Chapter 1235 Caught in the In-Between
Even sitting in the restaurant, Randy still felt caught in an unreal haze of disbelief.
"Randy."
"Randy."
Stella's voice, laced with growing concern, finally pulled his wandering thoughts back to reality.
"What is it?"
Stella cut into her steak with deliberate precision, her lips forming a petulant pout. "What's gotten into you? I've been talking for ages and you haven't heard a single word."
Charles and Hannah had also noticed something was off. Ever since they'd left the movie theater, he'd been lost in thought, completely distracted and withdrawn.
"Randy, is something wrong?" Charles asked, while Hannah chimed in with genuine worry, "Come on, tell us what's bothering you. Maybe we can help figure it out."
Randy's gaze lingered on Stella, taking in her concerned expression before his grip tightened around his cutlery. He held his breath for a moment, then shook his head dismissively.
"It's nothing serious, just work stuff on my mind."
Stella blinked in confusion. "Work troubles? That doesn't make sense—with your standing in the music world, what could possibly be difficult for you?"
Randy offered a distracted response, clearly wanting to deflect. "It's really nothing major. Let's just eat. By the time we finish, it'll be dark and we should head home anyway."
Seeing his reluctance to elaborate, the others let the matter drop, though they continued to observe him discreetly. When no further unusual behavior emerged, they abandoned their inquiries altogether.
After dinner, the four took a leisurely stroll to help digest their meal before heading home. Maximilian, Carol, and Kaleb, having finished their own business, had already returned to their hotel for the night.
Stella stayed at Sunshine Manor with Hannah until ten o'clock. Though she'd initially planned to spend the night at home to keep Hannah company, the household's chaotic schedule—late nights and early mornings—ultimately drove her to seek the quieter sanctuary of her hotel room.
Later that evening, Randy drove Stella back to her hotel. Concerned for her safety, he parked in the underground garage, insisting on escorting her upstairs personally.
As they walked, Stella naturally linked her arm through his, her face glowing with contentment.
"Randy, once Hannah and Charles finish their wedding, you'll be going back to Country D, won't you?"
The question came so naturally, as if Country D were Randy's true home and Sunset Bay merely a temporary visit. Her casual assumption caught him off guard.
The truth was, whenever he wasn't working, Randy typically stayed at Sunshine Manor. His extended residence in Country D had begun as an escape after his fiancée's sudden disappearance—a chance to clear his head that had led to meeting Stella. Since then, Country D had become like a second home to him. Whenever his schedule allowed, he found himself there with her, a pattern that had become so natural he'd never questioned it. Yet hearing Stella voice this assumption made his heart skip an unexpected beat.
"I'm not sure," he replied carefully.
His uncertainty sparked immediate panic in Stella. She stopped abruptly at the elevator doors, turning to face him with wide, searching eyes.
"What do you mean you're not sure? How can you not be sure? Randy, you're not going to abandon me, are you?"
The elevator arrived with perfect timing, and Randy gently guided her inside, his tone deliberately casual. "If you decide to give up piano, then I won't be going back. My real home has always been Sunset Bay—I only stayed in Country D because of you. If you quit piano, I'd have no reason to remain there. I'd naturally return to where I belong."
Without Country D to anchor him, he'd likely throw himself into work—tours, practice sessions, composing, professional development, perhaps even accepting teaching invitations. Anything to keep himself occupied and moving forward.
Stella's response was immediate and desperate. "I'll keep studying! I want to keep learning! I never once considered giving up piano!"
She looked down, clutching his hand tightly, her voice small and pleading. "Randy, I know my behavior disappointed you terribly, but I truly understand my mistakes now. Please don't give up on me. Without you beside me, I'll lose all sense of purpose again and slip back into that aimless existence I had before."
Randy stared fixedly at the top of her head, his voice rough with suppressed emotion. "Are you certain this comes from genuine passion and not because I've pressured you? Stella, you must understand—forced enthusiasm never lasts. Eventually, you'll come to resent it."
Terrified of being misunderstood, Stella's head snapped up, shaking vigorously in denial. "No, no, I'm not being forced! This is completely genuine! Everyone knows that no one can make me do anything I don't want to do.
"I admit that when I first started learning piano with you, it was purely out of boredom. I had no real direction and figured learning a new skill couldn't hurt—you know, the more talents the better. But later, I truly fell in love with it! Every time I play, I feel this incredible joy. I become completely absorbed in the happiness that music brings me."
When had she truly begun to love it? Perhaps it was during her first tour with Randy, watching him in his pristine white suit seated at the grand piano on stage. The spotlight had transformed him into something ethereal—like a prince descended from heaven, so extraordinary and breathtaking that she couldn't look away. For the first time, she understood how remarkable a person could be.
From that moment, her appreciation for piano and music became genuine. Later, watching Randy compose, seeing beautiful melodies flow from his fingertips to envelop her completely, creating a world where only the two of them existed—these experiences had drawn her deeper into his world of talent and artistry. She'd come to see Randy as the most exceptional person she'd ever encountered: handsome, gifted, patient, and incredibly kind to her.
Desperate to convince him, Stella added with solemn intensity, "Randy, please believe me—every word is true! Don't abandon me, please. After Hannah and Charles's wedding, come back to Country D with me."
Randy couldn't resist reaching out to ruffle her hair gently. "You're absolutely certain you won't regret this?"
"I swear I'll never regret it!" Stella declared immediately. "Even if I never achieve great heights in music, I won't give up. I'll make piano my lifelong passion."
Randy felt his resolve crumble completely, his heart melting at her earnestness.
"If you ever do change your mind, don't force yourself to continue. Promise me you'll tell me immediately. Music should bring joy, not become a prison."
Stella nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! I'm not the type to suffer in silence anyway."
Randy released a long, surrendering sigh. "Alright then, I'll agree to your request. After the wedding, we'll go back together."
He'd said "go back," not "go to Country D"—unconsciously, he'd already begun thinking of it as his second home. Perhaps it was time to buy a place near Country D University. If he was going to make Country D a permanent part of his life, he couldn't continue imposing on his brother indefinitely. He'd need to set up a proper music room for Stella and prepare a bedroom decorated to her feminine tastes.
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