Objectively speaking, Olivia had a certain charm under the spotlight.


    From the sidelines, Naomi observed Olivia on stage with the critical eye of a fellow dancer.


    asionally, the camera would sweep over the audience, catching a few of Olivia’s admirers. They were eager to shower her with flowers as soon as the performance ended.


    With her family background, beauty, talent, and fame, Olivia was practically unbeatable.


    That was how Naomi had lost her ex–boyfriend to Olivia.


    When he broke up with her, he even made up excuses, iming his family rejected her because she looked too wild and improper, and she had male partners while dancing.


    Naomi scoffed to herself. ‘What a joke.


    ‘Funny how he never had thoseints when he was busy chasing after Olivia.’


    But in the end, it turned out that anyone who could be so easily stolen away wasn’t worth keeping anyway.


    Naomi’s gaze


    shifted to the man resting on the sofa with his eyes closed.


    Ever since she’d brought them in, Alexei’d either been on the phone handling work, or offering Natasha pieces of fruit.


    Sometimes, he’d tune in to their technical talk about dance, but he never spared a single nce at Olivia on the screen.


    Naomi remembered the rumors about Natasha’s childhood sweetheart.


    She smiled to herself.


    She thought, ‘Letting go of the small stuff for something much better isn’t so bad after all,


    She could say with confidence that Alexei was hundreds of times more dependable than Lucas.


    At the very least, in moments like these, he would stand firmly by Natasha’s side.


    No matter what kind of trouble she got herself into, he’d always have her back and let her do <b>as </b>she pleased.


    As for Lucas, Naomi had seen him show up to support Olivia more than once.


    5:26 pm


    As Naomi let her thoughts wander, she kept her eyes glued to the stage.


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    When the announcer finally called out thest act, she jumped to her feet, unable to hide her


    excitement.


    Naomi said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “Miss rk, I’m heading over to the stage. I want a front–row seat when her fake mask finally gets ripped off.”


    If Natasha hadn’t stepped in, Olivia would’ve wrecked the futures of half the people on this


    tour.


    Naomi had every reason to hate her for that.


    Natasha stayed behind. The live stream was so clear that every subtle expression was captured in detail.


    She could clearly see the smile Olivia wore on stage, and the way the audience responded with passionate apuse to the performance.


    The final solo was called “Chasing the Wind.”


    It was about longing for something as elusive as the wind, and a lover just as impossible to hold onto.


    Pale green, almost see–through fabric floated through the air, turning the idea of wind into something the audience could actually see.


    The effect was stunning and deeply moving.


    When Michelle danced it under Natasha’s guidance, the focus was all about getting into the


    emotions.


    But Olivia’s performance really brought out the romance of the whole scene,


    This was hands down the most stunning dance of the night.


    Even Rhea and Sophia, who’d been so chill before, were now watching with real admiration, giving her a big thumbs up.


    When they saw Olivia’s name pop up as the choreographer on the screen, they couldn’t hide how shocked they were.


    They felt that they were being too biased earlier.


    <b>2/6 </b>


    5:26 pm


    Olivia did have some qualities worth admiring.


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    It was rare to find someone who was both a talented dancer and a skilled choreographer.


    Sophia was even considering bringing Olivia onto the team for their next project.


    With the masters giving their approval, the regr audience was watching with even more eager, shining eyes.


    They thought, ‘Incredible!


    ‘Now that’s a real feast for the eyes.


    The rk family could feel the amazement rippling through the crowd around them, and they couldn’t help but smile atst. <fn65f6> For original chapters go to find(?)ovel</fn65f6>


    They just knew Olivia’s talent would prove all those bandwagon jumpers dead wrong.


    No matter how influential Alexei was, he couldn’t possibly twist everyone’s sense of beauty.


    Andrew and Madeline looked so proud they could burst.


    They felt that it wasn’t their fault they doted on Olivia since she had such a rough background, and she really made them proud.


    Noel was itching to tell the whole world that Olivia was his sister.


    After watching Olivia perform so many times, he could say for sure that this was her best show yet.


    He couldn’t wait for all those people toe begging him for an introduction to his sister.


    He thought smugly, ‘Just you wait.’


    As the music faded, Olivia’s chest heaved with heavy breaths. She shed a perfect smile, opened her arms wide, and bowed deeply to the audience.


    The apuse roared like a tidal wave,


    Bowed over, her face angled down, Olivia’s lips curled into a smile.


    ‘I did it,’ she thought.


    Down below, the reporters who’d been tipped off in advance started going wild with their


    cameras the moment Olivia took her bow.


    5:26 pm


    Olivia had already rehearsed her answers in her mind.


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    She was waiting for them to ask her questions, so she could talk about her grueling creative process, her inspiration, and her big ns to conquer the international stage.


    But the very first question from a reporter struck her like a bolt of lightning.


    He asked, “Miss Sutton, what do you have to say about the rumors online that you’ve giarized someone else’s work?”


    The merciless question sted out of the speakers, ringing out loud and clear for everyone


    in the room.


    The entire room erupted in chaos.


    Noel shot up from his seat in the audience. “What are you talking about? Get this guy out of


    here!”


    But before anyone could move, another reporter fired off a question.


    He asked, “Miss Sutton, are you sure thest dance was your original work? When and where did you create it? Can you prove it’s yours?”


    A reporter asked, “Miss Sutton, we’ve never heard of you choreographing anything before.


    “Was this just a sudden burst of inspiration, or is someone else the real author?”


    Someone else saked, “Miss Sutton, some of the judges have pointed out that the styles of the dances tonight are all over the ce.


    “You were involved in almost every piece. Can you really say all of them are your original


    work?


    “How much did you actually contribute to the choreography? Was it 70%, 80%, or were you just putting your name on it?”


    Microphones and cameras swarmed Olivia from every direction, making her feel like she could barely breathe.


    Thomas stood up, ready to go over and block the reporters, but just then, a big handnded on his shoulder and a steady voice spoke up.


    “I’ll go. You handle locking down the scene and keep the press from spreading anything,”


    Lucas said.


    5:26 pm f


    Lucas hade in during the intermission.


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    He hadn’t nned to show up, but the wholemotion at the entrance, where Natasha and Alexei got stopped from visiting backstage, had already made the rounds.


    He decided toe after all, hoping he might run into Natasha.


    Olivia was dancing beautifully, but as Lucas watched, his thoughts kept drifting back to Natasha, who once shone just as brightly on stage.


    Laicas thought sadly, ‘It has been ages since I have seen Natasha dance!


    Once he was sure Natasha wasn’t going to show up, he’d nned to slip out quietly, but then ill hell broke loose.


    Andrew and Madeline couldn’t step in front of the cameras, and Noel was too young to be of


    my help.


    Lucas had no choice but to take charge alongside Thomas to handle the chaos.


    After all, Olivia was still officially engaged to Lucas,


    n the lounge, Alexei rested his hand on Natasha’s shoulder, watching as Lucas suddenly ppeared on camera.


    He let out a crypticugh. “Your childhood sweetheart sure is devoted to your foster sister.”


    Natasha stayed cool. “Of course. They’re a confirmed couple, after all.”


    Alexei chuckled again, though it was hard to tell what he found so amusing. “What if he nsists on helping Olivia?”


    Natasha replied, her tone soft but unwavering. “Then he’s my enemy.”


    Alexei smirked subtly.


    On the screen, Lucas’s unexpected arrival seemed to give Olivia a surge of strength, helping her regain herposure after her initial panic.


    She smiled calmly at the reporters. “I’m not sure where this misunderstanding came from, but I can tell you with certainty that the final dance was entirely my original creation.”