Chapter 191
They each took turns speaking, boosting themselves.
Violeta finally understood what Nydia had mentioned before. She initially thought Nydia was overthinking, but it turned out she was spot on.
Grace cut them off bluntly. “I take on apprentices and I need to introduce her to you? Who do you think you are?”
Vivian replied, “Grace, today’s a good day, no need to be so harsh. We’re all in the same industry and we’re bound to run into each other. Even if you can avoid it, haha, your apprentices will still need to mingle in this circle, right? If we fall out, don’t think I’m easy to push around!”
Threats.
Clear threats.
Grace and her crew couldn’t do much about it.
But Nydia and Hazel would still have to mingle in this circle in the future.
A bit of behind–the–scenes manipulation to target them would be a piece of cake.
Grace’s face instantly darkened.
“Then go ahead and try it.
The atmosphere immediately dropped to freezing.
A host next to Vivian stepped forward and said, “Come on, no need to be so tense. Let’s not ruin the vibe. Grace, you’re turning forty today and just took on your last apprentice. That’s great news!
“We all know how high your standards are for apprentices. We just want to see for ourselves, right everyone?”
“Yeah!”
“Show us what this new apprentice can do.”
When Grace took on Hazel and Nydia, they were winning competitions at ten years old.
They had incredible talent from a young age.
But Violeta was already an adult, and since Vivian and the others didn’t know her before, it meant she definitely wasn’t a dancer before.
Given Grace’s high standards for apprentices, taking on someone who hadn’t been dancing since childhood seemed pretty odd.
They just wanted to stir things up and see what Violeta could do.
But this was like asking someone’s date to dance at a party. It looked like they wanted to see Violeta’s skills, but in reality, they just wanted to take a jab at Grace.
Of course, Grace wouldn’t let Violeta go out and dance.
“I’ll say it again, this is my banquet hall. I’ve noticed some dogs just don’t learn after one or two times, so don’t blame me for using a stick the third time!”
Grace’s words were very forceful, in line with her usual style.
Vivian’s eyes shifted as she came up with a plan. She suddenly smiled and said, “Fine, fine, if you don’t want to, we won’t push it. Let’s go.”
Vivian turned around and glanced at the people beside her.
The host next to her winked and whispered in a not–so–quiet voice, “Oh, heard someone’s been cozying up to a rich guy from Heokrish. Bet this new apprentice is his love child or something…”
“Hey, don’t
go spreading rumors like that. If word gets out, it’ll be all over the news.”
“Let’s go, let’s head back to our area.”
A classic move of couldn’t get what you want, so started making up stories.
Seems like every industry has its share of petty people. Disgusting, really.
Violeta glanced at Grace, clearly seeing that Grace was also angered. She pursed her lips and took a step forward.
“Stop right there,” she said.
Vivian and the others once again halted their steps, looking at Violeta with playful expressions.
Seeing Violeta step forward, Hazel became a bit anxious.
“Vio!” Hazel called out softly.
Violeta turned her head and smiled at her, saying. “It’s okay.”
She indeed had no intention of pursuing a career in dance and hadn’t been dancing since childhood.
But Violeta had decades of martial arts experience. In her previous life, she could perform various difficult stunts for filming, so dancing shouldn’t be a problem either.
Of course, if it involved action, she’d be fine, but if she had to dance on the spot, it might be tricky for her.
However, dancing on the spot wouldn’t be feasible in this setting; there wasn’t enough space.
Violeta had stepped up, and she had a hunch she could save Grace from any embarrassment.
Seeing Violeta step up, Vivian smirked. “Not bad. Takes guts to stand up to us. Can’t say much about your dance skills, but you’ve got some nerve.”
Everyone present was someone recognizable in the dance circle.
Many people gotta shake off some nerves before they hit the stage.
Violeta’s inner state was unknown but at least on the surface of the crowd, she was unfazed. She seemed to have strong mental resilience, and Vivian made a mental note of her.
“So, you’re Violeta White?”
“That’s me!”
Vivian glanced at the person beside her. “Since we’re doing an on–the–spot performance here and the space is limited, let’s just pick a few moves to show. What do you guys think we should do?”
