REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight-Chapter 35: Maybe this once...

The next day arrived as if nothing had happened. Mr. Kain walked into the rehearsal room with his usual composed air, expression calm and instructive. There was no trace of the man who had almost harassed her in his office yesterday. No awkwardness or guilt. Not even avoidance.

If anything, he seems more attentive to her.

"You’re dragging the third note," he said mildly, tapping the edge of her music sheet. "Support from your diaphragm. Now do it again."

Elara stared at him strangely for some seconds. This isn’t how she had expected him to react today. It was as if she had only imagined all what had happened. As if the person in his office yesterday isn’t him.

She forced her jaw to unclench and sang again.

He corrected her posture. He even took time to go through her notes, marking small improvements and offering suggestions in that same calm, mentor-like tone.

Elara didn’t care about it anymore. She had said her piece and drawn her line. She had made it clear she was not that kind of person. And that’s enough.

When rehearsal ended, she packed her things without looking at him and walked out. She had just stepped into the corridor when Perri and her assistant swept past her forcefully. Perri’s shoulder nearly slammed into hers.

If Elara hadn’t stepped aside in time, she would have been pushed flat against the wall.

"Look where you’re going," Perri snapped.

Elara let out a cold, quiet snort. The irony was almost amusing. She didn’t bother replying. She just walked past her.

Behind her, Perri’s heels stopped in annoyance at her indifference.

"She thinks she can act however she wants just because she has sponsors backing her, hmph, Whatever. She’s still just a lowly singer from Lorien." she sneered.

Her assistant quickly caught her arm when she looked ready to charge forward. "Miss Perri, remember, Mr Vale..."

Elara didn’t slow down. Words were cheap. Noise was everywhere. She had bigger things to think about.

Ziva was waiting at the usual spot, standing straight as a lamppost, staring at her over the rim of her oversized spectacles.

"You’re three minutes late," Ziva said while Elara sighed.

"Please can you stop counting the time, it’s quite creepy." She said.

When they reached Elara’s room, Elara placed her book on the desk and leaned back against it.

"There’s a challenge on EchoHub, Rising Voices." she said after a dramatic sigh.

"I know." Ziva said adjusting her glasses.

Elara blinked. "You do?"

"I planned to tell you after rehearsal, I’ve already reviewed the rules, the scoring algorithm, and the past winners." Ziva replied calmly.

"...Oh."

Ziva continued proudly. Elara was sure she’s not mistaken, Ziva’s voice seemed to carry a hopeful tone.

"If you perform well, there is a possibility you may advance to Fourth Grade classification."

Fourth Grade.

The words fluttered in Elara’s chest for a brief moment, like something which is unreal.

She didn’t like imagining outcomes. For she believes things fantasized about too much will most likely not to come to pass. Hope had teeth. It bit hardest when it broke.

But still, she couldn’t help but imagine that ’What if?’

Ziva seemed to notice the flicker in her eyes. She hesitated for a rare second before stepping closer and patting Elara lightly on the back.

"The result is a variable, exposure is a constant. Even if you do not win, your visibility index will rise. That alone is statistically valuable." she said, her tone returning to its analytical rhythm.

Elara smiled.

She didn’t see Ziva as an assistant. Assistants kept distance and measured boundaries. But Ziva stood beside her.

In her past life, Elara had known people who smiled sweetly in front of her and sharpened knives behind her back. She had known loyalty that dissolved like sugar in rain. She had known warmth that turned cold overnight.

Friendship, to her, was a contract with an expiration date. She had promised herself she would not sign it again.

But as she looked at Ziva now, Elara’s heart couldn’t help but soften.

Maybe this once.

Maybe this once, she would take the risk. Even if it ended the way she had expected.

–

Adrian sat on the long ivory couch, one arm resting lazily along the backrest. His posture was relaxed and careless, yet he seem commanding. The chandelier above spilled warm light across the marble floor, but none of it softened the air between the three people in the room.

Opposite him, Mr. Vale sat stiffly, fingers pressed against his knee as if restraining himself. Beside him, Mrs. Vale held her teacup untouched, her usual polished composure slightly tainted.

