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..."
