I've devoted everything to sponsoring my deceased best friend's daughter, Lara Sandfield, so that she can learn dancing for the past ten years. Thanks to my efforts, she's able to get into the most prestigious art school.

My only condition is that Lara has to wear the dress that was sewn by her mother, Kiara Cruz, prior to her death, when it's time for Lara to perform her first dance after her graduation.

But on the day of the rehearsal, Lara actually starts a livestream and cuts the dress into shreds with a pair of scissors.

Tears trickle down her cheeks as she accuses me of using this torn, old dress to humiliate her and guilt-trip her for the past ten years.

"Look, everyone! This is Eliza's so-called 'blood, sweat, and tears'! She wants me to perform my first dance in this bunch of rags!

"I'm the principal dancer who has been nominated by a prestigious director! If I were to perform in this dress, it'd ruin my future! I no longer owe Eliza anything!"

As I stare at the derogatory comments aimed at me in the livestream, I leave a like there quietly.

The dress that Lara has ruined is actually woven by Kiara using gold threads back when she was still alive.

The internationally-renowned mentor, whom I've spent a fortune hiring for the past ten years, is actually my older sister, Lucy Newman, who has already retired for many years.

Meanwhile, the prestigious dance director has only given Lara the position of principal dancer because she respects Lucy far too much.

I leave a comment of my own in the livestream. "I hope you have a glorious future ahead of you."

I wonder how Lara can continue dancing, now that she's lost everything in life.

As soon as I sent the comment in the livestream chat, it was instantly drowned out by a barrage of insults.

Lara Sandfield fixed her eyes on the screen, unable to hide the contempt in her gaze.

She deliberately turned the camera toward the scraps of fabric on the ground, lifted her foot, and crushed them hard with her high heels.

Her stiletto heel dragged across the dark patterns, the abrasive sound enough to make anyone wince.

"See that? She's still throwing shade."

Lara wiped away her tears for the camera, her shoulders trembling slightly as she put on the act of someone deeply wronged.

"For the past ten years, every penny she gave me came with the air of a benefactor looking down on me. This lousy dress was nothing more than a leash she fastened around my neck, a constant reminder that I was supposed to be grateful to her for everything!"

Beside her, her boyfriend and manager, Ramon Bark, hurriedly handed her a tissue.

He sneered as he leaned toward the microphone, his voice carrying a clear warning. "Ms. Newman, Lara is now Mr. Daniel Green's principal dancer. Your emotional manipulation ends here. If you continue harassing her, we'll definitely take this to court."

The chat instantly blew up, the screen flooded with vicious comments.

"Is this old woman seriously insane? She's forcing Lara to wear that garbage just to ruin her career!"

"Don't cry, Lara. We fans are all here for you!"

"Let's find out who she is! We'll make sure everyone knows what kind of person she is. Let's see if she still dares to bully Lara after that!"

My phone started buzzing nonstop as countless unknown numbers began flooding in.

One hateful message after another popped up, filled with vile insults. Some people even sent disturbing images filled with malicious curses.

I sat there on the sofa, calmly watching the dirty scrap of fabric displayed on the screen.

Inside it were the gold threads that Kiara Cruz had painstakingly sewn in until she wore herself out.

It was the last keepsake she had left for her daughter, a final piece of protection and love. Yet now, it was being treated like trash and trampled underfoot.

I ignored the barrage of angry calls.

Instead, I pulled up my contacts and called my elder sister, Lucy Newman, who was currently overseas.

"Lucy."

My voice was calm, devoid of emotion.

"Your prized student cut up the last thing her mother left for her."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, then came the sharp sound of a glass shattering.

"I'm coming back to the country immediately."

Lucy's voice was as cold as ice.

After hanging up, I turned my attention back to the livestream.

Ramon was holding up a dazzling dance costume covered in rhinestones, showing it off from every angle in front of the camera.

"Hey everyone, tomorrow is the rehearsal for Janswick Art Academy's graduation tour. Lara will be wearing this couture piece sponsored by a top luxury brand and finally leave all those painful memories from the past behind for good!"

Lara smiled through her tears, gently running her fingers over the cheap rhinestones as her eyes shone with ambition.

