133 Both Instrument Were Made For Each Other

"Why?" Brian who was standing beside her asked.

"Well, she was smiling so sweetly, that's why," Leslie answered as she shrugged and continued eating the fruits in her plate.

"Is there something wrong with her smile?" Brian does not get it.

Leslie looked at him and sighed, "She only smiles that sweet whenever she plans on embarrassing someone. Or when she is truly mad. You know when she becomes a real evil person."

Brian nodded before his eyes returned to Ashton and Amber. But not just him, even the others were wondering what Amber was planning.

They didn't see any change in Ashton so they knew that she must have a plan.

"Well, since I feel bad that the Price empire didn't find anyone else to perform for the year end gala, we will give you the privilege of listening to the both of us. That would be your greatest privilege if I might add," she answered with her smile.

"We… have hired some famous performers. It was US giving him the privilege of showing his talent," Madison replied.

Amber laughed, it was not an energetic one but that of an elegant lady, "Why would he need to show his talent to all this people when most of the people around here are unworthy to listen to it?"

She got a few more whispers with her answer.

"Is she trying to pick a fight?"

"Such vulgarity."

"Just what kind of person did the Wright Empire found for their heir?"

Amber looked around her, "If I am vulgar then what are you wearing?"

Someone close to her that has been gossiping for a while now was stunned when she suddenly spoke to her.

That person was wearing a tube gown that was showing half of her chest and a slit in front that reached her mid thigh.

The onlookers couldn't help but to compare the two of them, when that woman stands beside Amber, she looked like someone from a club while Amber looks like someone from a prestigious family.

She was rendered speechless and her face could only turn red out of anger.

Amber smiled before she once again looked back at the stage.

"So tell me? If you have performers why ask someone from another royal family to perform in this gala? When there are so many more choices?"

Others started thinking that she was shielding Ashton as if she was the man protecting the lady.

But Ashton didn't mind, he loves seeing this strong side of hers, for seeing it means that he don't have to worry of her being bullied.

"Don't you feel bad about him? You kept speaking up for him, that makes him look weak," another man asked.

"What do you think?" she asked back looking at Ashton.

Ashton stood there with one hand on her waist as if saying, 'Allow her to say everything she wants, I don't care.'

Amber's eyes turned sharp, "Aren't you the ones trying to shame him? What does he have to do everything you want him to do? Who do you think you are?"

Her words have authority, an immense pressure just like how a queen would usually speak to her subjects.

'That's right, both of your parents were as strong as you are. They care for those who are important to them and would stand up against anyone no matter how many for their friends,' Gideon thought as he watch Amber stand up for Ashton.

Though not everything she said was to her liking, Cathrine found her personality likeable.

"What do you think?" Gideon asked her.

"If they just reject then this wouldn't become this big, why must she try and provoke them?" Cathrine replied.

"Miss Wood, if you didn't want to play, you could have just rejected it in the first place, you don't have to pick a fight with everyone," Glenn answered not wanting what she had just said.

"Reject? If there is room for rejection then you would have requested for him to play, in person not when you are already on the stage. If you didn't want to embarrass him, then why didn't you do it?" Amber retorted.

Gossips once again started but this time it was towards Glenn and Madison, for Amber was indeed right.

If they didn't want to embarrass Ashton, then they would indeed ask him in person.

Glenn could only grit his teeth as he look at Amber, he hid it quite well but his hatred was still a little bit visible.

"Well, since we already accepted it, we won't fail you and would play a song for you," Amber looked smug as she had achieved her goal.

Ashton looked at her proudly and a smile was visible in his eyes.

Cathrine had a shock look in her eyes, since when had she last saw such look from him. Even with Madison it was not like this, there was happiness in them but only to this lady did she saw him look proud.

"Shall we?" Amber smiled happily as she look up at him, Ashton guided her up the stage.

"Such daring person, we need a much deeper investigation about her," Clarkson Price, Amber's paternal grandfather, commanded.

"Yes father," Harry, Glenn's father, replied respectfully.

Without his father telling him, he already has a plan of checking on her.

She was of humble birth, that was how they investigated her but why is it that she does not seem like a child of humble birth.

"Are you sure about this?" despite going with her, Ashton still asked.

"My memory of how you look when we were children may be a blur but I do remember playing with you back then, too bad we didn't get the chance to play again."

She had a small pout in her lips as she spoke of this.

She was playing the piano from back then just for fun but after having a duet with him, she diligently learned to play it properly, in the end, she didn't get the chance to play with him again.

"Nice piano you have here,"she commented when they reached the stage.

"Too good for you," Madison remarked.

"No, I think I am too good for it," she answered with a grin.

Madison could only glare at her shamelessness.

Amber looked at Ashton, while the whole place turned silent.

Only a few knew of Ashton's talent in violin while no one knew of Amber's. So this silence was anticipation for both of them to either embarrass themselves or to prove themselves worthy.

"What to play?" Ashton asked.

"That one back then," she replied.

"You can still remember it?" Ashton was amused.

"I still have quite a few memories of that time intact," she retorted.

Ashton half smiled as both of them readied themselves.

And soon the sound of both the violin and the piano engulfed the whole hall.

"Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique 2nd movement," Timothy whispered as they listened to them play.

A different view came to his mind, it was that of two children, one was a boy who was of the same age as Xander and another was of a young girl.

There are still rough areas but their movements were in sync as if they have practiced the piece a hundred times.

He glanced at Xander and he can see the same look as what he had a while ago, he was seeing a different scene.

Timothy shook his head, trying to remove such scene in his head, he didn't want to remember anything about the time they were still complete.

Of course both of them also remember that they were once acquainted with Ashton but since that was only once and that it was long ago, they no longer count on it.

Even Liana and Kyle had this scene right in front of them.

This was also the only time Ashton truly played the violin for a whole movement. No matter how short it was back then, he became bored of it but when he had this duet with Nathalie (Amber's real name), he was able to finish a movement that was about 5 minutes long.

After that, there's no more, he easily get's bored as if playing on his own was not enough and even playing with others does not let him play the way he wanted.

Both of them finally remembered, it was that one time, where both children heard of the piece twice and both were able to play it even without the aide of a musical sheet.

It was that time where they saw him enjoy the instrument.

And that enjoyment is something they are once again witnessing now, he may not be smiling but both he and Amber are immersed in their own world.

Both are playing the instrument shinning on their own without contrasting the other.

As if the instruments were speaking with each other, supporting each other, giving the lime light to each other.

Like both instruments were made for each other.