Bound Hearts: My Vows to My Disabled Spouse

Pearce Benson

Jayden's face was impassive as he said, "I didn't mean it ike that. Why do you always take it the wrong way?"

Elyse managed a tight smile. "Oh, so you didn't mean any of it?"

She got up quickly, changed into another outfit, and was ready to leave. Jayden tried to follow her,

but his struggle to get into his wheelchair slowed him down.

Elyse didn't wait around; she walked out of the room, violin case in hand.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Driscoll approached her with an update. "Just so you

know, Miss Tracy Bernard had left early. Would you like to grab some breakfast

She gave a listless shake of her head. "No, thanks. !'ll skip breakfast."

Driscoll caught the frostiness in her demeanor and concluded that Jayden had yet to smooth things over.

After departing from the house, Elyse took a taxi to a secluded park, dedicating her morning to practice. Later, she made her way to a university practice room for a planned meeting with Cody. Noticing Elyse, he quickly dismissed them with a nod

"Your students?" Elyse asked, a hint of curiosity coloring her tone.

"Not quite," Cody answered, his eyes briefly scanning a document before him. "I'm just subbing

for a friend this week. Those two were here to pepper me with questions."

Elyse nodded, a pang of envy for the students able to seek Cody's advice-a privilege she wished

for herself.

"How's your practice of Erlkénig?" Cody inquired, setting aside the document and fixing his gaze on her, full of genuine interest.

Elyse's nerves spiked as she cradled her violin. "I've put everything into this. Today, I'm here to let you hear the results."

Cody nodded approvingly. "Alright, let's get started."

He wasted no time, gesturing for her to begin without further preamble.

Her hands trembled slightly as she took the violin out, drew in a deep breath, and menced

playing.

The piece "Erlkénig" was notoriously challenging-known for tripping up even seasoned professionals with its plexity.

Despite her talent, Elyse had never before tackled a piece so demanding.

As the last note faded, she bit her lip and looked at Cody with a mix of hope and guilt.

With a teasing smile, Cody asked, "Did you notice your mistakes?"

She nodded, more embarrassed than before. It wasn't just one error,there were

several Wort.

Cody gently took the violin from her, ready to demonstrate.

"Let me show you something," he said, explaining every detail.

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Invigorated by his instruction, Elyse immediately attempted the piece again, this time with aProperty of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

marked improvement in her performance.

"I'm getting better!" she exclaimed, surprised and elated at her own progress.

Her natural aptitude was undeniable, reminiscent of someone Cody once knew well.

For a moment, seeing his old friend's reflection in Elyse's talent left him momentarily dazed. Elyse's prompt brought him back to reality, and he cleared his throat to mask his momentary lapse. "Good, you did a great job. But..."

He hesitated, then shifted the conversation, sensing a weight in her previous performance. "Are you in a bad mood? Your music sounded so heavy, almost like it wasn't meant to lift spirits." Recalling the previous day's events, Elyse reflexively denied any distress. "No, nothing's been bothering me."

Cody's gaze pierced through her facade as he spoke with an understanding tone. "You don't have to lie to me. I know your music -your emotions are woven into it. I can hear the pain and sadness." Elyse was taken aback; she hadn't expected Cody to discern her emotional state simply through her violin playing. His insight affirmed his mastery, yet it left her uneasy.

She hesitated to share her troubles.

The issues between her and Jayden were theirs to resolve-outside interference wouldn't mend their rift.

Cody, recognizing her reluctance to divulge more, didn't press further. Instead, he made a single

Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you're not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on the complete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it's all free! request for her to perform "Erlkénig" for him again in a week.

The invitation left Elyse puzzled and intrigued. Was Cody subtly offering her tutelage?

She recalled hearing about Cody's decision to choosing an apprentice during the last selection

period; he hadn't taken anyone on then.

The thought of asking outright if she was being considered as his apprentice flitted through her mind, but embarrassment restrained her. She worried that such a question might seem presumptuous, as if she were flattering herself.

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, she bid Cody farewell. Carrying her violin case, Elyse wandered aimlessly across the campus.

She wasn't ready to go home and face Jayden, preferring instead to while away the hours in solitude.

Just as she was about to exit the campus grounds, a car pulled up in front of her, and the slowly rolled down to reveal a familiar face.

She recognized the man instantly-he was the enthusiastic fan who had sent her flowers. Elyse glanced around nervously, hoping someone might be nearby to offer assistance. Noticing her apprehension, the man quickly introduced himself, hoping to ease her fears. "Don't be nervous, Miss Lloyd. My name is Pearce Benson, and I'm a big fan of your work." Elyse eyed him warily. "How did you know where to find me?"

Pearce offered a gentle smile, hoping to appear non-threatening. "I'm an honored professor here at the university. I just happened to be here for some work today and was surprised to see you"