True Love Deserves a Second Chance
Chapter 161 Stunning the Audience

Joey instantly got the importance of the bracelet. She glanced at Sebastian, eyes full of questions.

Sebastian grinned and messed up her hair. "Silly girl, if Grandma gives it to you, just take it. Why look at me? You'll be running this place someday, not me."

That one line made their relationship clear, showing Joey's future role and status.

Everyone there was from rich and noble families. They quickly raised their glasses to toast her, hoping to gain favor with Sebastian.

Joey smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Grandma."

Aurora beamed and called out to the family. "I've given my gift. What about yours? No one should mistreat Joey."

Right after, the usually stern Derek pulled out a card and handed it to Joey. "Joey, here's a million dollars for pocket money. When you get married, I'll give you another gift."

Everyone was shocked. It was Derek's first time meeting his daughter-in-law, and he gave her so much. The Winters Family was truly top-tier.

Joey hesitated and looked at Sebastian again.

Sebastian smiled, put his arm around her, and smirked. "You're so obedient. How did I not notice before?"

He took the card and said, "Dad, no need to worry about the wedding gift. Just transfer the money to my account, and I'll handle it."

Seeing Sebastian so happy, Derek laughed. "If you ever bully Joey, I'll be the first to come after you."

Sebastian replied, "I won't. I'll always love her."

The rest of the Winters Family also gave their gifts, even the servants and the butler. Cordelia, giving Joey a delicate ornament, warmly held her hand and chatted, as if the past issues never happened.

This felt strange to Joey, but soon another event took over. Isabella was the performer at the party.

Darren had worked hard for Isabella. He had the PR team clear her scandals and took her to perform at orphanages and nursing homes, boosting her reputation.

Isabella played "Chasing Snow," a tough piano piece. Her movements were graceful, and her skills were top-notch. Everyone praised her after she finished.

Cordelia, always kind, smiled and said, "Isabella is beautiful and plays so well. It's a pity Sebastian loves someone else. Otherwise, I'd want her as my daughter-in-law. But since Sebastian thinks Joey is better, she must have her own great qualities. Joey, as the future matriarch, you need more than just courtroom skills; you need other talents too."

It was clear she was trying to make things hard for Joey.

Isabella also came over, smiling. "I trust Sebastian's judgment. Ms. Blackwood must be better than me in every way, right?" Her provocation was obvious.

Before Joey could respond, Sebastian walked over and pulled her into his arms. His expression unreadable. "Even if she does nothing, she's a hundred times better than you. Is there even a need to compare?"

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Isabella was utterly humiliated by that one sentence. She looked at Sebastian with teary eyes. "Sebastian, I didn't mean to embarrass Joey. It's okay if she doesn't have any talents. Not everyone is gifted. You don't have to be so protective." Her words implied Joey was talentless. Whether Joey performed or not, it would be embarrassing.

Just as Sebastian was about to speak, Joey's small hand covered his mouth. She looked at him with a smile. "I'm a top lawyer. Do I need Mr. Winters to speak for me? Don't worry, I won't embarrass you."

Then she turned to Isabella. "What do you want to compete in?"

Isabella feigned embarrassment. "I was just speaking casually. It's okay if you don't want to. I just think that since Mrs. Winters is so good to you, it would be a bit disrespectful not to perform something for her on her birthday, don't you think?" Joey nodded. "You have a point, but I only know a little piano. I gave it up in school because the coursework was too demanding."

Hearing this, Isabella felt triumphant. "It's okay. Mrs. Winters won't blame you. It has been a while since you last played. You must still remember 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,' or perhaps even the birthday song, right?"

'As the future matriarch of the Winters Family, playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in front of all the guests will be quite a scene. Joey will quickly become famous,' Isabella thought, a sly look flashing in her eyes. Joey frowned, looking a bit troubled. "Alright then, let's see what I can remember. I'll improvise."

With that, she walked towards the piano on the stage. She heard whispers behind her but didn't mind and calmly sat on the piano bench.

She indeed played "Happy Birthday." The audience was in an uproar. Even the children of wealthy families wouldn't play such a simple piece. Isabella's eyes were filled with even more pride.

Just as "Happy Birthday" ended and everyone was wondering how Joey would handle the awkward situation, the hall was filled with the melodious sound of the piano again.

Isabella was stunned. It was the same piece she had just played, "Chasing Snow."

This piece was extremely difficult, with a fast and intense rhythm, making it very challenging to perform. But Joey played it with ease.

Her rendition didn't have the coldness of snow but was filled with joy and boundless passion. It was like two lovers in the snow, chasing and playing with each other, showing both romantic imagery and the beauty of a snowy landscape. Everyone present was mesmerized.

Isabella's hands clenched into fists, thinking, 'Absolutely impossible. Joey hasn't played the piano for many years. How could she still play so well? Her performance is even better than mine. Most importantly, her style is very similar to Connie's.'

Isabella struggled to suppress her feelings. She was worried that people would discover Joey was Connie's daughter, especially when Beatrice had been talking about Connie a lot recently. When Joey finished, she took a deep bow. The audience erupted in applause and praise. The applause for her was louder, and the compliments were more sincere than those for Isabella. At that moment, Beatrice, who had been watching from the audience, stood up. Walking up to Joey, she took her hand with tears streaming down her face. "Connie, is that you?"