Chapter 9 Father and Daughter Reunion
Magnus hadn't even glanced her way.
The divine indifference on his handsome face was like a tranquil, icy pond, impervious to any ripple.
Michael, accompanying Magnus to the event, chimed in to ease the tension, “Let’s not dwell on the unhappy past. Since fate has brought us together, how about you, Juniper, bless us with a song or two?”
David snapped his fingers, “Heard that Miss Beaumont was the sweetheart of the Broadcast Journalism department at Imperial Capital University, with a voice as beautiful as her looks. She's sure to charm us all tonight. If your singing puts Mr. Blackwood in good spirits and gets him to sign this contract, consider our past disputes settled, Juniper.”
David was straightforward in his way.
Juniper, with a natural grace, asked, “What song would you all like to hear?”
David suggested, “Since Mr. Blackwood is our esteemed guest, let him pick first.”
“I don’t have a preference,” Magnus said indifferently, ignored the request.
Michael quickly defused the tension, "Hey, I remember when Juniper sang 'You-and-I' at the homecoming gala. That was a hit. Why not go with that one?"
"You-and-I..."
A twitch crossed Juniper's brow at the mention.
But David was already egging her on, “Come on, Juniper, sing it for us!”
Standing beside a low platform, Juniper hoisted her violin onto her left shoulder and began to play the violin. The soft, melodious intro flowed through the room like moonlight spilling into the space.
A gentle light bathed her on the platform.
Dressed in a white dress with puffy sleeves, she looked every inch the lady she had once been—refined and untainted by the world.
Magnus remembered the first time he saw her; she was playing the violin then as well.
But at that time, she was on the lawn of the Beaumont estate. Alexander Beaumont, determined to mold her into a society darling, had secured the best vocal coach for her.
A single wrong note and Alexander would take a wooden paddle to her; his demands were nothing short of draconian.
Back then, Magnus’s foster father, Joseph, was the chauffeur for the Beaumonts.
Joseph had brought Magnus, fresh from being accepted to Imperial Capital University, to stay temporarily at the Beaumont residence. Upon entering the opulent mansion, Magnus witnessed Alexander scolding Juniper.
That year, Juniper was just a 12-year-old girl who ended up in tears because she couldn't meet Alexander’s rigorous standards with her violin.
Soon after, she took to following Magnus around.
However, it wasn't long before Alexander, discovering the close relationship between Juniper and the chauffeur's son, sent Magnus away and forbade Juniper from associating with him.
Before meeting Magnus, Juniper had always been obedient to Alexander.
But that time, for once, she didn't listen. Magnus became the solitary act of rebellion in Juniper's youth.
"Through all those times, you were by my side,
My eyes wide open, yet I couldn't see
How blind I was to the way you touched me,
Your laughter, your concern.
All my feelings, it seems, weren't meant to be.
Now here I stand,
All alone…”
Her voice, fluent and pleasing to the ear, drifted gracefully with the tender strains of a violin.
In truth, Juniper's voice wasn't sweetly girlish; it was a cool, resplendent tone. When she sang in English, she had a way of enriching certain words with depth, so her song washed over like crystal-clear waters deeply flowing in serene silence.
As she sang, she couldn't help but steal glances at Magnus using the corner of her eye.
Why on earth did Michael have to pick this song?
The song was a little too poignant, a little too sensitive.
The essence of it was—
"Through the time that's passed,
You were always there
My eyes not shut, yet blind
How could I not feel your tender care?
Your smile, your warmth...
Yet all my affection seems fated not to soar.
Now here I am, wondering all alone
Why I ended up facing myself,
Without you, anymore...
You and I, seemingly pair by destiny's design,
You and I, constantly wavering, wandering in kind,
You and I, how did we reach the end of the line?"
The lyrics, it seemed, were Juniper's unspoken plea.
She was afraid—afraid of provoking Magnus's ire.
Yet as the song unfolded, she became immersed, her emotions flooding over her, overwhelming her resolve and reason…
A single tear from Juniper shimmered, then fell onto the violin strings, shattering into a thousand pearls.
Memories of the past surged, sweet and heartbreaking, unfurling in her mind like scenes from a movie.
"Enough!"
Magnus suddenly interrupted!
Juniper's eyelashes fluttered, and the music came to an abrupt halt.
Magnus stood up, his voice cold as ice: "I have other matters to attend to. If Mr. David wishes to discuss partnerships with Sycamore Group, you should follow up directly with Mr. Michael."
With those final words, he strode away, his long legs carrying him swiftly out of the private room.
David had a hunch the deal was dead in the water. As the head honcho of General Group, he wasn't the least bit intimidated by Magnus. He rose languidly, eyes trailing Blackwood's retreating figure, and quipped with an impish grin, “Mr. Blackwood, aren't you going to take your ex out for a walk down memory lane?”
Before sitting down with Blackwood to discuss a collaboration, David had done his homework on the man.
A true self-made success story, Blackwood was indeed a character to watch.
But what really piqued David's interest was Blackwood's first love—none other than his own ex-fiancée!
With his back to Juniper, Blackwood stated, “There's nothing from the past I care to revisit with her."
“Juniper was once my fiancée, and I wouldn't want to hide that from Mr. Blackwood. Frankly, I wouldn't mind reminiscing with her. You wouldn't mind, would you?” David said.
Truth be told, he wasn't really interested in Juniper as a person.
However, he found himself quite fascinated by the women Magnus had been involved with.
That was putting it as bluntly as possible.
Blackwood's voice, devoid of any emotion, responded, “Go ahead.”
Just two words, yet they carried a chilling indifference.
Juniper, standing on the stage, felt the color drain from her beautiful face.
She seemed like just another object, now casually tossed David's way by Blackwood.
Blackwood's silhouette faded from her view, growing more distant by the second...
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