Martin thanked her and was just about to apply the ointnt when he heard Eunice ask, "Serena, aren’t you going to lend a hand?"
It was then Serena realized that in front of her aunt, she might seem a tad indifferent as Martin’s girlfriend.
"No need, I’ve got this," Martin said gently, giving Serena a tender look. "Serena’s hands are made for playing the piano."
At the ntion of playing the piano, Eunice’s curiosity was piqued.
"Serena, I heard from your grandpa that you won first place at your last piano competition. What sort of competition was it?" She seed genuinely interested.
"It was a national contest," Serena replied, her expression betraying a hint of guilt.
Roo, seated across from them, chid in, "It was judged by people under Rose’s wing."
"Oh?" Eunice was surprised, her gaze shifting to Roo. "What do you an by that?"
"There’s a piano competition every year in the country, and Rose is a top judge. She rarely gets involved in the judging herself. It’s usually her team that does it."
Not just Eunice, but even Martin and Serena were taken aback—especially Serena. She couldn’t believe her first-place win had been decided by people under Rosemary’s command!
"So Rose is...?"
"lody."
Roo’s revelation left both Eunice and Martin completely stunned.
lody was a legend in the piano world, unmatched to this day.
She had claid countless prestigious awards both dostically and internationally, ranked alongside Leonard as a master of the craft!
There had been a buzz in showbiz about soone offering $10,000 for a single note, hoping to commission lody to compose a custom piece, but she had declined. Her reason was simple: she didn’t need the money.
She was too busy!
Eunice was also a fan of lody’s piano compositions and had never imagined that the piano maestro she adored was none other than her niece!
What was more, she knew Jasmine, the president of the Piano Association back ho. Jasmine was a highly accomplished pianist herself, having won nurous awards from a young age. She always praised lody, claiming her skills surpassed her own—even considerably.
And now, to think that the person Jasmine held in such high regard was her own niece, Rose!
Eunice could barely contain her excitent and joy, instantly becoming a fangirl. "You’re lody? I love your compositions!"
Martin was dumbfounded. He knew full well how skilled lody was at the piano, but the young woman before him was just in her twenties. How could she possibly be lody?
Yet if she wasn’t, why would Roo lie in front of his aunt?
What puzzled him even more was that Eunice and Rosemary seed to be family, yet not quite. Eunice didn’t even know she was lody, but she still called her "Aunt Eunice."
What on earth was going on?
"My niece turns out to be a piano master of such talent and adoration," Eunice gushed, lavishing praise. "This is such a surprise for . Your uncle and grandfather would be so proud if they knew."
Serena had known about Rosemary’s alter ego as lody, but she hadn’t expected that on her first ti bringing her boyfriend ho to et her aunt, the entire ti would be spent in admiration of Rosemary.
Praising her dical expertise. Her artistic talent.
They were completely forgotten—reduced to re backdrop!
"We’ll have to have you play a couple of pieces for later!"
Rosemary couldn’t help but smile at her aunt’s enthusiasm. "Of course."
"Fantastic!" Aunt Eunice bead, her smile so wide it looked like her face might split in two. "Then, I won’t hold back. Oh, I’m just so fond of you!"
Realizing she might have gotten a tad too excited—especially with Martin and Serena around—Eunice cleared her throat and regained her composure.
"Now, my dear nephews-in-law, you haven’t told —what was the misunderstanding about? And what’s this I hear about a scuffle right on your own doorstep?"
Roo’s piercing gaze shifted to Martin.
"Before we delve into that," Martin began, with a hint of hesitation, "may I be so bold as to ask who this is?" His eyes moved to Rosemary.
Eunice’s eyes widened in surprise, glancing between Martin and Serena in confusion. "What’s the matter? Serena, haven’t you introduced your sister to your boyfriend?"
Serena’s face drained of color. The inevitable confrontation she dreaded was unfolding before her.
She attempted a reassuring smile, but it faltered and failed. Eunice imdiately sensed sothing was amiss.
"This is Rosemary, the Collins family’s prized gem—my very own niece," Eunice introduced with a touch of pride.
At the ntion of niece, Martin looked startled, his gaze lingering thoughtfully.
"Eighteen years ago, there was a mix-up at the hospital when it caught fire. Louisa took the wrong child ho, mistaking Serena for Rose."
Martin turned to look at the girl beside him, bewildered as to why she never ntioned any of this.
"Rose was found just six months ago. Since Serena’s parents were nowhere to be found, the Collins family took her in. Since then, Rose has been considered the elder sister, and she, the younger."
Serena’s pride and self-respect crumbled as Eunice narrated the tale, leaving her utterly defeated.
She could feel Martin’s astonished and incredulous gaze on her, but she dared not et his eyes.
Was Martin now weighing whether a girl of such humble origins was worth staying with?
The Cooper family might not match the McMillians’ status, but they were head and shoulders above the average family.
If she couldn’t even hold on to Martin’s heart...
What hope did she have of securing the affections of any wealthy suitor with her lowly beginnings?
"So, the engagent has been transferred to Rosemary, the elder sister?"
Serena’s forced use of sister ant Martin too had to afford the sa respect, but his tone revealed his shock.
Serena had never ntioned any of this before!
Roo, who had been silent across the table, finally spoke up.
"Before Rose returned to this household, my encounters with Serena were few and far between. I originally ca here to call off our engagent, but upon seeing Rose, and recalling our past connection, I realized my fondness for her. That’s the only reason the engagent between our families wasn’t terminated."
Eunice was taken aback by this revelation. Roo was ready to disregard years of family friendship over the engagent to Serena.
It was clear proof that he harbored no romantic feelings for Serena!
From the beginning, he genuinely did not care for her!
Martin was again so shocked he found himself speechless, staring at the girl beside him, unable to reconcile the image she had painted of Roo’s affections with reality.
Could it all have been lies?
"Serena, Martin is your boyfriend. How could you keep such matters from him?" Aunt Eunice chided from the head of the table. "Aren’t you two supposed to be the closest of confidants?"
Serena was at a loss—her mind a blank slate, unable to muster a single word in her defense.
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