Chapter 13
"The video caught you, and I saw you leaving our dressing room with my own eyes! How dare you deny it!" Lillian shouted at me furiously, then turned to Samuel.
"Mr. Flores, I said nothing when you favored her before, but now that Lucinda has done something so unconscionable, are you still going to pretend you don't see it?"
Others joined in. "Lillian is right, Mr. Flores. This time Lucinda has committed a blatant crime. She must be severely punished!"
"I agree. Our company has never had such a malicious incident. If Lucinda isn't disciplined, who would dare share a stage with her again?"
"Mr. Flores, look how pale Sophia is! Make a decision quickly!"
Meeting Samuel's disappointed gaze, I knew he believed them. My heart twisted painfully.
"Lucinda, you..."
"Mr. Flores!" I interrupted, scanning Sophia sitting on the floor before fixing my gaze on Lillian's angry face. "Technology is so advanced these days. Lillian and I have a history of conflict, so her words aren't reliable. I request that the video on her phone be sent for analysis to determine if it's authentic."
"Lucinda, don't bring up our past issues. I swear, every word I've said is true!" Lillian tried to continue stirring emotions.
I didn't let her succeed, coldly countering, "Your oath has no credibility in the face of the law."
"You—"
"Enough." Samuel's cold voice cut through. His icy gaze swept over Lillian and me. "Lucinda makes a valid point. This concerns the company's reputation. We cannot rely on one-sided accounts. Lillian, send me the video. I'll have it examined immediately."
"Mr. Flores, why are you still taking her side?" Lillian looked bewildered, her tone both angry and urgent. "Can't you see Sophia can barely stand? If Lucinda hadn't resented Sophia for taking her lead role, Sophia wouldn't be injured..."
"Lillian, the director isn't favoring me. This isn't just about my personal reputation—it affects the entire company's standing. It can't be decided by a few casual words."
Seeing her continued obstruction, I became more certain the video was problematic.
"Mr. Flores," Sophia, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. "Tonight's performance is connected to our collaboration with the overseas ballet company and the qualifications for the international ballet competition. There's no need to make this a big issue."
"If word gets out, my reputation is minor, but I fear it would harm the company."
My heart raced. Sophia wanted Samuel to handle this privately. That wouldn't work. Sophia and Lillian were clearly in this together.
If handled privately, they would certainly manipulate public opinion and cement my guilt. By then, no amount of explaining would clear my name.
Sure enough, after hearing Sophia's words, the others turned their accusations toward me.
"Lucinda, Sophia is so badly injured yet still trying to protect you. How can your conscience bear it?"
"Exactly! Lillian has presented evidence, and you still won't admit it! What evidence do you have to prove your innocence?"
"With witnesses and physical evidence, we all know whether you're innocent or not!"
"If you ask me, someone like Lucinda doesn't deserve to stay in this company!"
Seeing Samuel's dilemma, I proactively suggested involving the police. "Mr. Flores, this can't be kept quiet. Many media representatives and company partners were here tonight. They all saw Sophia fall."
"If we try to cover it up, it will only spark speculation, which would be worse for the company's reputation and credibility."
"Besides, as the principal dancer, my reputation directly affects people's trust in the company. This matter must be cleared up!"
After considering for a moment, Samuel agreed to my request.
"Sophia, I'll have someone take you to the hospital. Rest assured, I'll get to the bottom of this! Lucinda, Lillian, come with me to the police station."
I immediately agreed, but Lillian tried to make excuses. "Mr. Flores, I've sent you the video. Sophia's injuries are serious—I want to accompany her to the hospital. I'd be worried otherwise."
She was clearly trying to avoid going, and I wasn't about to let her. "You're not a doctor. Going to the hospital won't help. Don't waste time—let's go to the police station first."
Lillian glared at me hatefully before reluctantly following.
At the police station, after hearing the situation, the officers immediately asked Lillian to show the video. Lillian hesitated, unwilling to hand over her phone. Only after the officer became angry did she finally surrender it.
Sitting back down beside me, she whispered triumphantly, "Lucinda, coming to the police station won't change anything."
I was still wearing my dance costume with just a jacket over it, leaving my legs exposed. As they got cold, my knee began to ache.
"Falsehoods can't become truth. You'll definitely be punished," I replied.
Lillian laughed at my naivety. "I'm not afraid to tell you, Sophia is already on her way to rescue me. And with her is the CEO of the Percy Group—someone even the police wouldn't dare offend! You won't be walking out of here tonight!"
My heart wrenched painfully. The barely healed wound tore open again. Leopold was so good to Sophia—not only was he sending her, but he was also coming to defend her follower.
As I was thinking this, there was a commotion at the door. I looked up and unexpectedly met Leopold's deep, cold eyes. My breath caught.
"Mr. Percy, why have you come personally?" The officer who had been dealing with us quickly stood to greet him.
Leopold gave him a brief glance before stopping in front of me, his face expressionless. "Lucinda, why did you hurt Sophia?"
I let the pain spread through me as I looked up at him. "Do you have evidence?"
Leopold reached down and gripped my chin, his gaze growing more terrifying. "My patience with you is wearing thin. Don't test my limits!"
My jaw ached from the pressure, but I didn't show it. I enunciated each word clearly: "I didn't do it."
"You—"
Leopold squeezed harder, as if trying to crush my bones.
"Leo, don't be impulsive."
Sophia, sitting in a wheelchair, was pushed in by a private bodyguard. "Cindy wouldn't deliberately hurt me. She probably did this in a moment of anger because I took her lead role."
Only then did Leopold release his grip, but the coldness in his eyes remained. "Even if you were angry, you shouldn't have harmed Sophia. Lucinda, why have you become so vicious?"
"I'm vicious?" I curved my lips without emotion. "The so-called witness testimony and physical evidence might not be real. Even the police can't confirm I'm the culprit. Mr. Percy, on what grounds are you so certain it was me?"
Leopold was stumped by my question, his expression darkening further.
"Mr. Percy, if Lucinda is this arrogant in front of you, imagine how much Sophia has suffered when you weren't looking," Lillian interjected, seizing the opportunity to paint Sophia as a victim.
"Since Sophia joined the company, Lucinda has always disliked her. She's put drugs in her water and deliberately increased the difficulty of dance routines to make Sophia fall behind and be blamed by everyone."
"Sophia never held any of this against Lucinda, which only encouraged Lucinda's arrogance, leading her to put glass powder in Sophia's shoes! This kind of toxic person cannot be tolerated!"
Leopold looked at me again, obvious rage suppressed in his eyes. "Lucinda, is she telling the truth?"