CHAPTER 170: PROUD BROTHER

"I couldn’t wait to watch Lily’s performance."

The school gates were already wide open by the time Gray arrived.

Starlight Elementary stood proudly at night.

Their hallways were lighted with soft yellow light from the outdoor lamps, its gymnasium glowing warmly at the far end of the campus.

The faint sound of chatter and music drifted into the air, layered with the excited squeals of children and the laughter of parents trying to find good seats. It was already past 5 p.m., and the show was due to start soon.

Gray adjusted his blazer as he stepped out of the cab. His gaze scanned through the growing crowd outside. Many parents were dressed nicely, some were in heels, some in work clothes, some in the middle of both.

They carried snacks, small bouquets, or folded programs in their hands. They were endlessly chatting about their child’s part in the event.

Because of it, there was a certain kind of excitement that filled the space. There was a mix of nerves, pride, and anticipation.

And standing just a few feet from the gate, looking slightly to the side as she typed something into her phone, was Selina.

She looked up the second he approached.

"There you are," she said with a small grin, slipping her phone into her purse. "Right on time, Mr. Responsible Brother."

Gray chuckled under his breath and came to stand beside her. "You didn’t think I’d miss this, did you?"

"No," she said, nudging his arm lightly.

Gray just gave her a playful look, then glanced down briefly at her outfit. She wore a soft beige blouse tucked into a black skirt, paired with low heels and a gold pendant resting on her collarbone.

Her outfit was simple but elegant. It suited her.

"You look nice," he said, without overthinking it.

Selina blinked once, then smiled faintly. "You too."

They exchanged no further compliments. They didn’t need to. They just naturally fell in step beside each other as they entered the gates, walking into the line of parents and families heading toward the gymnasium.

The sky had darkened into that deep indigo shade of early evening, but the school grounds remained bright and lively. Decorative lights lined the path, shaped like small stars and paper moons.

The atmosphere felt festive but comforting.

As they walked past one of the stalls near the entrance, a group of parents turned slightly, taking notice of the two of them.

A woman with a clutch bag smiled politely.

"Excuse me," she said, "are you two here to support someone in the program?"

Gray opened his mouth, but Selina beat him to it.

"Yes," she said brightly. "We’re here for Lily Adams."

There was a second of silence before the small group of parents gasped.

"Lily?" one of them repeated, eyes wide. "The girl singing the solo piece? The one who was hospitalized last week?"

"Oh, my," another woman whispered, clearly recognizing the name. "She’s performing tonight? That’s wonderful!"

"She must be so brave..."

"I heard she’s a darling in class—always greeting the teachers politely. My daughter keeps talking about her."

Gray, a little caught off guard by the wave of recognition, nodded slowly.

"Yeah... that’s our Lily."

More murmurs followed them as they continued walking, but not in a bad way. It was admiration, curiosity, and that sense of community that only parents knew.

"I didn’t expect that," Selina leaned closer to him, her voice was just a whisper now. "She’s got quite the reputation."

"I know. I was surprised too," Gray said dryly. The last time he knew, Lily was getting bullied. But now, she is starting to get adored?

That put an ease to Gray’s heart.

As they reached the entrance to the gymnasium, one of the staff volunteers handed them a printed program scheduled and let them in.

The place was already filling up fast.

There were rows of foldable chairs that were neatly arranged in the center, while some parents opted to stand near the back or lean against the walls. Bright paper stars and stage lights bathed the front area in gold and blue.

Gray scanned the program quickly. Lily’s name was listed right near the end. She was clearly one of the featured acts.

Selina pointed.

"There she is."

Gray followed her gesture and spotted Lily near the backstage curtain, standing beside a few classmates and a teacher.

Her cardigan was replaced by a formal white top with a navy skirt and a ribbon at her collar. Her ponytail was neatly tied, and from this distance, she looked calm, but Gray could tell from the way she fidgeted with her fingers that she was nervous.

Still, she stood straight.

He smiled.

"She’s going to be amazing," Selina whispered.

"I know," he said quietly.

They found their seats somewhere in the middle rows. It was close enough to see clearly, but not so close to be distracting. Around them, parents were still filing in, some clapping already for the opening numbers.

The lights dimmed slightly.

The microphone came to life.

And the announcer’s voice rang out: "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen... and welcome to Starlight Elementary’s Night of Lights and Dreams."

The audience broke into applause, and the show began.

Gray sat back in his chair, hands clasped quietly in front of him, heart already rising slowly with anticipation.

Tonight wasn’t just about the business or the company or rebuilding what was broken.

Tonight was about Lily.

And he wasn’t going to miss a second of it.

The first performance was a group of younger students singing a cheerful opening song. They were off-key in some parts, but still adorable in all.

Some kids waved at the crowd mid-performance, some forgot the lyrics and just clapped along, and one girl in the middle spun in place like she thought she was the star of a ballet show.

The crowd laughed gently. Parents clapped loud and proud anyway.

Gray found himself smiling. He glanced to his side. Selina was already leaning slightly forward, her hands clasped on her knees as she watched intently.

The second and third numbers went by quickly—one was a short skit about dreams and constellations, and the other a duet of two students playing simple melodies on their violins.

Time moved slowly but pleasantly. One after another, students came up to showcase the things they’d practiced for weeks, Some performed with ease, some with shaky hands, but all with the same spark in their eyes.

The announcer returned after every few performances with cheerful commentary, introducing the next segment. Parents clapped after every name, calling out their child’s name when it came up.

And then, at some point, the stage lights dimmed again.

A hush settled over the room.

The announcer spoke, a little softer this time.

"Up next... we have a special solo performance prepared by one of our brave and bright young students."

Gray’s chest tightened slightly.

Selina leaned closer to whisper, "This is it."

He didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

The announcer continued, "Please welcome... Miss Lily Adams, performing ’A Little Light.’"

Applause broke out. A few parents near the front clapped especially loud, and someone even cheered "You got this, Lily!"

Gray’s breath caught when he saw her step onto the stage.

She walked to the center with small, measured steps, her hands clasped politely in front of her. Her ribbon swayed lightly as she moved. Under the spotlight, she looked smaller.

The gymnasium quieted while a soft piano intro began from the side of the stage.

Lily stood in place.

Then, she began to sing.

Her voice, which was uncertain at first, slowly floated gently through the gym. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t polished. But it was clear and heartfelt, as if every word came from something real inside her.

The lyrics spoke of stars in the dark, of standing up after falling down, and of holding on to a dream even when it felt far away.

Gray swallowed hard.

Her voice grew a little stronger with each line. She glanced toward the crowd once, and when she saw him there, sitting beside Selina, she smiled.

It was just a little, but it was enough.

Gray felt his chest swell.

The gym stayed quiet except for the melody and her voice. Not a single phone rang. No one whispered. Everyone listened.

Even when the high notes trembled and the last chorus wavered just slightly, she never stopped.

She finished with her hands still at her side, her head held high.

And then, silence.

For a moment.

Then applause.

Loud, honest, proud.

Gray stood before he realized it, clapping hard enough that his palms stung. Selina stood beside him a heartbeat later. People near them glanced over again, now fully aware that they were there for Lily.

Lily bowed deeply on stage, her hair falling forward. When she looked up again, her eyes were a little glassy, but her smile was wide.

Gray felt something warm gather in his throat. He cleared it quietly and sat back down as Lily exited the stage with help from one of the teachers waiting in the wings.

Selina leaned toward him again, softer this time. "You okay?"

Gray let out a quiet laugh, blinking once.

"Yeah," he said. "Just proud."