Chapter 16

Mira's POV:

"What is it?" I asked, and she looked at me, perplexed.

"Huh… Oh, nothing. Just thought the birthmark looked strange." She replied and played with her fingers. Excuse me, buts what's the girl's name?"

"Her name is Lila Walker." I answered.

"Lila?"

"Yes. Are you sure you're fine?"

"Yeah, of course I am. Here." she dropped the phone back on the table. "I'll be in the kitchen now. If there's anything you need, let me know." She said and walked away.

I watched her go and continued with my food.

***

Ellen's POV:

Dinner was over and we had already retired to our rooms. I sat in front of the table mirror, a picture in my hands. After a while I chuckled and smiled out tears.

"This is unbelievable." I murmured to myself. "The girl I've been looking for all my life is here." I said, as the tears streamed down my cheeks. I quickly cleaned it off.

"Cage, we've found our daughter." I said again, louder. I caressed the picture with my fingers. It was a picture with cage otherwise known as CG, a little girl and me smiling at the camera. I tucked my hair away from my left ear, and it revealed the same strange birthmark that Mira had been talking about. It actually wasn't a birthmark, but an incision. Cage made us do it a long time ago, said it'll keep Lyric safe. Our Lyric. I continued tearfully.

"They took you away from me honey, I thought you were dead. I miss you so much. But then… you're in the Beamlights Entertainment. I don't know if I should be happy that your legs have taken you to the right place or be scared that you're directly in the Lion's den. O God."

"That doesn't matter now. What matters now is that you're here and alive."

Once again, I whispered to the man in the picture.

"We've found our daughter."

***

(The next day)

Lila's POV:

Rehearsals were in full swing in the morning. This time we were coaching our voices so it could be stronger. So far, it'd been good, and we were all occupied when another official walked in.

"Listen up, girls." She announced as we stared at her. "Come closer." She ordered, and we moved nearer.

"The day after tomorrow, you guys will do a presentation. And when I mean presentation, you all will come up with your dance routine and showing it to the officials."

Murmurs and gasped erupted from the girls as we looked at each other. Soon it all died down.

"Now here's the thing. You will be grouped into twos making ten groups and the two of you will have to come up with a choreography and dance to your favorite. Any group who doesn't do well enough will be eliminated. As we said in the beginning of this training, even though you are all contestants, for now see yourselves as teammates helping yourselves up the ladder. You name's will be posted on the notice board so after your rehearsals do well to check and meet with your partner."

"Okay ma'am." We all chorused.

"And for those who are yet to go on their Beamlights Entertainment tour, after this vocal training class, go line yourselves up at the hallway. Is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Have a good day." She said and left the room. We all went back to our classes. Once I was through, I walked up to the notice board to see who I was grouped with. They were some girls there, and they were already checking their names. I spotted Paige. She saw me and walked towards me, smiling.

"Guess what?" She said excitedly.

"What?"

"Just guess…" I said, looking at her.

"I'm not so good at guessing… Just tell me already!"

"We are grouped together! It means will practice and come up with a choreography together! Oh my gosh, I'm so excited."

"Wow! That's amazing! What about Zoey?"

"Oh… I don't know. Let me go check," she said and walked back to the notice board. After a while, she came back.

"Looks like Zoey was grouped with another girl. Name's Diana Martin."

"Did everyone get partners?"

"Well, everyone except one girl. You know we're only nineteen and not twenty. That means she'll dance alone." Paige explained.

"Wow."

"Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. We better start working on our routine. I'm sure it's going to be a blast!"

Paige looks really excited, it thought. After a while, she began walking away.

"Oops, I almost forgot. I still have my tour to go to. See you later Lila." She said as I walked away. I stood there and ran my hands through my hair. Damn.

***

(The Sparks' penthouse)

Dean's POV:

I lay on the bed, feeling all grumpy and moody. Even the calming balm I applied on my burnt wounds did nothing to ease the turmoil in my mind. No thanks to Lila… Or whatever her name is.

She'd been haunting me ever since Chad disclosed that she was the one who'd spilled coffee on me. Now I see why Chad must have liked her. The more I tried to get her out of my mind, the more she appeared till I couldn't be able to sleep all night only to fall asleep in the early hours of the morning.

Tired of staying in bed, I dragged myself out to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. Staring at the hot water scars my mood got even moodier. There wasn't any serious wound inflicted, but they were bright patches of red in the areas the coffee touched. Why didn't I say anything to her yesterday?

I hurriedly rinsed my mouth and left the bathroom, then changed into a fresh batch of clothes and walked out of room, locking the door behind me. Today I'm determined to forget about her no matter what it's cost. Getting to the dining table, I met the rest of the boys eating. They all greeted me and I mumbled a reply. I took my portion and went back to seat, eating quietly.

"Hey, you okay? You don't look so good this morning." Nico observed.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I replied. Chad glanced at m and tried to suppress a chuckle. Looks like he's really enjoying this. I should plan a payback soon.

My phone rang and without checking the caller ID, I picked it up. I instantly regretted that action.

"Hello Dean. How are you?"

"Who is this?" I asked, feigning ignorance. I heard a sigh.

"It's me Dean, Ximena. Can I see you? We need to talk."