Chapter 105 - The Enchantress Pianist

Arabella froze. Her cold sweat came out and her face turned suddenly pale.

Adam never did ask her about his father before and she was very thankful for it. She didn’t think this time would come and she was not prepared for it.

How could she tell him that his father was the cruelest man in the world?

The most despicable.

A heartless man.

6 years ago, she almost lost her son again.

Lying on the ground bleeding and begging for mercy. She looked at Bill but he only had disgusted eyes for her. At her helplessness and most painful moment in her life, Bill let her witness him kissing Trishia passionately.

Remembering her dark experience, Arabella’s tears instantly came out uncontrollably like a river flowing without any trace of stopping.

“Your father… your father is…” She couldn’t continue as the rest of her words were stuck in her throat. All she wanted to say was his father was dead, but her conscience would not allow it. Her heart had been hardened by her sorrows but there’s still a little soft part that she couldn’t get rid away.

That’s her conscience.

She wanted to kill Bill in the eyes of Adam, but she couldn’t do it. Arabella needed more time to practice it, but she didn’t know this time would come this sudden.

“Mom. It’s okay. You don’t need to answer. I don’t want to see you hurt.” Adam cut her and wiped her tears away, then he simply touched Arabella’s soft cheeks with his little palms. Seeing his mom with hardships, he didn’t want to put her under pressure. He witnessed her mom with nightmares almost every night. Without asking about her dream, Adam knew that his mom’s dream was his father's. She always begged for him in her dream, saying, “Bill help!”. In his little mind, he would make his own way to discover who’s really his real father. He already had a lead and that the name of his father is Bill.

Arabella felt relieved by her son’s loving and sincere action.

“Little fellow, are you awake now?” Damien came out behind the door.

“Uncle Damien!” Adam acknowledged his uncle excitedly.

“I got barbecues. Who wants to eat?” Damien’s hand was full of paper bags.

“Me! Me! Me!” Adam raised his hand first cheerfully. He seemed to be back with his normal hyperactive vigor.

“Me!” Arabella also raised her hand.

Then the three ate happily.

Monday came and Damien solved the problem in Adam’s school. Dressed in his best suit, he formally introduced himself as Adam’s father. With his elegance and good-looking face, teachers included the old principal giggled and started to treat Adam nicely. The three bullied boys were also scolded by Damien. But even without Damien, they felt they had no match with Adam in fighting. Seeing Adam again, they already behaved their selves.

“Flowers for you again.” Lira smiled, showing the bouquet of flowers.

Arabella smiled at her beautiful personal assistant slashed Adam’s nanny.

Lira Moore.

Lira was an orphan and worked in the orphanage managed by nuns in a small village of Country Y. For so many times that Arabella almost lost Adam, she showed her gratefulness by helping to raise funds for the orphanage. Sometimes, she brought Adam to the orphanage to mingle with the children and Adam even took the initiative to teach the children to advance mathematics, science, and music. That’s where Arabella met Lira. She was a long-time servant in the orphanage. Lira took care of the basic necessities of the children with the help of other servants. She approached Arabella to work as she wanted to see another world.

Lira had an ultimate crush on Damien since the first day she saw him. She even volunteered to be Adam’s nanny just to get close to Damien but he had no eyes for Lira but both of them cared for Adam so much.

“Okay, enough with flowers. Please, let me see our bookings first.” Arabella smiled and had full of energy to work.

“Ow! About that Ms. J, this morning the party organizer of the City’s Chamber of Commerce will hold a cocktail party next month and they are requesting you to play.” Lira cheerfully announced.

“Cancel please,” Arabella replied lazily.

“Ms. J, as per Mr. John, the president of the organization had personally requested it. Is your decision final?” Lira knew her boss. Arabella had no intention to play in business gatherings. She canceled so many appointments and chose only those small-time gatherings or her own concert within the city. She didn’t want to gather so much fame and only showed her explicit talent mostly in small towns and selective events in Country Y but because of the internet, she still became famous and known in Country Y as the enchantress pianist.

“I’m sure of it. In the future, please avoid big parties and gatherings especially with politicians and businessmen. Also, with media.” Arabella ordered plainly. She knew Country Y was the smallest country and very far from Capital Z. If Capital Z is in the north, Country Y is at the edge of the south. It’s too impossible that someone in Capital Z would recognize her, but she still didn’t want to lower her guards down. For Adam, she would raise the bar to the highest to make them safe and live a normal life.

“Copy on that, Ms. J. But anyway, the schedule next week at the orphanage for Adam’s birthday was all settled.” Lira happily announced. She knew Damien would be there too, and she was so excited to see the only apple of her eye.

“That’s great.” How could she forget? Adam had the same birthday as his father. A coincidence, but for Arabella, if only she could choose her son’s birthday, she would never choose that day. Though she was very grateful for this day that Adam came into her life, it also reminded her about Bill and his cruelness. Her heart ached every time she thought about it.

