Chapter 2538
Ivy’s mind was a whirlwind of domestic chaos waiting to be tamed. Sparing another minute on this trivial squabble was a luxury she simply couldn’t afford.
“If talking won’t cut it, I’ll just let my attorney do their thing,” Ivy thought, her patience thinning.
These weren’t bosom buddies or lifelong confidantes; they were just faces that occasionally blurred past her in the mirrored walls of the dance studio. She could very well never see them again after today, and frankly, she wasn’t too fussed about it.
Their opinions? They could keep them. Ivy’s world wouldn’t wobble on its axis for lack of their approval.
It was at that moment that the dance instructor, Ms. Madison, burst from the innermost studio like a bat out of hell. “What’s the hold-up here? I’ve been waiting since our call. I should’ve known you’d be the roadblock.”
She stepped in front of Ivy, then turned to them with a mix of disappointment and ire. “As my students, you ought to know better than to gossip and stir trouble. Especially you, Ophelia. The world doesn’t revolve around your desires, you know. You’re all adults; it’s high time you acted like it.”
Ms. Madison continued, her tone sharp as a whip, “Instead of wasting your breath on pettiness, maybe spend a moment considering why Ivy’s dance moves are the talk of the town.”
The murmurs of envy were no secret; Ivy’s natural grace had been the subject of much begrudging praise. The simmering discontent finally boiled over when one of the dancers sneered. “Talent, talent, talent-that’s all we ever hear. But what else does she have? I don’t get why she’s put on a pedestal. Is it just because she’s a star?”
The room bristled with tension, the accusation hanging heavy as the dancer continued, “We see the favoritism, Ms. Madison. Who’s to say none of us will be stars someday? You don’t have to look down on us like we’re nothing.”
Though the words were meant to be a whisper they were as clear as day. Ms. Madison’s laugh was cold, devoid of humor. “Seems I’ve been lax in my teaching if you think it’s okay to spew such nonsense. Forget Ivy; you’d need to outdance me to even think about challenging her. And trust me, none of you are even close to her effortless elegance. Maybe in a few years.”
Ophelia, stung by the rebuke, stood her ground. “If we’re all students here, why can’t we challenge her? You keep talking about her talent, Ms. Madison, but she’s barely been here. We’ve been training for years. It’s not fair to be so biased. Ivy, let’s settle this with a dance-off. If you win, you’ll have my respect, and I’ll never say those things again. What do you say?”
The idea sparked a fire in the group. They were all trained dancers with years of hard work under their belts. Surely all of them combined could take on Ivy.
Ms. Madison was about to intervene, but Ivy stepped forward, a gentle hand on her instructor’s shoulder, “I appreciate your concern, Ms. Madison, but I need to handle this myself.”
Ivy understood the implications-she might leave this studio soon, but her instructor had to continue working here, and siding with a student could jeopardize her reputation and future recruitment.
Plus, she would simply treat it as a warm-up.
“A dance-off it is, then,” Ivy took a step forward and said with a calm smile. “What’s the challenge?”
The crowd buzzed with excitement. Ivy’s acceptance of the dance-off was unexpected, especially considering Ophelia’s prowess and the international accolades to her name.
