Chapter 520 The Stage and the Shadows

    Chapter 520 The Stage and the Shadows

    Marilyn and Elsa were also seated in the audience that night.

    They hadn’te to admire Lily’s performance, nor to cheer for her.

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    They hade to savor the moment when everyone believed the child in Lily’s belly belonged to some filthy old man–when she would be cast aside, condemned, and left in disgrace.

    My, doesn’t our Lily look handsome in men’s clothing!”

    Whenever Lily performed with Adeline, she usually dressed as the man while Adeline wore women’s attire.

    Tonight, Lily wore a bright red traditional costume, the very image of a dashing young schr fresh from triumph, striking beyond words.

    iThe /imoment she appeared on stage, Zoey couldn’t help but–shout, thrilled, “Lily looks amazing! Dressed like this, she’s the perfect charming young gentleman!”

    Grace’s eyes shone with pride as she dered, “My granddaughter–inw couldn’t possibly look anything aside!” but good! I’d say if Lily were born a man, even the so–called four great beauties would have to step

    Their words were no exaggeration.

    In women’s clothing, Lily was radiant, her beauty outshining the blossoms of spring, unforgettable at a nce.

    In men’s clothing, she was dazzlingly handsome, graceful, and refined–captivating men and women alike.

    Sure enough, the screams from her female fans nearly shook the roof off.

    “Lily, you’re so handsome! So handsome!”

    Lily, I love you!”

    “Lily, I want to have your babies!”

    “Did you hear that? Even the young girls want to have Lily’s babies!”

    Hearing the shouts from behind them, Graceughed until her face wrinkled with joy.

    Her Lily was simply outstanding, and she was proud beyond words.

    “Our Lily doesn’t just sing opera beautifully, she sings everything beautifully!”

    Zoey grinned so widely her teeth showed. “James is the luckiest man alive to marry Lily–he must’ve saved the gxy in a past life!”

    Saved the gxy…

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    Chapter 520 The Stage and the Shadows

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    Grace, not to be outdone, added, “He didn’t just save the gxy–James saved the entire universe!”

    Henry, sitting beside her, nodded in agreement.

    He had once resigned himself to only having a grandson–inw, but now his grandson had gone from bent to straight and was about to have two children. If that wasn’t saving the universe, what was?

    While Lily took the stage, both the Bale family and the Luke family pped and cheered nonstop. Only Victor’s gaze kept straying toward Adeline.

    He had seen her once before, when Elsa tried to frame Lily at the theater.

    That night, he had looked at her twice.

    There had been something different about her.

    Most of the crowd that evening had been quick to condemn Lily or else stood aside in cold detachment, iafraid /iof trouble.

    Only Adeline had stood firm, stubbornly shielding Lily despite her own injuries.

    Now, on stage in a costume that almost matched Lily’s, she sang softly with her head bowed, her very presence distant and untouchable.

    But whenever her eyes lifted toward Lily, they gleamed with a quiet radiance, unexpectedly moving.

    Victor’s heart lurched violently. He quickly looked away from her cool, delicate face, too flustered to keep staring.

    But even with his gaze averted, his heartbeat was still a jumbled mess, leaving him shaken and unmoored.

    It was such a strange feeling.

    Looking at her, he felt as though he were back in that night of flushed cheeks and lost control.

    But that night, the girl had not been her–it had been Marilyn.

    To let his thoughts wander toward Adeline was a desecration of her, a betrayal of Marilyn.

    He had touched Marilyn. He had promised to take responsibility for her. His life no longer permitted him thoughts of romance or desire.

    “Lizzy…”

    In the back rows, wearing a mask, Simon suddenly shot to his feet.

    When he and Lizzy had clung to fife together as children, she had sung for him–opera, songs, even her own adaptations.

    Even when her voice hadter grown hoarse and ragged, he had found her singing unbearably beautiful.

    He had wanted to listen to her for the rest of his life.

    And now–was it just his imagination?-the girl on stage, sleeves swirling as she sang in that operatic voice

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