"Thank you for your support. Tomorrow, I will prove with the most perfect performance that I don't owe anyone anything!"

The livestream ended amid a wave of cheers.

I stared at the screen that had turned dark, a cold smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

She didn't owe anyone anything?

She had probably forgotten who swallowed their pride and pulled strings to get her the recommendation letter that got her into Janswick Art Academy.

And who was it that called in a lifetime's worth of favors behind the scenes to pave the way for her to become Daniel's principal dancer?

A ding sounded.

A new email popped up in my inbox, the sender being the administration office of Janswick Art Academy.

It read, "Ms. Eliza Newman, due to the recent controversy surrounding you, the academy has decided to withdraw your guest access to the graduation tour in order to ensure the event proceeds smoothly."

I read the harshly worded email as my fingers lightly tapped against the desk.

Withdraw my access?

That dance building at Janswick Art Academy, worth five million dollars, was built entirely with my donation.

They must have forgotten who holds the most influence on the academy's board of trustees.

I rose from my seat and went to the window, gazing out at the city glowing beneath the night sky.

Lucy, the daughter you fought tooth and nail to protect, had gone completely rotten in the end. Since she thought everything you left behind was nothing but trash, I'd make sure she saw with her own eyes what would happen to her once it all slipped away.

The following morning, I showed up right on time at the main theater entrance of Janswick Art Academy.

The sunlight was blinding. Outside the theater, the place was already swarming with paparazzi and Lara's rabid fans.

Two security guards blocked my path, their eyes scanning me from head to toe with undisguised suspicion.

"Sorry, but today's rehearsal is not open to the public. We'll need to see your credentials."

Without saying anything, I fished out a black card edged in gold.

The guards froze for a second, then leaned in to study the emblem on the card. The moment they recognized it, their expressions shifted completely. That was a permanent pass of the Board of Trustees. No more than three people in the entire academy held one.

They stumbled back and bowed in fear. "P-Please head in."

I pushed through the heavy soundproof door, then the theater's chaos hit me all at once.

In the middle of the stage was Lara, standing in that rhinestone-studded haute couture gown, preening like a swan.

She was surrounded by makeup artists, assistants, and a few classmates eager to flatter her, as if she were already an international superstar.

Ramon was the first to spot me.

The smile vanished from his face in an instant. He strode toward me, deliberately raising his voice for everyone to hear. "Eliza, you've got some nerve showing up here."

His voice instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Lara gathered her skirt and made her way to the edge of the stage, flanked by her little entourage like a queen descending upon her subjects.

From that height, she looked down at me with undisguised contempt and wariness etched all over her face.

"Ms. Newman, didn't you get enough of my livestream? Did you come all the way here just to humiliate yourself in person? Or perhaps you're hoping to ride on my coattails?"

The students around us didn't bother to lower their voices anymore.

"So, this is that deranged sponsor everyone's talking about?"

"Looks decent enough on the outside, but what a snake. She's dead set on destroying Lara."

"Poor Lara, getting stuck with a leech like that. Must be impossible to shake her off."

My gaze drifted past her and settled on that glittering gown she was wearing.

"So, this is what you traded your mother's keepsake for?"

My voice was quiet but cut through the cavernous theater like a blade.

Lara's composure shattered in an instant. "This is couture. Ramon called in every favor he could to get it for me. Not that you'd understand anything about that."

Her voice went sharp and brittle, like glass about to crack. "All you ever do is wave that musty old rag in my face like some kind of weapon. What else have you ever given me? I'm Mr. Green's principal dancer now! I'm about to blow up, and you're not going to hold me hostage with your pocket change from the past."

The department head, Jack Shuttle, came scurrying out from backstage, drenched in sweat.

Eager to shield his school's "rising star," he didn't bother with pleasantries and jabbed a finger toward the exit.

"Ms. Newman, Lara is going to do her audition run for Mr. Green. I need you to leave now. Don't upset her, or I'll have security escort you out."

The academy's administration office had always been a pack of opportunists. In his tireless efforts to build up Lara's image, Ramon had been slipping gifts to the higher-ups behind the scenes, spinning stories that she'd already caught the eye of international companies.

