Chapter 218 Another Orphan
When Susanna first saw the photo of the back, she immediately ruled out it being Aaron..
She knew Aaron's build and posture too well; this wasn't him, and it definitely wasn't his style of dressing.
This guy's back looked more like Austin's. No wonder he didn't pick up the phone yesterday. Was he on a date?
She checked WhatsApp again and saw a message from Austin, sent late, after she was already asleep.
Austin: [Hey Susanna, I figured you were probably knocked out by now, so I didn't call back. I'll handle things with Brian and Daniel. Just focus on getting better, alright? If you're not feeling up to it, skip school and chill out, okay? You gotta take care of yourself and get some proper rest!]
Susanna could tell Austin was really worried about her.
After passing out from low blood sugar, Susanna was determined not to take any more chances. Once things settled down, she decided to play it safe by staying home, only going out for her classes.
After all, the little one growing inside her was her number one priority. She couldn't risk passing out again from low blood sugar.
Susanna replied on WhatsApp: [Okay, I got it.]
After getting up and enjoying the breakfast Madison had kindly made for her, Susanna headed off to school. She needed to do one final check of the auditorium setup before the last day.
When she arrived at the auditorium, the counselor quickly came over. "Susanna, you totally freaked us out when you passed out out of the blue yesterday! Thank goodness you're alright."
"I just had a bit of low blood sugar. Sorry for worrying everyone," said Susanna.
"As long as you're okay. The principal asked about you several times today. After all, this event can't go on without you."
Susanna smiled, "It's my duty."
The event carried a lot of credits, so she had to work a bit harder.
Once the counselor left, Susanna made her way to the guest area beneath the stage and looked at the exact spot where she had keeled over the day before. She remembered Aaron swooping in to catch her just in time. The thought of what could have happened if he hadn't been there sent shivers down her spine.
"The celebrity is out of the hospital, huh!"
Susanna heard a mocking voice and turned to see two familiar girls.
One was the girl who had helped design and prepare the auditorium with her and had stepped forward yesterday, mistakenly thinking the principal was addressing her.
The other girl she had seen once with Erica, probably someone Erica knew.
Seeing the hostility in their eyes, Susanna replied calmly, "If you want to faint to gain fame, you can faint here too."
"Who would be as scheming as you, fainting in front of Mr. Abbott and making him carry you to the hospital? Don't think we can't see through your intentions. Dream on."
The other girl added, "Exactly, Mr. Abbott is the richest man in Lindwell, and his fiancée is the heiress to the Jones family in Novaria. They are a perfect match. Girls from humble backgrounds shouldn't fantasize about marrying into such a wealthy family."
Susanna chuckled and gave the two girls a playful glance. "You both are quite a sight when you're feeling envious, you know."
The expressions of the two girls instantly changed.
Susanna continued, "One of you is trying to impress Erica, and the other was cozying up to Aaron yesterday. What gives you the right to poke fun at me?" With that, she walked off, unwilling to waste her time on such trivial matters. Every second counted now.
She headed straight for the music room, determined to perfect her piece, hoping to mend past regrets and reminisce about her days at the orphanage.
As she played the piano, memories from the orphanage flooded back. Alongside those memories, she felt like she was forgetting someone important.
Determined to remember everything, Susanna embarked on a journey to uncover her past.
After practicing for a while, a short-haired girl walked in, looking around curiously. Susanna looked up and asked, "Hi, can I help you?"
"Hello, I'm from the literature department next door. I love writing and want to create a character with musical talents. That's why I'm here, looking for inspiration. I've seen you around; you don't seem like you're from the music department either. You must be the brilliant designer Susanna, right?"
"I'm not a genius. Come in and take a seat," Susanna replied.
Susanna seemed a bit embarrassed. "What do you want to know? I don't actually know much about music."
"Well, I saw you practicing a piano piece the other day. You played a children's song that was really nice, but it didn't seem famous."
"Oh, that song? It was composed by the director of the orphanage where I grew up. You wouldn't have heard it outside."
"Did you grow up in an orphanage too? So did I."
The short-haired girl seemed excited. "No wonder I felt a connection with you right away. I'm Wendy. Let's be friends."
Susanna felt a good connection with Wendy. After all, neither of them had a deep understanding of music and wouldn't judge each other for it.
Meanwhile, downstairs...
Erica strolled past the teaching building, deep in thought. She had tasked her assistant with investigating each student in the music department to uncover the truth about her past.
As long as the real heiress to the Jones family was in the music department, she would find her sooner or later. It was just a matter of time.
In the afternoon, after finishing her piano practice, Susanna left the teaching building with Wendy.
"Wendy, I have to go home for dinner. Let's catch up soon," Susanna said.
"Sure thing! Drop me a WhatsApp next time you're jamming on the piano," Wendy replied casually.
Susanna nodded and parted ways with Wendy, then took a cab home.
As she opened the door, she saw Brian sprawled out on the couch, engrossed in a phone conversation. Locking eyes with her as she entered, he quickly said to Peter on the line, "Alright, let's call it a day for now. Catch you later. Bye."
After hanging up, Brian looked at Susanna and asked, "Susanna, how's the setup at the auditorium?"
"Not bad. I also practiced the piano this afternoon. I feel like I've improved a lot."
Brian cracked a slight smile. "Seriously? Well then, serenade me with a tune."
Susanna obliged. Despite not yet reaching virtuoso status, she felt pretty pleased with her performance.
The following morning, Susanna arrived at school bright and early. The upcoming event in the auditorium was a big deal, after all.
As she glanced over the event schedule that the counselor had sent her, Susanna noticed the list of attendees. Predictably, Aaron's name stood out. However, another familiar name caught her eye as well.
