Chapter 114
[Rose's POV]
I stood outside the training studio, one hand resting against the glass door. Through the window, Ava and Sophia moved in synchronized steps, their bodies drenched in sweat. Ava stumbled on a turn, and Sophia immediately paused the music to demonstrate the correct angle. They'd been at this for hours, judging by the water bottles scattered across the floor and the damp towels draped over chairs.
The warmth that spread through my chest was immediate and unexpected.
I waited, watching them push through another run-through. When they finally collapsed onto the floor, breathing hard and laughing at some shared joke, I pushed open the door.
"Room for one more?"
Both heads snapped up. Ava's eyes went wide. "Rose! You're—you actually came!"
Sophia scrambled to her feet, concern flooding her face. "Your neck! Should you even be here?"
I touched the bare skin where the collar had been just days ago. "I'm completely healed. I wouldn't be here otherwise."
Ava pulled me into a careful hug, mindful of my recent injury. "We thought you might need more time. The doctors said—"
"The doctors cleared me," I interrupted gently. "And we have two weeks to prepare. That's not much time."
Sophia picked up three water bottles from the mini-fridge in the corner and tossed one to each of us. We settled onto the practice mats, the air conditioning a welcome relief after their intense workout.
"We've been working on the choreography," Ava said, pulling out her phone to show me a video. "Sophia and I thought we could handle most of the dancing. You'd take lead vocals, and we'd do backup and harmonies. That way you're not pushing yourself too hard."
I watched the video. The routine was solid, well-coordinated. But something about it felt wrong. I handed the phone back.
"No."
Sophia blinked. "No? But we spent days on this."
"I appreciate what you're trying to do," I said carefully. "But I don't need to be protected. If we're a team, we perform as a team. Equal parts. All three of us sing, all three of us dance."
Ava exchanged a glance with Sophia. "Rose, you just got out of the hospital. It's okay to take it easier."
"It's not about what's easy." I kept my voice firm but not harsh. "It's about what's right. We're not three solo artists sharing a stage. We're a unit. That means we build our chemistry together, we move together, we sound like one voice. Anything less and we've already lost."
Sophia nodded slowly. "You're right. We've been approaching this wrong."
"We have two weeks," I said. "That's enough time if we use it well."
Ava pulled up the music file on her phone. "So what do you want to start with?"
We chose a song with driving rhythm and memorable hooks, something that would showcase our voices without requiring operatic range. For the next four hours, we worked through every measure. I insisted on precision that made my old physics professors look lenient. If Ava's timing was off by half a beat, we started over. If Sophia's harmony clashed even slightly, we adjusted until it locked perfectly.
They never complained. Not when I made us repeat the bridge twenty times. Not when I stopped mid-chorus to adjust the blend of our voices. Not when my own perfectionism bordered on unreasonable.
By the time evening approached, we'd achieved something remarkable. Our three voices had merged into a single instrument. Our movements had found a natural synchronization that couldn't be taught, only discovered through repetition.
We collapsed onto the mats again, this time truly exhausted.
"I'm ordering pizza," Sophia announced, already pulling out her phone. "And if anyone suggests a salad, I'm voting them off the team."
Ava laughed. "Pizza sounds perfect. Extra cheese?"
"Is there any other kind?"
I smiled at their easy banter. This was what real teamwork looked like. Not calculated alliances or strategic partnerships, but genuine connection built through shared struggle.
The studio door swung open with a sharp bang.
I looked up to see Rachel striding in, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. She wore a designer outfit, her makeup flawless despite the late hour. An assistant trailed behind her, holding what looked like a garment bag and a makeup case.
Rachel's gaze swept over us, taking in our sweat-soaked clothes and exhausted faces. Her lips curved into something that might have been a smile on someone else but looked predatory on her.
"Well, well, well." Her voice dripped with false sweetness. "Look at you three. So dedicated. So hardworking." She paused, her eyes locking onto mine. "Especially you, Rose. Fresh out of the hospital and already pushing yourself to the limit. Tell me, are you really that desperate for the crown?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Ava tensed beside me. Sophia's hand curled into a fist.
I stayed seated, meeting Rachel's eyes with calm indifference. Whatever game she was playing, I wouldn't give her the reaction she wanted.
"Did you need something, Rachel?" My voice was level, almost pleasant. "Or did you just come to watch us work?"