The dance troupe's debut performance at the Zion Theatre had been the talk of the town for weeks, with tickets selling out almost immediately. Lizetta felt a pang of guilt toward her fellow dancers; just yesterday, in Jerome's office, he had agreed to keep her secret. She was eternally grateful.
Jerome had said, "Just nail this first performance, and you'll have paid us back tenfold."
Lizetta was determined to give it her all, to repay Jerome's kindness, to show her gratitude to her fellow dancers for their understanding, and to do justice to the years of sweat and dedication she had put into her craft.
But as soon as she stepped onto the stage, all those thoughts vanished. She was in her element, basking in the limelight she had fought so hard for.
Under the bright stage lights, she was the center of attention, dancing with grace and agility; her movements were fluid and vibrant, and her slight baby bump did not hinder her but added to her allure, perfectly embodying the journey of a woman breaking free from a loveless marriage.
Remington watched her, feeling captivated. He had always known Liz was beautiful, and her dancing even more so, but he had never imagined it could be this mesmerizing. Her pregnancy only made her appear more radiant and mature, though every leap and twirl had him on edge, his lips pressed tightly together in anxiety.
"Remington, Liz is amazing! Look, there are so many dancers on stage, but everyone's eyes are on her," Stella remarked suddenly, pulling Remington's attention momentarily away from the stage.
Glancing around, he saw that Stella was right, and he felt an overwhelming urge to rush up there, take Liz into his arms, and hide her away from all these prying eyes.
He frowned, checking his watch. The performance was ninety minutes with no intermission, and there were still over twenty minutes to go. Time seemed to drag, and he noticed Stella looking pale and uneasy. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's nothing, just keep watching," Stella replied weakly, but Remington noticed her right hand hidden behind her, and her shoulder was stiff.
He pulled her hand to the front, shocked to see it raw and bleeding terribly.
"I'm sorry, my amputation site suddenly started hurting a lot. I didn't want to disturb you or the others," Stella said, trying to hide her pain.
Without a second thought, Remington took her arm, and they both stood up, making their way out. Their sudden departure in the middle of the performance drew many eyes, especially from the stage. Lizetta caught a glimpse of them leaving but continued dancing with even more intensity, not looking their way again.
The performance was a triumph, ending to thunderous applause. Lizetta came off stage to find Jerome waiting with a bouquet of flowers, dressed in a formal British tweed three-piece suit, looking every bit the distinguished gentleman.
He handed her the flowers, saying warmly, "Congratulations on a successful show."
"Mr. Madden, the show wasn't just Liz's doing. Aren't you being a bit too obvious with your favoritism, boss?"
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