They whispered among themselves for a moment.
Violeta lowered her gaze, pondering for a moment. Instead of letting them call the shots, she might as well take charge.
“How about continuous front walkovers?”
“What?”
Vivian paused slightly, and Lucy beside her also looked surprised.
Continuous front walkovers were quite challenging, a move that took a lot of skill and practice over a long time. It was definitely up there in terms of difficulty, like a five–star challenge.
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A newbie definitely wouldn’t be able to do it. And it was not just newbies, even seasoned dancers need constant practice, or they might lose their touch and fail to perform the move.
Vivian could do it before, but over the years, she got older and didn’t feel like putting in the hard work to practice anymore. So, she can’t pull off this move anymore.
It was uncertain whether Grace could still do it either.
Grace was also very surprised when she heard Violeta’s words. “Vio, you don’t have to push yourself.”
Violeta wasn’t trying to show off. Since she had spoken up, she was sure she could pull it off.
“Is continuous front walkover okay?”
Vivian replied, “Sure, this aisle is spacious enough. Go ahead.”
Violeta placed her belongings on the table.
The host chimed in again, “In the previous episode of our show, several dancers did this. It’s not that big a deal, really…
She didn’t finish her sentence.
Violeta effortlessly started a front walkover.
It was like a show-off moment for her. She moved smoothly as if she was up in the clouds.
She easily pulled off… ten front walkovers!
The aisle was long enough for more than ten front walkovers.
But Violeta didn’t need to go overboard.
Ten front walkovers were more than enough to shut them up without seeming too over the top..
Brushing off the dust from her hands, Violeta straightened her clothes and glanced sideways at Vivian and the others. “What do you think?”
The host who previously said it wasn’t a big deal was left speechless.
Even the hotel staff standing by were stunned. They hadn’t expected her to just come up and do it like that, with such smooth movements!
Not just the outsiders, even those familiar with the move were surprised.
At first, people assumed Violeta wasn’t that old, and since she wasn’t famous before, they figured she hadn’t been dancing since she was young. But who would’ve thought she could pull off ten front walkovers in one go?
Doing ten front walkovers wasn’t exactly unprecedented.
But achieving ten of them in a row proves Violeta’s skills. She was not the dance newbie they thought she was.
In fact, pulling off such technically demanding moves so gracefully puts her ahead of most people her age.
If she can pull off that move, then the rest should be easy peasy for her.
Pretty impressive, indeed.
Standing next to Vivian, Lucy finally gave Violeta some credit this time.
She hadn’t expected Violeta to pull off ten of these hardcore, super difficult technical moves in one go. She must have had some training before. Thinking back to the last time she danced on stage, it all seemed to make sense now.
Grace was thrilled to see Violeta pull off the move so beautifully, but she was also somewhat surprised.
None of them had expected Violeta to have this skill up her sleeve.
It seemed she had put in quite a bit of effort behind the scenes. Grace felt even more satisfied with Violeta as her apprentice.
“Do any of you have anything else to say? Otherwise, Vivian, how about you come up and try ten front walkovers?”
Vivian was speechless.
As a senior, there was no way she would compete with a junior like that.
That would be lowering her status.
Vivian lowered her gaze for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Grace looks like your little apprentice has some serious talent. I’m genuinely happy for you to have such a gem. Just hope she won’t end up outshining her master.
“Let’s go.
And with that, they left.
Vivian was still a big name in the dance world. Who would’ve thought she had such a petty mindset?
With the tension between the two groups, Violeta could easily imagine how intense their previous clashes must have been.
“Vio, why don’t you go wash your hands first? We’ll be eating soon, Grace suggested.
“Sure, Violeta nodded.
She headed towards the restroom, followed by Hazel.
Turning to her friends who were with her, Grace exclaimed happily, “What do you guys think of Vio’s ten front walkovers just now?”
Taylor laughed heartily. “You reminded me of your competition days up on stage. Didn’t you see Vivian and her gang freeze up just now? They better not underestimate you from now on….
Back when Grace competed on stage, she also enjoyed showing off her skills.
