Chapter 4

Ethan and Vivian flew to Palm Bay for a vacation.

Vivian seemed determined to take over everyone's social media feeds with her vacation pictures.

In her latest post, she was leaning against Ethan's shoulder, sipping coconut juice with a carefree smile. The caption read, "The boss is paying!"

One of our mutual friends commented, "Still calling him 'Boss'? Shouldn't you be calling him something else by now?"

Another chimed in, "When are we finally getting those wedding invitations? It's been years."

Vivian's reply was deliberately vague. "That's something you'll have to ask the boss about."

I blocked and deleted both of them from my social media. Just like that, the world became a little quieter.

…

"Evelyn, can you teach me that move? I still can't quite get it."

The girls were just teenagers. They weren't nearly as complicated as adults. Their admiration was simple and genuine, and with Vivian gone, they naturally gravitated toward me.

As we grew closer, they started inviting me out for late-night food and casual drinks. For a while, it felt like I'd gone back to my days with the dance company, when life had been simpler and my days were filled with nothing but dancing and contentment.

Being around them reminded me of how much I missed the stage.

More than anything, it strengthened my resolve to return to it.

One night, after we'd had a little too much to drink, one of the girls, Diana Thompson, suddenly spoke up for me. "Evelyn, I looked you up. You really did win the national championship, didn't you?"

She frowned, clearly bothered. "I know Vivian works hard, but that's not how dance works. You can't just have someone else perform in your place. Maybe we should say something for you…"

I reached over and gently patted her on the head. "Don't. It's okay."

They were just kids. I wasn't going to drag them into a fight that was mine to begin with.

Besides, I wasn't doing this for Vivian. I was only here to fulfill my mentor's final wish. Once that was done, I would leave, and this time, I wouldn't look back.

…

On the day of the performance, I put on Vivian's costume, styled my hair to match hers, and wore nearly identical makeup. I even had a veil cover most of my face.

Just seconds before I stepped onstage, I spotted Vivian backstage. She was leaning against Ethan, smiling at me. Then she silently mouthed, "Dance well, stand-in."

I walked onto the stage without responding.

The performance was a tremendous success. Thunderous applause erupted from the audience as soon as the final note ended.

But the moment I stepped backstage, the staff whisked me away. They helped me out of Vivian's costume and removed my makeup before I was allowed outside.

By then, Vivian was already standing in front of a wall of cameras, glowing as she gave an interview.

"That's my friend, Evelyn," she said, pointing toward me with a sweet smile. "She wanted to perform this time, too."

She paused, then added casually, "But because of her health condition, I was the one who had to go onstage."

The reporters barely looked at me. Instead, one of them stared at Vivian in disbelief. "So are you saying she actually wanted to compete with you for the company's principal dancer position?"

Ethan let out a short laugh beside her. "Obviously, I chose Vivian."

The people around them burst into laughter.

I stood there silently, listening to them laugh at me.

A few of the younger dancers came over to comfort me, their phones still in their hands as the interview played live on the screen.

"Eve, don't read the comments. Those people don't know anything. How can they say things like that about you?"

I glanced at the screen with indifference. Most of the comments called me arrogant, accusing me of overstepping and not knowing my place.

The interview was coming to an end when Ethan began giving his final remarks.

I walked over to Vivian. "Give me my bangle."

The corner of her mouth lifted. She raised an eyebrow. "You danced the routine, but all those cheers were for me."

Her smile widened. "Evelyn, what's it like being someone's stand-in?"

I gave her a mocking smile. "You tell me. You should know better than anyone."

Her expression darkened. She lowered her voice, her jaw tightening. "You want the bangle, don't you?"

She held my gaze. "Then come get it."

My eyes narrowed.

The next second, Vivian let the bangle slip from her hand. It hit the floor with a sharp crack and shattered cleanly in two.

"Vivian Carter!" I lost control and lunged at her. "Go to hell!"

Ethan had just finished his interview. The moment he saw what was happening, he rushed over and shoved me away, pulling Vivian into his arms.

"Are you okay? Did she hurt you?"

I stumbled backward. My head slammed against the corner of a table, and a wave of dizziness washed over me.

Vivian immediately covered her face and sobbed. "Eve, I already gave your bangle back. Why did you hit me?"

Ethan turned on me. "Evelyn, what the hell is wrong with you?"

I shouted back, "She smashed the keepsake Sienna left me!"

Something flickered in Ethan's eyes, but it disappeared almost instantly.

"That doesn't give you the right to attack her!" he snapped. "Is something left behind by a dead person really more important than a living one?"

His words struck me like a knife, and my eyes started to burn. "You know how much Sienna meant to me."

Ethan looked away. For a moment, it seemed like he wanted to say something.

Then Vivian tugged weakly at his sleeve. "Ethan… my head really hurts."

His expression changed immediately. "Don't worry. I'll get you to the hospital."

He scooped her into his arms and hurried out of the backstage area, leaving me standing there alone.

One by one, the backstage lights went dark.

My fingernails dug into my palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks.

I wiped away my tears, picked up the broken bangle, grabbed the suitcase I'd already packed, and headed straight for the airport.

But before I could leave, I spotted Diana waiting by the entrance. She hadn't gone to the group dinner.

The moment she saw me, she wrapped her arms around me. Then she leaned closer and whispered, "Evelyn, you'll shine on that stage again someday. I know you will."

I closed my eyes and held on to her for a moment. Then I quietly pulled away and walked toward the exit.

…

Vivian never actually went to the hospital.

After resting for a while, she said she felt fine and decided she didn't need to go after all. Instead, she and Ethan went to the company's celebration dinner.

But the moment they walked in, the atmosphere changed. Conversations died down, and the room fell noticeably quieter.

Vivian smiled as though she didn't notice.

"I talked to Ethan," she announced. "After the final stop on next week's tour, the company is going to treat everyone to a vacation."

A few scattered voices responded.

"Okay."

"Sounds good."

Ethan looked around the room, puzzled by the lack of enthusiasm. "We just had a successful performance. Why does everyone look so unhappy?"

One of the younger dancers finally spoke. "Why didn't Evelyn come? She put so much into this performance."

Another nodded. "Yeah. She taught me so much. I wanted to thank her."

Someone else hesitated before speaking up. "I don't think Evelyn would attack someone for no reason. That bangle was her mentor's keepsake. Vivian… I think you should apologize to her."

Vivian stared at them in disbelief. Then her voice rose sharply. "You've only been hanging out with her for a few days, and you're already taking her side?"

Ethan frowned slightly. "Vivian?"

She seemed to realize how she sounded. Her expression shifted, and she quickly forced an awkward smile. "That's not what I meant. I was just upset."

Ethan pressed his lips into a thin line. Then he remembered the look in my red-rimmed eyes and the words I'd thrown at him. For the first time, he wondered if Vivian really had gone too far.

"She hasn't been forgotten by the company," he said. "I've already approved it. Evelyn will be transferring back to the company next month."

Vivian's fingers immediately curled into her palms.

Around the table, the girls erupted into excited cheers.

Only Linda, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, hesitated.

"But, Mr. Bennett…" She swallowed before continuing. "Eve already resigned."