Chapter 3

The next morning, my grandmother gave me a video call. She told me that the town cultural center was in need of a dance teacher.

The manager of the cultural center was her old friend’s son. After hearing that I had gotten an offer from a dance academy before, he wanted to hire me.

“They say they’ll still evaluate if your technique is good enough. Esme, if you want the job, go for it. Otherwise, we can look for other things to do too.”

My fingers clenched around my phone, and I did not say a word.

I had not danced in six years. After my offer letter was torn apart, I buried my dance shoes in the deepest corner of my wardrobe.

I did not even dare to listen to music because I was afraid that I would start dancing.

My grandmother was laughing on the other end. “Esme, when you were young, you always danced in my garden. You’d spend the whole afternoon dancing. What do you think? Do you still have the passion?”

“Yes.”

After I ended the call, I took out my old dancing shoes. The shoelaces were a little stiff, and the toe box looked a little worn out.

I had wanted to throw them away for the past few years. However, I had not been able to bear the thought of going through with it.

No one would come home at this hour anyway. I pushed the coffee table aside and placed my phone on the TV cabinet. Then, I tried to stretch my legs out.

However, I almost lost my balance after the first twirl. I held on to the couch so I would not fall down. Even on my second attempt, I was still stumbling.

On my third try, my muscle memory finally kicked in. I tiptoed, arched my back, and spun around.

The chandelier above me blurred into a haze of light. It was as if I had been transported back to that examination hall back then, where the judge had nodded at me and called me a gifted dancer.

After I performed my last move, I panted and reached for my phone. The door behind me opened.

“Esme?”

Isla stood at the door wearing Liam’s coat. My mother was holding her bag, and Hugo was holding her flowers. Lucian and Liam were walking behind her.

“The doctor says Isla is making great improvements. She wanted to come home earlier to stay in her new room…”

Before my mother finished speaking, her gaze fell onto my dance shoes. Then, her face fell.

Isla put a hand to her chest as she teared up. “Esme, you dance so well. I can no longer dance.”

Her voice was very soft, but her words were like a match to gasoline.

My mother charged over and slapped me.

“You knew Isla was getting discharged today. You must’ve done this on purpose!”

I heard ringing in my ears. Before I could stand up straight, Hugo had already snatched my phone from the TV cabinet and smashed it against the floor.

“How dare you forget that I tore your offer letter into pieces back then?”

Lucian leaned against the doorframe and sneered, “I told you that she can’t stand to see Isla doing well.

“When Isla’s hospitalized, she won’t act up. The moment Isla’s discharged, she resumes her antics. What great timing.”

Liam did not scold me. Instead, he shielded Isla. He frowned at me, and his eyes were filled with disappointment.

“You know she can’t dance anymore.”

Isla poked her head out from behind him and sobbed. “Don’t blame Esme. I shouldn’t have come home this early…”

My mother turned toward me with a very familiar gaze. She was waiting for me to apologize, just like I had for the past six years. Once I apologized, they would let it go.

Lucian was waiting too. He glanced at his watch impatiently. “Quick, apologize. All of us are tired of your antics.”

I did not speak. Instead, I squatted down to pick up my phone. My screen was severely cracked, but it still lit up.

I had successfully sent out the video.

When Hugo grabbed my phone earlier, my finger had been hovering over the send button.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m not going to apologize.”

My mother pointed at the door in anger. “Get out! Don’t come back home until you’ve thought things through!”

Isla stopped her as tears trickled down her cheeks. “Mom, don’t chase Esme out. She’s willing to delay her wedding for Liam. Do you think she’ll really leave?”

No one refuted her.

I took my phone and went back to my bedroom to grab my luggage.

Outside the door, I could still hear Lucian saying, “It’s not the first time she’s threatened to leave. After she has a good sleep, she’ll come back to her senses.”

I shut the door and tore the photos off the wall in frustration. After a while, my phone lit up again.

I received a text message from the cultural center.

[We’ve received your video. Please report to work next Monday.]

I was just about to inform my grandmother when I heard Liam making a call outside my door.

“Dad, I’ll bring my girlfriend home for dinner to introduce her to you.”