of a mystery guest.
Moments later, Averil walked onto the stage.
While her appearance surprised me, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Marketing herself was one of her strong suits. That whole “angel of the dance world” persona? She’d been the one to crown herself with it.
she would never She’d stayed low–key for a while due to public backlash, but knowing Av. accept fading into obscurity. And here she was, clawing her way back into relevance.
Clad in an elegant white slip dress and a flawlessly subtle “no–makeup” look that likely took hours to perfect, she smiled at the camera, exuding a carefully crafted blend of courage and delicate vulnerability.
“I know I’ve made mistakes,” she began, her voice trembling just enough to seem sincere. I’ve hurt innocent people, and no matter how I try to explain or defend myself, those mistakes are unforgivable.
“But even in the face of everything, I don’t regret the choices I måde. True love isn’t a crime. Suppressing your feelings is cruel to yourself and to the person you love. I’ll do my best to make amends to those I’ve unintentionally hurt, but I will not give up on Julian because true love can never be wrong.
11
Her words dripped with performative charm–classic Averil.
She announced she would perform a dance titled “Love Without Regret.
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Chapter 17
+25 BONUS
At first, I paid her no more than a passing glance idly watching while sipping my tea.
But when the music started and she moved into the first steps of her routine, I shot to my feet.
She was performing my dance!