Chapter 17 I've got a piano

　　Louisa's POV 　　Jessica's eyes were full of hostility and disgust. 　　"She didn't steal anything, Jessica!" Jackie defended me. "Shut up and pour more wine into your hole." 　　"Well, well, well," Jessica rolled her eyes and said. "Then could you please explain to me how a girl, who was born into a horse farmers' family, who used to work in a strip club, could afford something so expensive like that?" 　　"Because I lent it to her." An authoritative female voice appeared. 　　I looked back and saw a queen-like woman, surrounded by servants and maids, making her way into the yard with graceful elegance and radiant gentleness. Wherever she walked, people withdrew and bowed slightly. It seemed that nobody dared to look at her directly into her eyes. 　　Is she an aristocrat? A duchess or a princess? The heir to a throne or something? 　　Jessica, who had always been so domineering and aggressive, had to reduce herself to a bow in front of this lady. 　　"Good evening, Mrs. Farrow," she mumbled nervously. 　　Mrs. Farrow? I'll take a wild guess that she's Lucas' mother, even though there was no resemblance between her and Lucas in terms of facial features. 　　"Were you disapproving of Miss Reid's dress and necklace, young lady?" Mrs. Farrow asked. 　　"No... I was just admiring her beautiful dress and necklace, Mrs. Farrow." Jessica looked awkward. 　　Mrs. Farrow took a glance at her and said, "It is a beautiful dress and necklace. That's why I decided to lend it to the most beautiful girl at this party, Miss Louisa Reid. She's a gentle and humble spirit. That's exactly what we need for our family." 　　Then, Mrs. Farrow frowned in disgust and asked Jessica, "What are you wearing, young lady?" 　　"It's... It's nothing..." Jessica stuttered. 　　"According to Jessica, she's wearing a tailored dress that was made by the best tailor in London!" Jackie added. 　　"The best tailor in London? Do you mean James Weatherill? He has been bedridden for years. How did he manage to make a dress for you?" Mrs. Farrow asked. 　　I love this lady! I love her! I love her! I snickered and thought to myself. 　　Jessica looked as if she was toasted. She pulled the hem of her dress nervously. 　　Then, under everyone's watch, the hem was torn down. 　　Mrs. Farrow stared at the chaotic zig-zag stitches and said, "Well, so far for the best craftsmanship from the best tailor in London. Get out of this place, young lady. This place welcomes honest people regardless of their social status. But it doesn't welcome a pretentious god-digger who wears a cheap copycat version of a designer dress." 　　Jessica lingered intentionally and refused to go away. 　　"I have to see Lucas today... It's her 20th birthday! I... I have to be seen by him!" she protested. 　　Mrs. Farrow waved her hands slightly. Some security guards moved forward immediately, dragging Jessica out of the yard. 　　I leered at Jessica and waved goodbye to her. 　　Bitch, you deserve it! I thought to myself, secretly wishing that Jessica could hear my thoughts. 　　"Thank you for being here with us tonight, Miss Reid. I would like you to know it's very important for us to have you here." Mrs. Farrow said, smiling at me. 　　I knew it was a bit inappropriate, but her way of smiling resembled a fox, which was a bit intimidating. 　　"Thank you for inviting me and lending me this dress and necklace." I looked at her gratefully. 　　"It's OK. I've got plenty of them. My body became out of shape after I gave birth to Lucas. But look at you, you were the same size as I used to be..." 　　At that time, a valet approached Mrs. Farrow and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and said to me, "I'm afraid this is as much time as I could spend with you for you tonight, Miss Reid. Please do enjoy yourself at this party. Make yourself at home. Let Jackie walk you around the mansion. Hopefully, you'll help me to find my son. After all, this is his party." 　　Then, she walked away in a hurry. 　　"Do you know her?" I asked Jackie. 　　"Everybody knows and respects Mrs. Farrow. She's very famous in our world," she replied. 　　"Your world?" I asked. 　　"Well, you know, it's a metaphor." Jackie scratched her head and said. 　　What kind of metaphor is that? I thought to myself. 　　Jackie pushed a door and led me into a room. The white theme extended into this room. There was an imposing L-shaped sofa, which could seat at least ten people comfortably. On the wall, there was a modern-designed fireplace. I didn't know why there was a fire in a fireplace in the middle of summer, but the color of the fire looked pale compared to ordinary fires. 　　Seriously? When you're rich, you use a different color of fire that doesn't generate heat. 　　The most striking object in the room was a full-sized, shiny white grand piano. 　　Tucked in the corner, it looked like an untamed snow beast. 　　I thought it was a decoration just like the fireplace, but when I walked closer, I found out it was a Steinway. 　　A Steinway?! Why would an asshole like Lucas keep something so sophisticated like a Steinway in his house? Don't tell me that he can play the piano. He does come across like a piano guy because he has long, slender fingers. 　　Ah, his fingers. 　　I recalled the delicate sensation when his fingers flicked down my thighs. The thought triggered a minor seismic tremor all over my body. I felt a compulsive need to be held by someone. 　　What's the matter with me? Am I going to have my period or something? 　　Before I realized what I was doing, I had already taken my seat in front of the piano. 　　"May I...?" I looked at Jackie. "I have never played a Steinway before..." 　　"Sure. It's all yours." Jackie replied. Then, she tapped her forehead as if she felt vexed because she had accidentally spilled the truth again. 　　"You know what? I'd better look for Leah. I'll be back in a minute. Please stay in this room and keep yourself entertained. Don't worry. Nobody will come inside." 　　Leah ran out of the room. 　　I took a deep, purifying breath. 　　I can't believe that I'm going to play on a Steinway for the first time in my life!