"I asked you a question," Mr. Vale said again. "Why did you do it?"

He was met with silence.

Adrian’s gaze remained calm and indifferent. He didn’t even blink or shift.

Mr. Vale exhaled sharply.

"That single action of yours has thrown the Voice board into chaos. Shareholders are dissatisfied. They’re talking about withdrawal." His tone rose with every sentence. "Voice may not be the Vale family’s main revenue, but it carries influence. Do you understand the consequences?"

Adrian remained unmoved.

"I built this empire over decades," Mr. Vale continued, standing abruptly, angered by Adrian’s unconcerned attitude. "I will not watch you dismantle everything I’ve struggled for. And I will not accept a son who refuses guidance."

Adrian’s eyebrow lifted at that word.

"Son?" he repeated lightly. A faint smile curved his lips.

"Did you misspeak?"

The temperature in the room dropped instantly. Mr. Vale’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly.

Mrs. Vale rose at once, tension snapping through her elegant posture. "Adrian, It’s better if you don’t continue."she warned.

Adrian finally leaned forward, as if he hadn’t heard her words. His voice was calm and almost conversational when he spoke up.

"When Grandfather handed the company to you, the Vale Group dropped from first to third in Aurelia within three years. Profits shrank. Partnerships dissolved."

Mr. Vale’s jaw tightened.

"And in the last five years. Since I took over. We regained first position. Expanded into three new sectors. Voice stabilized under my restructuring." Adrian continued tilting his head slightly.

"Are we recalling the same history?"

Mr. Vale’s hands trembled from fury.

When Mrs Vale saw that things were getting out of hand. She quickly turned to Adrian.

"Apologize now," she said quickly, there was urgency in her voice, and something similar to pleading.

Adrian stood as if a boring meeting had finally ended. He adjusted his cufflinks with unhurried elegance and walked toward the door.

"You ungrateful—" Mr. Vale began, pointing at him, but the statement died halfway.

Mrs. Vale’s face turned pale. She caught Mr. Vale’s hand tightly, her composure finally cracking.

Adrian’s hand seem to waver on the knob, but he did not look back. The door closed behind him.

–

The late afternoon sun made Starfall’s buildings shine like gold when Adrian pulled over by the roadside.

He exhaled deeply, fingers sliding to the center console. He opened the compartment and pulled out a sleek black cigarette case. He tapped one out with controlled ease and placed it between his lips.

Long, slender fingers flicked open the lighter. The small flame bloomed gold against the dim interior. He cupped it with one hand as he leaned slightly forward. When the fire had kissed the tip of the cigarette, he pulled back and drew in slowly, lowering his other hand. Smoke curled through the car.

After a few drags, he lowered the tinted window. Cool air rushed in, carrying the scent of the city. He flicked the ash carefully outside, elegant, even in something so careless.

As he leaned back again, his gaze shifted absentmindedly to the rearview mirror. His body suddenly went still at the sight of the familiar figure in it.

Elara. Walking alone.

His breathing hitched before he could stop it. He felt frustrated at himself, he don’t know what’s wrong with him these days.

She moved closer with each step. Her expression distant.

Adrian’s eyes returned smoothly to the front windshield as if he’d seen nothing.

What is she doing here? Is she going somewhere? Why isn’t she taking a cab?

Adrian scoffed. Why did he even care?

He calculated her steps. When she was beside his car, he lowered the window further.

"Come to the other side."

Elara seem to pause in confusion for a moment. Then she turned and when her eyes met his. It instantly turned cold. That expression again.

Anger flared sharp in Adrian’s chest, but it didn’t show on his face.

"It’s not far, don’t trouble yourself." Elara said evenly and walked past his car without waiting for a response.

Adrian watched her retreating figure longer than necessary. Annoyed. At her. At himself. At everything.

After a long while, he started the engine and drove slowly forward. He saw her enter a small simple restaurant.

He frowned.

The distance from where he’d first seen her to this place was not short. Why didn’t she get in?

Adrian hmphed under his breath, his jaw tightening slightly.

As she disappeared fully inside, he lingered a moment more before finally pressing the accelerator.

The car slid into the road. But his mind did not follow it...