Love Began with the First Meeting
Chapter 489 The Stradivari (Part One)

Humility is the only way to testify true love.

*

After the episode of the "Sunny Day" necklace, the charity auction continued. Since the auction of "Sunny Day" resulted in a rather unexpected price, which seemed to stimulate the excitement of the audience, the succeeding goods offered brought fierce competitions. Then came the most awaited part of the event, the finale, where a Stradivari violin donated by Russell was presented to the crowd.

All the lights at the venue were turned off except for the projection lamps around the auctioneer, who was very excited to present the final auction for the event. He said, "The Stradivari has never appeared in public since it was kept in the possession of Mr. Russell ten years ago. Now, Mr. Russell is donating the violin for two reasons. First, he wants to help raise fund for the foundation and second, he also hopes that the violin can find its destined owner. Everybody here who is into music knows that the Stradivari is a miraculous violin. Its tone, needless to say, is impeccable, which everybody knows clearly. But its unique feature lies in the fact that not everybody can have the ability to control it. If one is not capable enough to play it, he/she is likely to enter a state of demonic madness..." As the auctioneer gushed over the Stradivari, the people sitting under the platform started to grow restless. One reason why the charity concert was able to gather so many well-known musicians in one event was because they all wanted to see this legendary violin with their own eyes.

"Now let's welcome and enjoy the presentation of Mr. Russell himself!"

As soon as the auctioneer finished saying the introduction, a spotlight was turned on in the center of the platform, where Russell was standing with a seemingly ordinary violin in the crook of his arm. Afterwards, he made a slight gentle bow to the audience, and then placed the violin under his cheek and set the bow on the string. He then began playing the violin.

As the bow swayed onto the string, a melodious music spilled over the violin. In the beginning, the audience were led into their own thoughts, but later, everyone, including those who didn't even understand instrumental music or music composition, were brought into Russell's world, feeling what he wanted them to feel. Until the last note was played, his music continued to resonate deep inside, and nobody had been able to get out of his music right away.

It was said that Spark was a living miracle created by God. If it were true, Russell would be an absolute miracle of miracles created by God, who could never be surpassed.

"The starting price for the violin is at ten million," said Russell slowly. "With one million increase for each offer!"

As soon as he finished saying that, the people started raising the price one by one, as if they had a shot in the arm. However, none of them noticed that Russell glanced at Spark seemingly unintentionally with his eyes full of mixed feelings, including helplessness, sadness, and disappointment, but the overwhelming feeling was regret amongst them.

Not everybody could have the privilege to play the Stradivari. It was a somewhat unique and mysterious violin. It could not be controlled unless the person playing it had the capability to command it and have it surrender to its master. In Russell's view, it could not be commanded by anybody else present except for Spark.

Unfortunately however, Spark could not afford the violin now. Russell sighed heavily. Hearing the bids one after another, he could not help but feel regretful that the violin would belong to someone ordinary.

Molly looked at the violin in Russell's hands with her shining eyes while clenching her hands into fists. The "Sunny Day" lay quietly around her neck. Since she wore a dress today, the necklace given by Eric had been taken off. At that moment, she felt her heart was getting heavier by minute, because of the necklace, and because of the Stradivari that every violinist was dreaming of.

"Mol," Spark called her name softly. Molly turned her head back to look at him. He did not look disappointed, instead he wore a smile, which could be seen from his eyes. He said, "Once upon a time, the Stradivari was what I wanted the most, but now, there is nothing I want more than you. Do you understand?"

Hearing that, Molly's eyes turned a bit teary, "I am your wife..."

Shaking his head, Spark said with a smile, "I don't want you only in the form. What I want is what is deep in your heart. Mol, can you imagine that when you gave me the answer, I thought that I could bear losing the whole world if that's what it takes in order to have you. In fact, I couldn't be any happier as long as I have you."

"Spark..."

"Shhh." Spark smiled and said, "Without Stradivari, I'm still the same Spark; but without you, I won't be the same anymore."

What kind of affection was that?

Manny could not tell. He regretted that Spark would miss the chance to have the Stradivari but on the other hand, he felt grateful that Spark might be able to get rid of the past, which was well worth it, as a matter of fact. Just as Spark said, without Stradivari, he would still be Spark, who could never be surpassed by anyone else except Russell.

Daniel did not pay any attention to the discussion between Spark and Molly. Instead, he was so caught up with listening to the offers the people were bidding for the violin. In such a short span of time, the price had exceeded thirty million. Hearing such a number, the flame of admiration and envy was burning in his eyes.

Watching the auction and the people around him with his big eyes, Mark knew that his daddy wanted the violin very much, but it seemed that his daddy did not have so much money now. Thinking about it, Mark pulled a long face and pressed his mouth tightly. Brian and Eric were sitting on a sofa at the corner. They had given offers once in a while for what they liked. However, neither of them had any interest in the violin, because they both knew that it was only valuable to the right person. ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