Chapter 9
I wasn’t exactly a virtuoso, but in a moment like this, my skills were more than enough.
The soaring notes of the piano, tinged with a faint electric hum, echoed beneath the vast dome of the auditorium.
When the final chord of Beethoven’s “Symphony of Fate‘ rang out, I turned to face her and declared, voice ringing clear as a bell:
“You ruined my birthday party, tried to turn my brother against me, and spread rumors about me in front of my family and friends. All of that? Child’s play. I’ll deal with it my own way.”
“But you “I paused, fixing my gaze on her suddenly pale face, then let out a cold laugh. “You told Trevor to push me down the stairs, just to break my leg and keep me off this stage-
I let the words hang, watching her composure crumble.
The piano is your pride and joy, isn’t it? Yet you still didn’t have the guts to compete with me fairly? To prove you could actually beat me?“%
The stage and audience erupted into chaos.
In the end, the teacher in charge of the school anniversary performance hurried both Julie and me off the stage. The emcee scrambled to salvage the situation. The next act was our group classical dance–the one I’d choreographed.
Backstage, I brushed past the other girls in the troupe.S
Lynda rushed toward me, eyes brimming with tears, gripping my hand. “Are you hurt? I should have gone with you!”
“I’m fine.” I ruffled her hair and gave her a reassuring smile. “Go on. You’ve worked so hard for this–go out there and give yourself the performance you deserve.” First place in the school celebration meant a ten–thousand–dollar prize.
But this dance was never meant for me.
As I watched them take the stage, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. Only then did the pain and exhaustion catch up to me, slamming through my body. My eyes slid shut, and I let myself sink into the darkness.
…B
I woke up in the hospital.
That night, Daniel stormed into my room. “You’re insane! Corinna, you’re out of your mind!”
He’d wanted everything to go according to plan–help his precious darling climb to the top, step by step, basking in the satisfaction of nurturing her success. But, dear brother, did you really think I’d let you have it so easy?!
“What will you do now, Daniel? Your precious Julie couldn’t even finish her piece, you got exposed for trying to have me pushed down the stairs, and now she’ll never get into the school she wants.”2
A thought struck me, and I grinned. “Oh, by the way–your accomplice Trevor is still lying on the floor in the arts building. Might want to send him to the hospital when you get a chance.“2
I burst cut laughing, pulling the edge of my blanket tight. The movement made pain lance through my injured ankle, twisting my features.
For a split second, I caught my reflection in his eyes: wild, unhinged.
Maybe I’d been a little mad ever since the day I died in my previous life.
Daniel’s jaw cleriched, anger flashing in his eyes before his mask of cold superiority slid back into place.
“Does any of this matter, Corinna? Even if Julie failed her performance, you didn’t get to dance, either. And by the way, your little meltdown was caught on camera for everyone to see. This time, not even a forged doctor’s note can get you out of trouble.”
“The school’s already called Mom and Dad. They’re planning to have you expelled.“2
I laughed. “A temporary suspension? You think I care?”
“Don’t forget, Daniel–I’m just as much a Gardner as you are. Like Trevor said, if this path is blocked, I’ll find another. I always do.“!
“From the start, I only had one goal–to drag Julie off her pedestal. That’s it.”
Last time, she accused me of things I’d never done. So this time, I turned every lie into reality.
Every path she once walked—I’ll make sure to block them all.
We’re not finished, Julie. Not even close.
I caused a scene at the school celebration, hit Trevor and Julie in front of everyone, and now all the rumors about how I’d bullied Julie at school had started to spread online.
