Chapter 10 - The False Victory
The smell of my own blood filled my nose as my stitches strained against the corset.
The semi-final round was a Viennese Waltz, fast and dizzying.
Ethan and I moved like perfectly synchronized ghosts, destroying the competition with flawless technique.
But my mind was completely paralyzed by the live feed on Vivian’s phone.
"Keep smiling, Claire," Ethan muttered through his teeth as he spun me across the floor.
"I have Luis hacking the building’s security network from the basement."
"He's tracing the IP address of that video feed right now."
My heart hammered against my ribs as we executed a dangerous, sweeping turn.
"If he doesn't find her in three minutes, she burns," I whispered frantically.
The music reached its dramatic peak, and Ethan pulled me into a breathtaking dip that sent agonizing fire through my torn stomach.
The crowd went wild.
The announcer's voice echoed through the massive hall.
"Moving on to the Championship Round, Ethan Ashford and Claire Bennett!"
We had won the semi-final.
Daniel and his new partner were officially eliminated, standing on the sidelines looking utterly humiliated.
Ethan pulled me into a tight embrace, burying his face in my neck as relief washed over him.
We had beaten Julian's champion.
Suddenly, Ethan's earpiece crackled with static.
I heard Luis's panicked voice bleeding through the tiny speaker.
"Ethan, I found the IP address!" Luis shouted.
"The video feed isn't coming from a warehouse in Wisconsin."
"It's coming from the sub-basement of the Ashford estate."
"She's directly beneath you!"
Ethan and I froze, pulling away from each other in shock.
Before Ethan could move toward the exit, the massive mahogany doors of the ballroom swung open.
The room fell into absolute, deafening silence.
The final judge for the championship round walked slowly down the grand staircase.
It wasn't a world-renowned dancer.
It wasn't an independent adjudicator.
It was a woman dripping in millions of dollars of diamonds, wearing a terrifyingly cold smile.
My breath caught in my throat, choking me.
She walked straight toward Walter Ashford and kissed him passionately on the cheek.
Then, she turned to look directly at me.
"Hello, Claire," my mother said smoothly.
May you like
"I told Vivian the kidnapping video was a bit dramatic, but it certainly motivated you to dance well."
"Now, let's see if you can finally lose with dignity."
