Chapter 13 The Mysterious Woman

"Let us now quieten down and anticipate the rendition of 'Goodnight,' a duet between Ms. Lyon and Henry."

As Yaslyn made her unhurried approach to the piano, the ambiance in the venue hushed down to an appreciative silence. Henry appeared taken aback as the opening notes were struck, not anticipating Yaslyn's adeptness with the piano.

Absorbed fully in the performance, he sang with a fervor that matched her playing. Despite the absence of rehearsals and prior collaborations, the duo managed to deliver a perfectly synced performance.

Henry, clutching his microphone, glanced at Yaslyn in her black dress, causing a flutter of excitement among some fans.

From the audience, Zaylee could not hide her amusement. "I never expected Yaslyn to play so well. Judging by her skill, she must be above the eighth grade. Their performance seems quite well-matched—one on the piano, the other singing."

Although her words echoed appreciation, resentment simmered beneath Zaylee's superficial composure. The Ford family controlled the venue, and tampering with the selection of fans to go on stage was rather easy for her. She had hoped to embarrass Yaslyn, but that plan seemed to have backfired.

Hearing Zaylee's words, Xoan looked again at Yaslyn on stage. Yaslyn's wavy hair cascaded down her neck, creating an alluring silhouette under the stage lights. Her mystifying yet dazzling appearance intrigued Xoan. However, the sight of Yaslyn alongside Henry on the stage seemed unnervingly discordant.

Their performance concluded with resounding applause. Yaslyn made a quick trip to the washroom, only to find a woman in a brown dress standing by the door upon her return. The woman, her face concealed behind a mask, radiated an air of refined elegance, suggesting a wealthy background.

"Are you Yaslyn? I really enjoyed your performance earlier. This is for you," the woman said, handing over a beautifully wrapped bouquet of garden tulips.

"Do you know me?" Yaslyn asked, accepting the bouquet with a puzzled expression.

"No, I simply loved your performance. Goodbye now," the woman said as she turned to leave, her eyes brimming with an undeniable sadness.

Stunned, Yaslyn held the bouquet, a strange sensation welling up within her.

Two hours later, the concert came to an end. Yaslyn left the venue alongside the five members of the Warren family and Zaylee. At the Warren family mansion, Stephen and Sophie had prepared a dinner to celebrate their son's birthday.

After the birthday candle was blown out, everyone began to exchange presents. Despite their aristocratic background, the atmosphere in the Warren family was warm and convivial. Yaslyn calmly offered her gift when her turn came around.

After thanking everyone individually, Henry began to unwrap the presents. He received lavish gifts, including property deeds to luxurious mansions, custom-made watches, and various other extravagant items.

When it was Yaslyn's turn, she presented a medium-sized box. Everyone knew Yaslyn had not bought anything earlier that day, and they presumed she had hastily picked something up to give to Henry.

As Henry casually unwrapped her gift, he was instantly astounded. It was a Lare microphone—a one-of-a-kind item that had once been up for auction. It was purchased by a mysterious bidder for ten million dollars. Henry had missed the auction and had since been looking for channels to purchase it, willing to offer even higher prices, but to no avail.

Marcus was skeptical. "This can't be real, can it?"

However, Henry could tell at first glance that it was indeed real!

His excitement was palpable as he asked, "Oh dear, Yaslyn, is this really for me?"

Yaslyn simply nodded. What was the big deal about a microphone? His over-the-top reaction struck her as quite amusing.

"Where did this come from?" A confused Henry inquired.

Yaslyn made up an excuse on the spot. "The person who won the auction heard me play the piano and gifted it to me. They wanted me to use it in my music career, but I thought you could have it since I don't sing.

"Happy Birthday. I'm a bit tired, so I'll head upstairs to rest."

Everyone was once again astounded by Yaslyn. It seemed their gifts paled in comparison to hers, which evidently pleased Marcus.

That caused a shift in the group's perception of Yaslyn. Initially, they thought of her as nothing more than a clueless country girl, but their recent interactions with her had begun to alter her image.