Chapter 351
Chapter 351:
Not a single misstep, not the faintest flaw marred their performance.
It was a flawless masterpiece, executed with absolute perfection.
It was a breathtaking spectacle, a moment of pure brilliance. Truly remarkable!
For a heartbeat, the room hung in stunned silence before it erupted into raucous applause.
Yet amidst the cheers and whistles, Austin and Yelena stayed poised, their expressions serene, as if this kind of adulation was nothing new.
“You were incredible,” Austin said, his smile warm and genuine as he met Yelena’s eyes.
“You weren’t too shabby yourself,” Yelena quipped with a soft grin, her voice calm yet laced with quiet pride. As they stepped off the stage, a wave of praise and admiration followed them like an unstoppable tide.
Monica’s eyes stayed fixed on Yelena, her thoughts swirling with frustration and confusion. Why was nothing going wrong?
Wasn’t this the moment Bella had promised—a glorious disaster to bring Yelena down? But where was the humiliation?
The crowd remained captivated, their praise for Yelena growing louder by the minute.
Bella, standing nearby, was equally baffled. How could a dance so intense, so demanding, leave Yelena’s dress untouched?
She had made sure to cut loose the seams on Yelena’s dress, yet here Yelena stood—graceful, poised, and completely unscathed.
It didn’t add up.
It couldn’t be.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 ⧸
Determined to find an explanation, Bella moved toward Yelena, her steps quick and purposeful.
Austin had just been called away, leaving Yelena heading toward the refreshments table. She had barely taken a few steps before Bella intercepted her.
“Yelena, that dance was incredible,” Bella began, her voice dripping with forced sweetness. “Who was your teacher p>
“I taught myself,” Yelena replied with calm detachment, her tone as cool as the evening breeze.
Bella’s smile faltered. “What? No way!” she shot back, disbelief lacing her words. How could it possibly be self-taught? Bella had tried mastering Jalousie herself and knew all too well its grueling complexity. As a dancer who prided herself on her skills, even she had struggled. And yet Yelena had the audacity to claim she was self-taught?
“Believe what you want. But don’t assume everyone operates on the same level. People are… different.” Yelena raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint, knowing smile.
Her words landed with a sting, and without another glance, she turned to leave.
Panic flickered in Bella’s chest. She couldn’t let Yelena walk away like this. Acting on impulse, Bella reached out and grabbed the hem of Yelena’s dress. She tugged—hard. But to her utter shock, the fabric didn’t budge. Not even a single thread frayed. Bella froze, her mind racing.
How was this possible?
She knew this dress, its unique design and materials. There was no way Yelena could have swapped it with some look-alike.
Unless… Bella’s heart sank. Did Yelena already know?
Yelena’s lips curled into a sly smirk. “What’s the matter, Bella? Hoping to see my dress fall apart? Sorry to disappoint, but I don’t think you’ll get that satisfaction p>
Bella’s heart skipped a beat, her face flushing with guilt as she quickly averted her gaze. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered, trying to cover up her unease.
Yelena let out a soft, knowing chuckle. “Secrets always have a way of coming to light p>
With that, she glided past Bella, her movements fluid and effortless.
Bella stood there, frozen, as if she had just been struck by a bolt of lightning. Her mind raced in a frenzy. How had Yelena figured it out? She had been so careful, so discreet. She had thought she could keep her little secret hidden, but somehow, Yelena had caught on. How?
Bella wondered, her mind working overtime. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to Yelena than she had originally thought. After all, if she weren’t a professional, how could she have noticed such a small detail?