Chapter 5

That State Championship opportunity meant everything to me. If I could achieve a decent result—better yet, win an award—it would secure my graduate recommendation.

My parents had gone to great lengths, both financially and otherwise, to pave the way for me into this elite dance academy.

Was I really going to let their expectations crumble just for the sake of pride?

Chloe considered this too and decided to get me out of the studio first before making any plans. She dropped everything, hailed a cab, and rushed over without a second’s delay.

Only when her familiar figure appeared before me did my heart finally settle back into place, as if I’d been brought back to life.

We ended up at Chloe’s off-campus apartment, lying in bed and holding each other for warmth, just like we used to as kids.

"Fiona, if there’s really no other way, maybe you should tell your parents. They’ll handle everything for you."

Chloe wasn’t wrong—sometimes, you have to turn to your parents. But I hesitated.

My parents were always swamped with work. They barely had time for me, content to just enroll me in dance classes and wash their hands of the rest.

If I told them, they’d probably just hand everything over to their lawyer. They wouldn’t have time to deal with my trivial problems.

I shook my head. "You know how busy they are. I don’t want to trouble them."

Chloe opened her mouth to say something, then stopped herself. "Then we’ll find the evidence ourselves. Tomorrow, we’ll check the surveillance footage. There’s no way Ryan can control everything!"

I nodded firmly, suddenly feeling a surge of strength.

The next day, I mustered my courage and returned to the dance studio.

"Sorry, but we have rules. I can’t just show surveillance footage to anyone," the security guard said flatly, shutting me down.

"Please, sir, this is really important. Just let me see the footage from yesterday afternoon!" I pleaded with everything I had, but the guard wouldn’t budge.

"You kids have too much time on your hands. Get out of here!"

I was about to push further when his next words froze me in place.

"If you don’t leave now, I’ll call your teacher to come get you."

Ryan’s terrifying face flashed in my mind. I stiffened, not daring to move.

Better not provoke him. Defeated, I left the security office.

As soon as I stepped outside, I turned—and there he was. A familiar figure, his hawk-like eyes locked onto me.