Not 163

 

chapter 163 

She looked up again, gazing into the mirror. 

The garden stroll was a dream; when the dream ends and people part, all is empty. 

The person in the mirror was still “Mrs. Hogan.” 

Thirty years had passed; how could she ever return to the past? 

She took off the theatrical costume and changed into her own clothes, her eyes glistening with tears. 

Claudine was a little surprised and tried to stop her mother. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Bridgette forced a smile. 

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“Thank you, sweetheart, but all of this…” 

Bridgette looked around the room, her eyes filled with nostalgia, reluctance, and pain. 

“All this no longer suits me. Now, all I want is for you to be happy, your brother to be successful, and your father to be healthy.” 

Claudine had underestimated how much thirty years of being a housewife had worn her mother down. 

Her mother hadn’t stood on stage for a long time. 

Now, she would treat tonight as a dream. When she woke up, she would return to her real life. 

She would still be the Mrs. Hogan her husband called “clueless.” 

“Mom.” 

Claudine knelt down in front of her mother. 

“You don’t have to worry about us. My brother and I are grown up now and can handle our own affairs. 

As for Dad…” 

Claudine hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she didn’t tell the truth at this time. 

“Dad isn’t your whole world either.” 

She unlocked her phone and pulled up the rental contract. 

“Look, this is a gift from my brother and me: the Opera Arts Center. 

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From now on, you can teach children to sing opera here. 

What do you think?” 

Claudine looked at her mother expectantly, hoping to see a smile on her face. 

Bridgette took the phone and looked at the contract. 

She had never imagined that one day she could return to the opera world. 

She thought she would never sing opera again in this lifetime. 

“I… can I really?” 

Once a dazzling star on stage, now just a teacher at an arts center-she wasn’t even sure she could do it well. 

Claudine looked at her mother with determination. 

“Mom, you definitely can.” 

“Grandma, you look so pretty!” 

Suddenly, the door burst open and Darlene ran in happily, throwing herself into Bridgette’s arms. 

“Grandma, your clothes are so beautiful. I want one too.” 

Darlene’s little hands grabbed the tassels on Bridgette’s theatrical costume, touching them carefully. 

She hummed softly: “Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.” 

A look of surprise flashed in Bridgette’s eyes. 

“Darla, how do you know that line?” 

Darla said, “I heard you singing outside the door just now, Grandma. You sing so beautifully. Can you teach me?” 

Bridgette was a little excited. “You really want Grandma to teach you?” 

Darlene nodded. 

Bridgette kissed Darlene on her little cheek. 

“Alright, Grandma will teach you.” 

Claudine glanced at the grandmother and granddaughter. With Darlene’s words just now, her mother was clearly much more uplifted. 

She quietly left, not wanting to disturb the two who were so engrossed in learning. 

At the doorway, she looked back and saw her mother teaching Darlene the basic movements of opera. 

Although Darlene was usually mischievous and spoiled, at this moment she was listening attentively, even imitating the movements quite well. 

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Claudine was surprised that Darlene would be interested in opera. 

But fortunately, with Darlene around, her mother was clearly much more confident than before. 

Perhaps, after teaching Darlene, she would be more willing to run the arts center. 

That way, Claudine could return to Bronzevale with peace of mind. 

Claudine opened the door, only to find Damian standing right in front of her. 

It was only then that she realized Darlene must have been brought here on purpose by him. 

She ought to say, “Thank you.” 

But she couldn’t bring herself to say it. 

Now, facing Damian, she couldn’t even remain calm, let alone say ‘thank you.’ 

She pretended not to see him and walked outside. 

Damian followed by her side. 

Since Claudine wouldn’t speak, he decided to go first. 

“Darla heard your mother’s voice downstairs and wanted to come up to take a look. I didn’t expect her to be interested in opera. 

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Claudine still didn’t respond. 

Damian had never explained anything to a woman before, but regarding the child, he truly shouldn’t have told Au- drey, causing Claudine to be hurt a second time. 

He turned to glance at the woman beside him. The corridor lights cast half a shadow across her face. Her exquisite bone structure made her look almost unreal under the light. 

Her long lashes hid her gaze, but Damian knew that her eyes held only coldness and loneliness. 

She no longer had the same passion for him as before. 

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