The award ceremony. Finally, it was time for the announcement.
"Next, we present this year's most prestigious award – the All-American Young Painters' Gold Award!"
The host excitedly opened the envelope, spotlights sweeping across the hall.
The Vane couple and Serena sat in the front, basking in the flashbulbs.
Dante gripped Elara's hand, his voice a low whisper in her ear:
"Remember, thank Serena when you go up. Did you memorize the speech?"
But when the winner was announced, everyone froze.
The host's reading voice faltered, his brow furrowed in confusion, but he quickly regained his professional smile.
"Serena Vane! Has won this year's award for her piece, 'First Light'!"
Applause thundered, cheers erupted.
Amidst the cheers, there were also some discordant murmurs:
"Who's Serena? Some newcomer in the industry?"
"No, wasn't the artist's name different this time?"
Dante stared at Elara, his eyes wide with shock and a flicker of confusion.
"What's going on? I clearly arranged for your name... I had everything set up..." His voice was strained.
Elara looked at her parents in the front row. They were proudly pushing Serena onto the stage, their faces showing no surprise.
So, her parents would go this far for Serena.
They would even erase Elara's name from the winner's list and replace it with Serena's.
Serena walked onto the stage, accepting the heavy trophy, tears welling in her eyes.
"Thank you... This painting was created while I was fighting illness... Every stroke is my love for life..."
Dante turned to look at Elara, his eyes panicked, his words jumbled. A hint of something akin to hurt warred with his confusion.
"Elara, there must be a misunderstanding. I'll investigate, and I'll give you an explanation..."
"No need to investigate."
Elara yanked her hand free, a sharp, decisive movement.
"What are you doing?" Dante felt a bad omen prickle his skin, his heart pounding against his ribs.
Elara ignored him and walked straight onto the stage.
The crowd below erupted in murmurs.
Serena saw Elara, her face turned ashen, her hand holding the trophy trembling.
"S-sister, are you here to congratulate me?"
Elara walked towards the display area.
The painting that rightfully belonged to her was displayed under a spotlight, breathtakingly beautiful.
She grabbed a glass of high-proof vodka from a passing waiter's tray and poured it onto the canvas without hesitation.
"You're crazy!" Serena shrieked, her voice cracking.
Elara took out a lighter she had prepared in her handbag.
Click.
A blue flame shot up, reflecting her ice-cold face.
Whoosh!
The canvas, soaked in alcohol, was instantly engulfed in flames. The oil paint crackled and popped under the intense heat.
Screams echoed through the hall.
Elara stood before the raging fire, microphone in hand.
Below her was everything she couldn't let go of in her past life: her biased parents, her fiancé who only spoke of love.
A laugh escaped her.
She grabbed the long lock of hair she had kept, Dante's favorite, and with the scissors hidden in her palm, she cut it ruthlessly.
That lock of hair, along with the shackles the Vane family had placed on her, was thrown into the inferno, turning to ash.
Finally, she looked at Serena beside her:
"These pieces of trash, they're all yours."
"Dad, Mom, brother, fiancé. I don't want any of them anymore."
Amidst the chaos, Elara kicked off her high heels, turned, and jumped off the stage barefoot, disappearing into the dark side door, running towards her freedom.
