''d told himself. But now... he realized he''d stumbled across a hidden gem.


    Meanwhile, Franco was left


    speechless by Ste''s wless


    French Just when he thought she might finally stop, she looked at him and quipped, "Mr. Franco, di@you catch all that?"


    Franco was never good with words; otherwise, he wouldn''t have been foolish enough to try to belittle Ste''s background and credentials in the first ce.


    Just as he floundered for a response, a fellow judge a silver-haired, blue-eyed gentleman-suddenly chimed in, responding in rapid-fire French.


    Ste listened, then smiled politely and replied with equal fluency, her words flowing effortlessly.