THE HIDDEN HAND

Emily Lewis came from an ordinary family. They had never been wealthy, nor had life ever been particularly easy, but perhaps that was exactly what had shaped her into someone resilient and independent. Music was Emily’s passion. More than that, it was her livelihood, her refuge, and the one thing she had always believed in with all her heart. Teaching piano to Mina, the young lady of the Nelson family, did not merely provide Emily with an income. It also gave her the chance to pass on her love for music to someone younger — someone who still looked at the world with innocent curiosity. Today was Mina’s weekend piano lesson. Emily stood in the small music room, where sunlight spilled through the window and softened everything it touched. The room felt warm and peaceful, filled with the lingering scent of polished wood and afternoon light. She had a gentle, delicate appearance. Her skin was fair and smooth, and her long black hair fell over her shoulders like a stream of dark silk. Her eyes were clear and bright, reflecting a kind of purity and innocence, though a faint trace of worry seemed hidden somewhere beneath them. She wore a simple white midi dress. It was modest, almost plain, yet it only made her look more graceful — soft, refined, and quietly beautiful in the way a young piano teacher should be. Her lashes were long and naturally curled, and whenever she smiled, it had a way of warming the heart of whoever saw it. “Mina, you’ve improved a lot,” Emily said gently. “You must have been practicing very hard, haven’t you?” “Thank you, Miss Lewis. I’ll work even harder.” Mina was the cherished daughter of the Nelson family. She had grown up protected and adored, yet instead of becoming spoiled, she was surprisingly approachable and sweet. “That’s enough for today,” Emily said with a smile. “We’ll continue next week.” She began putting her things into her handbag, preparing to leave. She had plans with Thomas today her boyfriend. But before she could step away, Mina looked up at her with expectant eyes. “Miss Lewis, could you play this piece for me?” Richard Nelson had just returned from a performance. He was one of the most famous idols in the entertainment industry, a man whose beauty alone was enough to drive countless people into obsession. His skin was pale and smooth like polished jade, but his eyes held a strange, dangerous magnetism like a storm buried beneath calm waters, waiting for the moment it could erupt. His nose was sharp and elegant, his lips thin and alluring, and when he smiled, his perfectly white teeth gave him the kind of radiance that made cameras love him and crowds worship him. He was tall, well-built, and impeccably proportioned. Every step he took carried an effortless confidence, a natural charm that seemed almost impossible to resist. The moment Richard stepped into the house, the atmosphere changed. It grew heavier.