“Let’s just finish my concert this week, so I would not think of anything else after. I want to focus on Adam’s birthday.” Arabella said with full of love to her son.

“Got it Ms. J,” Lira said and prepared herself for work.

Her concert was going to be held in a small theater in the city. Her avid audiences were the elites in the city and those who like classical music. Damien and Adam always sat in front to give her moral support and inspiration. Never did she show Adam to the public as she was afraid of any risk for her son.

“Ms. J?” Lira went back to Arabella.

“The famous international singer, Celine wanted you to be part of her show as she would have a world tour and she would drop here to perform. Are you in for it?” Lira excitedly asked her again and her facial expression was wishing that Arabella’s answer would be yes. Though she knew it was next to impossible.

Celine. She was also Arabella’s favorite singer and the most famous singer in the world. Her name was a legend in the music industry. She could perform opera, classic and modern. All her songs were always ranked at the top. Whoever had teamed up with her would surely gain popularity all over the world.

“I can’t.” Without any hesitation, Arabella answered, but her tone had a disappointment. She loved to play as every musician had dreamt next to Celine performing together. It was her chance and this chance only happened once in a blue moon. But thinking of the consequences, she could not risk everything. Surely, all media around the world would be there to cover her grand tour concert. If Arabella would be caught on the camera, she was not only showing people her face and what she was up to for a living now but also good at telling to everyone where’s her location.

A very big chance that people in Capital Z would recognize her.

“Are you sure? Ms. J, pardon me, but musicians were dying just to play with Celine.” Lira wanted to convince her boss.

“I am sure,” Arabella answered and went out for a breather.

Lira was left in a daze. This was the biggest deal they would have if only her boss would agree but she didn’t. With a heavy heart, Lira had to drop the offer. She wanted to know the reason why her boss was so afraid of too much publicity, but when Arabella accepted her, she had made it clear to Lira that she was prohibited from asking personal questions. Lira knew that behind her boss’ smiles, lies an intense sadness that was controlling her soft heart to be cold and a tough person.

On the rooftop of the building, Arabella found it to be her favorite breather place. Here, she could see the overlooking of the city. It was not fancy as Bill’s 360-degree view office wall and the view of Capital Z and her new city was so different. Skyscrapers structures could be counted on the fingers, but she could see clearly the vast sea as they were surrounded by water and greenery. Where people liked music, food, and family.

A place where her new home is. Arabella would not bargain it for popularity. She was just so lucky to find a place where she had a good salary that could provide Adam’s necessities and also, she had Damien and Lira.

She smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. She might not be able to play with Celine for the rest of her life, but she had her new home and family.

It’s all that matters.

After she was convinced of her right decision, she went to Adam’s school to pick him up. Adam went out of the gate with the 3 bullied boys. Arabella was alarmed, but she smiled when she saw the 3 bullied boys follow Adam not to bully him again. They followed them because they were now friends and Adam became their leader.

Arabella shook her head and smiled at her little boy who was acting like a domineering adult. He was like a mini Bill Sky while he was folding his two little arms in front of him and his chin was up like a brave proud man.

“Mommy! Mommy!” Adam shouted excitedly.

“My baby!” She replied with a loving smile.

“I invited my 3 new friends for my birthday. Is that okay mommy?” Adam asked cutely.

“Hmmm… That’s okay. Let me just make some arrangements for them.” Arabella replied with a smile. They had to travel for 3 hours to reach the orphanage. With that, she needed to ask Damien to drive his own car and bring the 3 boys with him.

The night came for her concert. Dressed in a shining white gown, she entered the stage with a huge white piano in the center. The spotlight was focused on her and her white piano at the center. Seeing the enchantress pianist, everyone clapped. She first looked in the direction of Adam and Damien, who were waving at her then she started her first piece. With every piece, she was given a standing ovation.

The concert had successfully ended. The organizer gave her a bouquet of flowers in the center while she bowed to her audience. She flipped the bouquet to see the message.

‘Congratulations! W.’

For 3 years now, she always got the same flowers after her concerts. It was the same flowers in her office that arrived every morning with the sender, W. Those white roses arrived every time she had a concert or even, she performed in small events. It was obvious that W had put a great effort to send her flowers. Before, she asked Lira to trace it, but the name used in the courier was 'your avid fan' only so they just let go of the matter. For some reason tonight, holding the bouquet, made her goosebumps. She didn’t want to encounter another lunatic fan again.

She felt something horrifying inside, but she managed to put up a good smile. Looking at Adam’s proud expression, Arabella smiled happily. She waved and bowed at the people while her smile was not leaving her face until one man from the audience had caught her eye.. Then, all her expressions suddenly vanished.