Chapter 65
"Lucinda, you really can't stay out of trouble, can you? Having one fake bodyguard wasn't enough—now you've got another man on the hook."
"I really underestimated you!"
Sophia's voice dripped with mockery.
Ethan was sitting with his back to Sophia, so she naturally assumed he was another one of my conquests.
I immediately set down my teacup and fixed her with an icy stare.
"Watch your mouth! This is my senior from dance school, not whatever you're implying."
Sophia sneered dismissively. "Senior? Please. Everyone knows 'senior' and 'mentor' are just code words for lovers!"
She gave Ethan a once-over and added sarcastically, "Dressed up all respectable-looking, but doing nothing decent!"
"Sophia, is this the Lucinda Wipere you mentioned? The one who's been bullying you and isolating you at the dance company?"
The woman beside her drew herself up, sweeping me with a contemptuous glance.
I stared at them, dumbfounded. What kind of people were these?
"Yes, Mom. That's her."
Understanding dawned on me.
No wonder Sophia was so shameless—clearly it ran in the family.
Sophia's mother, Adele Guise, stepped forward, scrutinizing me.
Her carefully maintained face radiated arrogance.
"Lucinda, as a woman, I find your behavior utterly disgraceful."
"A woman who's had her engagement broken off should hold herself to even higher standards—become more virtuous and gracious. Not run around with random men and use the excuse of calling them 'seniors.'"
"You're an embarrassment to all women!"
Her painfully outdated thinking shocked me. At the same time, I couldn't help wondering—if Adele was so traditional, how had she raised a daughter like Sophia who knowingly became the other woman?
"Ma'am, Cindy and I have nothing to hide. We're completely above board. On the other hand, you..."
Ethan's usually warm expression now carried a sharp edge.
"We've never met, yet you're launching personal attacks on us. Isn't that incredibly rude?"
Adele remained unfazed, maintaining her haughty posture.
"The fact that I'm even deigning to speak to someone of your low status should be considered a privilege."
"But anyone who associates with trashy women like Lucinda—who cycles through men like they're going out of style—clearly isn't worth much either."
"Someone! We're booking this entire restaurant. Remove these two eyesores immediately. Don't let them interfere with my daughter's important business."
I shot upright. Important business?
Earlier, Jessie had mentioned that Sophia was interviewing with the Vice Director of the Royal Ballet Company.
Could it be happening today?
Noticing my expression, Sophia smiled smugly. "Lucinda, looks like you've figured it out. I'm meeting with the Vice Director of the Royal Ballet Company here today."
"That's someone most people could spend their entire lives trying to meet and never succeed. If you know what's good for you, leave now. Don't mess up my opportunity, or I'll make sure you regret it!"
I ignored her threat and turned to Ethan.
He'd told me to come here to watch the show—did he know this Vice Director, too?
Ethan caught the question in my eyes and nodded slightly.
Then he glanced at Sophia with an enigmatic smile.
"You're sure you want us to leave?"
I raised an eyebrow subtly. That question had layers to it.
What was Ethan's relationship with the Vice Director?
Sophia's expression flickered with hesitation. She tested the waters. "Don't tell me you actually know that prestigious Vice Director?"
Ethan smiled faintly. "Maybe I do."
"Sophia, don't listen to his nonsense. Someone of his low status couldn't possibly know the Vice Director of the world's top ballet company."
"They're probably stalling so that when the Vice Director arrives, they can piggyback off your meeting and try to audition too. We absolutely cannot let them succeed!"
Adele spoke with complete conviction.
Sophia bought it, her tone nasty as she urged us to leave.
"Get out! Don't make me have someone throw you out!"
I was in awe of their shamelessness.
"Ethan, let's go. If we stay any longer, I'm afraid their stupidity might be contagious."
"All right."
Ethan smiled warmly and stood up with me.
"Lucinda, who did you just call stupid?"
Sophia was furious, trying to block my path.
Adele stopped her. "Sophia, don't bother with trash like her. You're worth more than her pinky finger. Be elegant—the Vice Director will be here any minute."
I'd originally planned to leave quietly, but after hearing Adele's words, I changed my mind.
My hand swept lightly across the table, knocking over the tea.
The cup tumbled, sending tea splashing everywhere.
Adele's face drained of color.
Drops of tea spattered across Adele's pure white dress.
"Mom!" Sophia grabbed napkins and bent down to dab at her mother's dress.
Adele's head snapped up, her gaze piercing me like needles. "Do you have any idea that my dress is custom-made? Even if we sold you, you couldn't afford to replace it!"
I smiled sweetly. "Oh well, then I guess I won't pay. Better clean up quickly, or the Vice Director might think you don't respect him."
"You—" Adele's face contorted with rage. Sophia quickly restrained her. "Mom, don't make a scene. We'll deal with her later!"
Adele glared at me furiously. "Lucinda Wipere, you just wait. Once my daughter becomes the Royal Ballet Company's principal dancer, I'll make you wish you were dead!"
"No need to wait."
Suddenly, Ethan turned around to face them, his tone ice-cold.
"I'm informing you now that Sophia's interview is unsuccessful, and she is permanently blacklisted from consideration!"
I stared at him in shock.
How could he determine that Sophia failed and blacklist her?
Unless... Ethan was the Vice Director of the Royal Ballet Company that Sophia was supposed to meet?
No wonder he could guarantee Sophia would never be accepted by the Royal Ballet Company.
"By what authority do you—" Sophia whipped around to face us, her complexion immediately turning ashen. "You... you..."
Adele still hadn't grasped the severity of the situation. She grabbed a teacup and hurled it at us.
"How dare you trick my daughter! I'll tear your mouths apart!"
"Cindy, watch out."
Ethan quickly pulled me aside. The cup hit the floor and shattered.
"Mom, stop! Don't!" Sophia frantically blocked her mother, panic written all over her face. "He's Ethan Guise, one of the judges for the International Ballet Competition and one of the top three ballet masters in the world!"
Adele's expression changed, though doubt still lingered in her eyes. "Even if he's impressive, that doesn't mean he's the Vice Director."
Sophia latched onto this like a lifeline, urgently questioning Ethan.
"You claim you're the Vice Director—what proof do you have?"
I was curious what evidence Ethan could produce, too.
But he simply said one calm sentence.
"I myself am the most compelling evidence."
I froze.
It was an arrogant statement, but no one dared question it.
Not even Sophia could.
She staggered back a step, then lunged toward us with a pale face.
"No! Mr. Guise, I can explain this!"
But Ethan ignored her, pulling me toward the exit.
Sophia and her mother tried to follow, but were blocked by Ethan's private security.
In the car, I still couldn't quite believe it.
"Ethan, why didn't you tell me you were the Vice Director of the Royal Ballet Company?"
Ethan glanced at me, something unreadable moving in his eyes.
"Well, have you been one hundred percent honest with me?"