Chapter 185
Amelia and I arrived at the rehearsal studio, where eight dancers were practicing. Watching them pour their hearts into their dreams made me ache with envy.
The moment I stepped inside, someone noticed us.
"Lucinda Wipere!"
"Am I seeing things? Lucinda Wipere is actually here!"
"Is Lucinda here to help us with the final sequences?"
"If that's true, this is incredible!"
"Right? We're so lucky! I heard Lucinda got invited to join the Royal Ballet Company. Amelia actually got her to help us—that's amazing!"
A group swarmed around us, chattering excitedly.
Hearing them mention the Royal Ballet Company, my expression dimmed slightly.
Amelia noticed. She raised her arm protectively in front of me and called out sharply, "Stop. What are you all crowding around for?"
Hearing the edge in her voice, the others immediately backed off.
Knowing she was trying to protect me from a sore subject, I smiled and gently pushed her arm down. "You're being dramatic. I'm not that fragile."
But Amelia remained serious. "No way. I promised Leopold I wouldn't let a single hair on your head get harmed."
She turned to address the others. "Lucinda is here as a special favor to save our performance. When we run through this, you'd better give it everything you've got. If tonight's show has even one mistake, your bonuses for the month are gone!"
Hearing that, everyone's playful expressions vanished instantly.
Amelia urged them on. "Don't just stand there! Run through the dance again so Lucinda can finish choreographing the final sequences."
Someone said quietly to Amelia, "Amelia, Rena isn't back yet. She's the principal dancer for this performance."
Amelia's expression darkened. "Where did she go?"
Wendy spoke up from the side. "She had something to take care of. She'll be back in five minutes."
"Then don't wait for her. Start practicing."
The dancers counted out their own rhythm and began. Halfway through, I'd already figured out what needed to be done. After they finished, I began explaining the choreography for the remaining sequences.
To make the performance more dynamic, I helped them rearrange their formation and changed movements during the strongest beats.
After running through it twice, everyone had grasped the key points.
During the break, they whispered among themselves.
"I was worried the final sequences wouldn't blend with the rest, but the whole thing flows so smoothly."
"Right? I love that part where we switch formations on the beat. When I'm airborne, it feels like the entire stage is mine."
"Me too..."
Hearing everyone's enthusiasm about the new choreography put me at ease.
"Your original choreography was already really good. These final sequences just build on that foundation. As long as there are no mistakes, you'll be fine."
"Now we just need to wait for the principal dancer to come back and learn the new moves."
Just as I said that, the rehearsal room door swung open. A somewhat deliberate laugh floated in.
"Sophia, I can't believe someone of your stature would agree to help someone insignificant like me. I'm truly honored!"
"I'll gather everyone right away to rehearse. With your help on the final sequences, I'm sure this performance will blow everyone away..."
The fawning tone made us all turn to look.
It was Rena speaking. She walked in with her arm linked intimately through Sophia's. Sophia carried a limited-edition handbag, her every gesture radiating deliberate superiority.
"You certainly know how to flatter..."
Her gaze swept across the rehearsal studio, and her words died abruptly.
"Lucinda, what are you doing here?"
I replied flatly, "Why shouldn't I be?"
"You—"
Sophia had barely begun when Amelia cut her off coldly.
"Sophia, I don't recall inviting you. Who gave you permission to come here?"
Sophia's expression soured instantly.
Seeing both Amelia and me, Rena's smile froze into something awkward.
"Amelia, you... What are you doing here?"
Amelia's eyes went ice-cold. "If I hadn't come, I never would've known that someone I've been training has turned into someone else's lapdog!"
Her blunt mockery drained the color from Rena's face.
"I..."
Unwilling to be humiliated publicly, Sophia immediately pulled rank.
"Amelia, you're supposed to be from a prestigious family. Why do you speak so crudely?"
"Crescent Ballet Company isn't your personal property. It's listed under the Percy Group, which makes it a Percy Group asset. This is a business. Acting so arrogant—aren't you worried outsiders will think the Percy family has no class?"
Amelia's brows shot up in fury. "You just said this is Percy family business. What gives you the right to stick your nose in?"
Sophia didn't lose her composure. Instead, she placed a hand on her slightly swollen belly. "I'll be your elder soon enough. Naturally, I need to guide you a bit."
Her words shocked everyone present. As whispers rippled through the room, I immediately spoke up.
"Sophia, don't use every little thing as an excuse to spout nonsense. How exactly are you Amelia's elder?"
"Why wouldn't I be? The baby in my belly—" Sophia caught herself halfway through, realizing her mistake. She glared at me viciously. "Lucinda, you're really scheming!"
Seeing her stop short, I smiled coldly. "When it comes to scheming, I'm nowhere near your level. At least I couldn't do what you do—randomly assigning fathers to babies."
My naked sarcasm made Sophia's chest heave violently. She stared at me with pure malice.
"How are you any better? Do you dare claim the child you're carrying has legitimate origins?"
My gaze went cold. She wanted to slander me? In her dreams!
"You've got a mountain of dirty secrets yourself, yet you want to smear others? Do you really think everyone's an idiot?"
Amelia had reached her limit. She called security over immediately.
"Throw her out. If she sets foot in here again, you're all fired!"
"Amelia, you dare touch me! Believe me, I'll make you pay!" Sophia threatened, unwilling to back down.
Amelia was unmoved. "Everything you've said and done has been recorded. If you dare spread lies, I'll send the video straight to my grandparents and let them judge!"
Caught in a bind, Sophia was too furious to speak.
"I'll remember this. You just wait!"
I couldn't be bothered to respond. I'd heard these empty threats a thousand times before.
After Sophia was escorted out, Rena frantically apologized to Amelia.
"Amelia, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you'd asked Lucinda to come. If I'd known, I never would've gone to Sophia, much less let her upset you. Please forgive me just this once?"
Amelia said coldly, "Rena, since you have such strong opinions, Crescent Ballet Company won't hold you back anymore."
All color drained from Rena's face. "Amelia, I didn't mean it! I was just trying to help the company—I wanted tonight's performance to be amazing..."
Amelia's eyes showed no emotion. "Whether that's true or not, you know in your heart. My Crescent Ballet Company doesn't need social climbers."
"Amelia!"
Rena tried to plead again, but Amelia gave her no chance. She had someone pull Rena out immediately.
To minimize the fallout, Amelia ordered everyone else not to mention the incident again.
After selecting a new principal dancer, I stayed with them to continue practicing.
That is, until Leopold sent someone to pick me up.
The moment I got in the car, the private investigator called.