SWNOVELS Chapter 18
Chapter 18 A Leopard Cannot Change Its Spots
Neil announced.
“The song I’m going to sing now is named ‘Lover’s Ending‘!
Neil deliberately chose a classic song by Aiden Hoff from his past life.
The song was released in 1994 in his past life and received a Grammy and other awards. It was performed on the 1994 New Year’s Eve Stage and became a phenomenal and trendy hit song.
This song was well–known in the nineties and had been extremely popular.
It was still classic and timeless decades later.
There was another important reason.
Neil had heard some news. Late this month, the first of Armoa’s Four Kings of Entertainment, Timothy Lennon, would be coming home for a concert and to pay tribute to his hometown!
This superstar was in film, television, and music. His status in Armoa’s entertainment circle was the same as Aiden in Neil’s past life.
Furthermore, Timothy cared for his juniors and pursued virtue and arts like Aiden.
Even their voices were similar.
As it turned out, Timothy’s hometown was Cloubury.
Neil wanted to use the song ‘Lover’s Ending‘ to attract Timothy’s attention.
Neil strummed the guitar strings and started singing when he thought about it.
He focused on his singing.
He didn’t know that not far away, Aneira, who was just done with housekeeping and was going home, had stopped in her tracks and stared in the stage’s direction.
Aneira’s watery eyes seemed covered in a layer of anguished mist as she gazed at Neil.
Neil held a guitar in his arms and strummed it on the stage.
He slowly started to sing.
“I used to be a dreamer.”
“I wish I could have seen her.”
“After going away.”
“I had nothing left to say.”
“Love was far.”
“And I had to bid it au revoir.”
“Then I understood.”
“That love wasn’t always good.”
In the crowd, Aneira was slightly startled.
The stage was at a distance.
She couldn’t see Neil’s expressions clearly.
But his familiar voice and how he played the guitar savagely pulled her thoughts back to that
summer.
It was the summer four years ago when she had met Neil for the first time in a bar.
Back then, eighteen–year–old Aneira had just graduated high school. She and her friends had gone to Neonite Bistro, the best in Remmington, to celebrate.
Neil was a regular singer at Neonite Bistro.
It was neat to be performing music in 1993. Neil first sang a popular Osvodian rock song and stirred the crowd.
After that, he sang a
allad.
Aneira had also looked at Neil from afar in the crowd that day.
He was in a handsome black leather coat and had long hair. He looked stylish and trendy.
His voice had been quiet when he sang the ballad.
He was accompanied by a slightly sorrowful melody.
Aneira felt that the man had conquered her heart little by little.
Aneira liked music since young. She had the best results in her school and passed the Osvod Music Academy audition.
But her parents wanted her to give up her hobby and study management overseas instead. They
wanted a wealthy son–in–law after Aneira’s social status was enhanced.
Aneira had left home in her anger.
She didn’t know how she had summoned her courage, but she looked for Neil.
What delighted her was that Neil had also noticed her in the bar that day.
Ancira thought it was the start of love, but she didn’t know she had stepped into a nightmare instead…
The live applause pulled Aneira’s thoughts back to reality.
She looked at the stage again.
Neil’s hair was cut shorter, far from his confident and graceful rebellious appearance in the past.
But at present, he seemed more mature and stable!
Aneira sighed silently.
The sad lyrics of the song resonated with her.
But Neil was the one who had failed to live up to her love. She was the one who had been let down.
“If your heart doesn’t break.”
“It’s a mistake.”
“If
you see my tears.”
“And you hear my prayers.”
His emotional and steady voice suddenly rose in the chorus.
The tender pain was like the tide, sweeping over everyone in the crowd.
“I never thought that I would be tending.”
“To my lover’s ending.”
“All my feelings.”
“Are just like weak kings.”
“I never wanted this unrelenting.”
“And painful lover’s ending.”
“I can’t take back my love.”
“But I will try and live.”
“Even if my heart breaks.”
“At least I’m not in space.”
The first chorus ended, and the crowd erupted into deafening applause.
These songs of deep emotion had a simple melody and lyrics. In the later generation, it would seem old–fashioned and outdated.
But in the nineties, everyone loved songs like these.
Because in this era, entertainment was lacking. Honest love songs that expressed one’s feelings were like a spring shower. It nourished people’s barren mental state.
The surrounding crowd was generous with compliments.
“Neil is amazing. This song sounds good!”
“I’ve never heard such a good pop song!”
“To be honest, Armoa’s Four Kings of Entertainment aren’t as good as Neil, and I’ve bought their cassette before.”
Neil looked down and sang the second verse.
‘Lover’s Ending‘ may have been widespread. Still, in terms of achievements, it wasn’t as universally appreciated as popular love songs like ‘Kisses‘ and ‘Tender Heart.‘
But Neil wanted to attract Timothy’s attention and thought of a way to first make the song popular in the county town.
He had a clear goal!
‘Lover’s Ending‘ was the best choice!
He focused on singing but didn’t notice the familiar and exquisite figure in the crowd as she silently turned to leave.
Aneira quickly left Forest Supermarket.
She hung her head and took out her handkerchief to wipe the tears in the corners of her eyes.
She had been through a lot for the past few years.
At first, she had been enchanted by Neil’s music, but what she got in return was a horrific life.
That night, Neil had brought her to a romantic bistro for drinks.
The two had spent the night together.
The next day, Neil disappeared.
He had also stopped performing at Neonite.
Ancira had only found him after wandering through many
bars.
But Neil had said that their shared night had happened on a whim. He didn’t want to be bound by relationships.
Ancira had left in frustration.
Two months later, Aneira realized that she was pregnant.
Her parents had wanted her to get rid of her pregnancy.
She was unwilling to do so, so she was forced to look for Neil again.
Neil had chosen to marry her.
But not long after they married, Neil’s father, Bernard Grant, lost all his money investing in
stocks.
Neil didn’t want to be bound by marriage in the first place, so he took out his anger on Ancira.
Neil had berated her for being the bearer of bad luck. He also hit her at the drop of a hat.
Neil had also hit her when she was pregnant. Once, he had almost hit Aneira until she had a miscarriage. Thankfully, she was sent to the hospital quickly, and her pregnancy was saved.
After the children were born, the family moved to Cloubury. Neil became an alcoholic.
And he kept hitting her more frequently.
Aneira shook her head.
A leopard cannot change its spots. Don’t think he’s turned over a new leaf just because he sang an emotional
song!
Aneira quickly walked to the house of the landlord, Ms. Healy.
Ms. Healy was kind and was often willing to take care of the twins when Aneira went for housekeeping.
“Ms. Healy, I’m here to pick the children up.”
“Alright. Luca and Yivi, Mama is here!”
“Mama!” Yivi ran over happily and hugged Aneira.