LOGINHearing that name, one I hadn't heard in ages, I couldn't stop my tears from welling up.Kiara was the best friend I ever had.She took a splash of acid for me in college, protecting me from thugs, but leaving her back scarred.She also entrusted her daughter to me on her deathbed, then hid away in her cramped rented apartment to embroider the dress as she slowly went blind. What a foolish woman.I slowly picked up the torn pieces of cloth from the ground, each piece cutting deeper than the last."Lucy, I want to bring Kiara home."My voice was hoarse as I hugged the sealed bag in my arms.The next day, Lara's arrest was trending.Her own fans had turned on her, and everyone on the Internet was tearing into her for being ungrateful."Wait, she cut the last gift her mother died to make for her?""How dare she call herself a dancer? That's a disgrace to the stage.""One million dollars in damages plus prison time. Serves her right."The luxury house that had loaned her the ha
One million dollars.That number loomed over Lara, crushing her in an instant.Her knees gave way, and she hit the ground hard.She scrambled on all fours to my feet and clung to my leg for dear life."Eliza, I was wrong. Please forgive me!"She was crying so hard that tears and snot ran down her face, all trace of her former haughty arrogance gone.Her once-flawless makeup was now smeared across her face, making her look like a pathetic clown."I'm my mother's only daughter! Please think of her and spare me this once. I'll crawl and beg if that's what it takes!"She slammed her head against the hard marble floor over and over, each thud dull and heavy.Her forehead split open within moments, blood streaming down the bridge of her nose.I took in her disheveled state, completely unmoved."You stopped being her daughter the instant you cut up that dress."I kicked her out of the way and pulled out my phone, then played the livestream recording from yesterday."You like live
Lucy ground her heel down on the back of Lara's hand, showing no mercy.Lara cried out in pain, but she didn't dare move.Seeing things go south, Ramon retreated silently, attempting to escape amidst the chaos."Mr. Bark, where do you think you're going?"Perry appeared out of nowhere with two burly bodyguards standing behind him, blocking Ramon's escape.He pulled out a tablet and played a voice recording."Mr. Green, just look at Lara's body and gorgeous face. As long as you agree to make her the principal dancer, she'll be all yours…"Ramon's fawning voice echoed throughout the theater, so clear that it was nauseating.Perry let out a cold laugh. "Mr. Bark, do you think you know Mr. Green well? The moment you came to him with your little schemes, he recorded the whole thing. He sent it straight to Ms. Newman because he wanted nothing to do with you."Lara's head snapped up as she shot Ramon a look full of disbelief."W-What have you done behind my back?"Daniel's face tur
Lara's face went deathly pale, as if all the color had been drained from it.She shook her head desperately, tears streaming down her face."Impossible. That's impossible!"She screamed hysterically, jabbing fingers at everyone around her."I got into the arts academy because of my own hard work! My talent was what impressed all of you! This can't be happening. You're all lying to me! You're all teaming up against me!""Your talent?"I stepped forward, looking down at her."When you were ten, you broke your leg because you slacked off during training. I spent a fortune bringing in the best orthopedic specialist from abroad to save your dance career. When you were fifteen, you failed the first round of the arts entrance exam. Lucy flew back overnight and personally drilled you on every move for three months, just so you could barely make it into Janswick Arts Academy."As I spoke, Lara's face grew increasingly defeated."You claimed I insulted you with that worthless dress."I t
The woman ignored Daniel and approached me."Lucy."Lucy hummed softly in response.Silence ensued instantly.The silence was so complete that you could hear a pin drop.Lara's hand hung frozen in the air, her face stuck in a ridiculous expression."Do you know each other?" she asked in disbelief, her gaze darting between Lucy and me.Lucy spun and gave her a cold look."We're siblings. By the way, I've received your email."Lucy pulled her phone out of her expensive leather bag.She unlocked the screen and tossed it straight at Lara's feet.The phone slid across the floor and came to rest right beside Lara's stilettos.The screen was still lit, showing the very email Lara had just sent accusing her "vicious benefactor".Lara's feet gave out, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.Failing to read the room, Ramon stepped forward and asked, "Ms. Mystic, did you fall for Eliza's lies?"He put up a show of outrage and pointed at me, trying to impress his idol."She's just
"Otherwise what?"Lara's voice turned shrill."Otherwise, you won't be the principal dancer for the tour starting tomorrow. The role will go to someone else."The entire room erupted in an uproar.The students and paparazzi who'd been watching from the sidelines suddenly burst into a frenzy.Lara stumbled backward in disbelief as her gaze landed on me. "You? What did you say to Mr. Green?"Her finger was trembling as she pointed at me, her eyes filled with fear and fury.Ramon instantly panicked and latched onto Perry's arm."Mr. Jones, how is this possible? Lara is the last student Ms. Mystic has taken on! How could Mr. Green replace her over something unimportant like this? Isn't he afraid of offending Ms. Mystic?""Unimportant?" I cut him off coldly, my gaze slicing across Lara's face like a blade."That dress was something her mother poured her heart and soul into. She spent three months begging an embroidery master before they finally agreed to teach her. The hidden patt