Eager to curry favor with their would-be star, the academy was more than happy to step all over me, the former sponsor who'd outlived her usefulness.

I looked straight at Jack, remembering how he stood outside my office for three whole hours begging for my sponsorship.

"Are you sure you want to kick me out?"

Jack straightened his face into a picture of stern authority and squared his shoulders. "We have zero tolerance for anyone disrupting our outstanding student's rehearsal. Security! Show her out!

The security guards glanced at each other uneasily at the door. Neither of them dared to step forward.

Lara let out a smug laugh, crossing her arms with an arrogant air. "Eliza, just because you threw me some money in the past doesn't mean you get to control me forever. Mr. Green is here in person to watch my rehearsal today. You could get down on your knees and beg, and I still wouldn't give you the time of day."

Over the past few years, I stepped away from the spotlight to focus on training Lara. I even deliberately spread rumors that my company was facing a financial crisis to test her. Well, she and Ramon swallowed it whole, thinking I'd hit rock bottom.

I didn't move an inch and glanced at my watch.

It was 9:50 am.

Right then, someone pushed the doors to the theater wide open.

Daniel's assistant, Perry Jones, rushed in, drenched in sweat. Holding his phone, he gasped, "Mr. Green said today's audition's canceled!"

The entire scene fell silent.

The smugness on Lara's face froze, as though someone had doused a bucket of ice water on her.

She hurried down from the stage, clutching her gown in one hand, and seized Perry by the arm. Her nails dug into his jacket. "Mr. Jones, why did it get canceled? Didn't Mr. Green agree to see my rehearsal today? I've done my hair and makeup, and the press is waiting outside. What am I supposed to do now?"

Perry didn't even look at her. He yanked his arm free and smoothed down his sleeve with visible distaste. His gaze darted across the room until it landed on me, standing quietly in a corner.

Looking visibly relieved, he made his way toward me quickly.

All traces of his earlier swagger had vanished. He bowed so low, his voice dripping with a deference that made everyone in the room do a double take.

"Ms. Newman, Mr. Green wanted me to confirm the flight is arriving at three in the afternoon, right? He's already sent a car to the airport, and the hotel room is ready. Everything has been taken care of."

Lara froze instantly, her eyes widening in shock.

Even Ramon furrowed his brows as he hurried over, trying to smooth things over.

"Mr. Jones, there must be a mistake."

He pointed at me, his voice laced with contempt. It was obvious he was trying to save face. "She's just an old woman whose company has gone bankrupt. The only reason she's got any attention online is that she's been guilt-tripping Lara..."

"Shut up!"

Perry broke out in a cold sweat. He whipped around and shot Ramon a glare that could've cut glass.

"Who the hell do you think you are to talk shit about Ms. Newman? Even if you do have a death wish, don't drag me down with you."

Ramon flinched at Perry's outburst and shot him a look full of disbelief.

I ignored Perry's fawning and looked at Lara quietly.

"Think you'll still be principal dancer by the end of the day?" I asked, my voice soft and edged with a quiet mockery.

Lara bit her lip, her complexion shifting between flushed and pale.

She forced out a cold laugh and stared at me, trying desperately to regain her composure.

"Eliza, stop playing these mind games. Mr. Green chose me because of my talent! My private coach is the internationally renowned Ms. Mystic! Mr. Green personally praised my fundamentals as flawless. There's no way he'd replace me because of you!"

When she brought up Mystic's name, the surrounding students collectively gasped, their faces filled with envy.

Mystic was a legend in the dance industry.

No one knew what she looked like, but everyone knew that every student she trained became a world-class dancer.

Anyone lucky enough to be her student, even in name only, would be able to command respect throughout the dance industry.

Glancing at the smug expression on Lara's face, I nearly burst out laughing. "Is that so?"

I slowly smooth my sleeves. "Then do you know why Ms. Mystic chose to teach you?"

Lara stuck up her chin proudly.

"That's because I'm insanely talented. Ms. Mystic said I was born for this. I'm destined to stand on the world's biggest stages!"

Right then, Perry's phone rang.

He answered the call, his expression turning solemn.

After hanging up, he turned to Lara. "Lara, Mr. Green wants you to stitch the dress you tore apart back together, piece by piece. Otherwise..."