Page 2 of Symphony for Lies

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I turned my head and saw a familiar face.“Oh... good evening, Tristan.”

The tension in my body eased as recognition set in. His dark hair was tousled as if he had run his fingers through it one too many times, and his crystal-blue eyes, usually bright and intense, looked almost weary.

He offered me a faint, exhausted smile as he stepped closer, leaning against the railing.

Silence… Not uncomfortable. Just... there.

I kept my gaze fixed on the water, hesitating. Then, I cleared my throat and asked, “You knew I’d be here?”

“I had a feeling.” His voice was calm, almost gentle. “It’s a quiet place, perfect for thinking. And I figured… that’s exactly what you needed.”

I wasn’t sure if those words were reassuring or unsettling

Letting my arms dangle over the railing, I glanced at the man.

Tristan Lane—the city’s most talented and renowned pianist. A man I had admired for years… and someone I once knew.

Back in the day, Tristan and I had voluntarily learned to read sheet music together during our breaks. Our teacher, Mr. Gilbert Watson, had even taught us how to play the piano for free. But my luck didn’t last. When he moved away, my family couldn’t afford to pay for lessons.

Tristan, on the other hand... made it far. His music enchanted audiences. His melodies were unique and full of raw emotion.

Many skilled musicians were alongside him, but only one stood as his true rival.

Zane Cole.

Even in classical music, there were rivalries.

I had always wished to hear them play together just once, but for some reason, that never happened.

A long, loud sigh pulled me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to the moment.

“That didn’t sound very enthusiastic,” I noted.

He chuckled softly. “Yeah… guess you’re right.”

“Well… that makes two of us.” The weight on my shoulders seemed to grow heavier.

Tristan straightened, his gaze studying me with a sincere intensity. Suddenly, I became aware of how close we were and instinctively stepped back.

“Amelia, are you okay? I haven’t seen you at my performances lately.”

I blinked in surprise. I hadn’t expected him to notice. “I’ve only missed two.”

“That’s a long time.” His head tilted slightly; his expression turning thoughtful. “Did you forget about your promise?”

My heart skipped a beat.

My promise.

I had nearly forgotten. When we used to learn music together, I promised him that I would always come to see him play. But that was years ago...

“I’ve just been busy. But I’ll try to come this Friday.”

A soft smile tugged at his lips as he took a step forward, raising his hand to brush a loose strand of hair from my face.

I don’t know why, but I didn’t move away.