Chapter 8

Three days later, Joy finally woke up.

She saw Samuel waiting by her bed. He was exhausted, and his eyes were bloodshot.

When he saw her stir, he tried to help her up with trembling hands, but she avoided him.

Samuel’s hands froze in midair. After some time, he finally pulled his hands back.

With a hoarse voice, he said, “You can still walk, but you won’t be able to dance again.

“If you can’t, then don’t. I’ll take care of you. But Yelena is my fiancee. I can’t just abandon her.”

Joy should have felt plenty of things at that moment.

She should have been angry, be in despair, be sad, or be in suffering. Perhaps she should have even exploded in fury.

But all those emotions were contained in her heart. In the end, only a feeling of helplessness remained.

Finally, she said hoarsely and with a choked-up voice, “Please leave.”

The ward sank into a long period of silence. Eventually, Samuel got up and told her to rest before he left in silence.

When the door fell shut, Joy, who had been silently crying, finally wailed.

In the past, she had stayed day and night in the dance studio just to dance.

In the past, she had kept on practicing despite the scorching summer.

In the past, she swore that she would bring her dance troupe to newer heights.

In the past, she said she would keep dancing until the end of her life.

But all those things were destroyed because of her injured legs.

All her dreams were utterly crushed.

Ever since the doctor told Joy that she could no longer dance, Joy gradually turned into a shadow of her former self and was more akin to a walking corpse.

She no longer cried or laughed. She only sat in her chair with a blanket over her legs as she stared outside numbly.

Then, the day of the dance troupe’s official performance arrived.

Despite Martha and Francis trying to stop her, she had someone help her to the performance hall, and she sat at the last row.

The lights dimmed. Piano music played.

Joy looked to the stage.

Yelena wore the dress that was supposed to belong to her and performed the dance she was supposed to do.

She received the applause and flowers Joy was supposed to receive.

When the curtains fell, everyone stood up and clapped. Samuel even brought flowers up to kiss her. The others stood up and went to praise as well as flatter Yelena.

Joy alone sat in her seat while she watched the people move about before they left.

After a long period of time passed, she stood up and went on stage.

When Samuel saw her, he instinctively stood in front of Yelena. “If you’re angry, come at me. Don’t hurt her.”

She only watched him quietly with eyes as dead as still water.

Yelena gave Joy a provocative smirk before she tugged at Samuel’s shirt. She pretended to be pitiful and said, “It’s fine, Samuel. No matter what, it’s my fault for stealing her role as the lead dancer and performing the dance she choreographed. It’s only fair for her to be mad.”

Joy shook her head. “I’m not angry. I’m here to give you two a gift.”

Those words shocked everyone.

What gift?

“Come with me.”

With that said, Joy headed out of the performance hall.

Precisely when they exited, fireworks shot to the cry and exploded before falling like rain.

They continued exploding and lighting up the sky.

Samuel was stunned. The next second, he heard Joy say, “Samuel, do you still remember putting on a fireworks show for me on the day I became the lead dancer? You said that you hoped that my life would continue shining brightly, and that I can live my life as freely as the wind. I’m returning the fireworks show to you. I hope that you can be together forever with my sister-in-law.”

When she declared Yelena as her sister-in-law, Samuel widened his eyes and looked over at her instinctively.

It was the first time Joy had publicly declared Yelena to be sister-in-law!

His heart clenched. Just as he was about to say something, Joy had already turned around and disappeared.