Early on, many so-called “industry professionals” criticized Grace’s dance for lacking soul, claiming it was like a robot showing off on stage.
On the other hand, Vivian’s dance was praised as soulful, and capable of touching people’s hearts.
The stark contrast in their reputations showed they took different paths.
Some might nitpick Grace’s dance for not being emotionally captivating, but nobody dares to criticize her skills. But how many people truly understand what it means to have a dance that moves hearts?
When Grace and her team go on tour, nobody complains about the ticket price.
Those so-called “industry professionals” from back then have gradually disappeared from the scene.
“Violeta, you’re amazing! Smack them in the face and show them not to underestimate you,” exclaimed Hazel, as Violeta stood at the sink washing her hands.
Hazel continued to describe the expressions on Vivian’s gang’s faces from earlier.
“But then again, Vio, who knew you were secretly training behind the scenes?”
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“Huh?”
Violeta hesitated for a moment, then chuckled. “Hehe, to be honest, I haven’t really practiced much.”
She wasn’t too into dancing, but martial arts–now that was her thing. There was a kind of similarity between the two.
Some movements seemed difficult, but in reality, they were easy to complete if you found the right point to exert force.
Of course, all of this came from Violeta’s past life on the set, where she worked as a stunt double and martial arts performer, paying the price with all sorts of injuries.
She knew how to utilize the force points of her limbs and muscles to complete certain movements.
But, even with her seemingly casual tone, it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park without real experience.
Hazel scoffed. “Oh, please, spare me. What you call ‘casual‘ isn’t something I haven’t practiced. I know exactly how difficult it is. Otherwise, people like Vivian wouldn’t be stunned.”
If everyone could do it, it wouldn’t be called a super–difficult skill.
“Vio, you’re amazing!”
“Thanks.
Violeta smiled. “I can manage moves like that, but if you want me to dance properly, that’s a different story.
Hazel rested her hand on Violeta’s shoulder. “But to dance well, you need a solid foundation, just like building a pyramid. Without a base, how can you reach the top? As the saying goes, “The stage in a minute, ten years of practice backstage.”
Violeta nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Hazel said, “Wait till next spring’s Lotus Competition. My sister and I will go head–to–head with Lucy. That’s when the real showdown begins.”
That year, while Vivian was shining, Grace was down on luck.
You couldn’t just breeze past this so easily. Even insiders were probably looking forward to the spring Lotus Competition!
The competition between Vivian and Grace had never stopped. They were no longer young enough to be bickering on stage, so they left that to the younger generation.
The true skill was seen in whose disciples, personally taught, could outshine the others.
The two returned to the banquet hall.
The dinner had already begun, and Grace led her three disciples to each table to toast, then introduced Violeta to them, creating a warm atmosphere.
Violeta to them, creating a warm atmosphere.
Halfway through the meal, the music from the neighboring banquet hall drowned out the conversation. Since the two halls were so close, the sounds from across were crystal clear,
It seemed that Declan had arrived next door. He and Vivian were speaking on stage, their voices carrying over.
They were sharing intimate declarations of love, flaunting their affection shamelessly.
It was hard to believe it wasn’t orchestrated by Vivian to disgust Grace.
Grace kept her cool, just munching away.
Hazel muttered under her breath, “How annoying.”
Vivian deliberately scheduled her birthday party right next to Grace’s in the same venue, even just to annoy Grace, didn’t she?
But her plan backfired today.
Because Grace’s side had quite the show going on too!
Suddenly, a hotel staff member rushed in from outside, saying, “Ms. Grace! There’s a delivery for you outside.
Taylor said, “Just bring it in. Why do you have to personally go out?”
The staff member looked troubled. “It’s two large trucks! We can’t bring them in.”
“What!?”
Two big trucks for a delivery? That doesn’t sound like a regular package. It’s more like a freight shipment!
Who knows who sent this birthday present. But it’s definitely bold!
Grace and the rest stepped out of the banquet hall and headed to the hotel entrance.
There, they saw two large trucks parked on the street outside the hotel.
When the truck drivers saw Grace coming out, they got off the trucks and went to the back to pull down the curtains. As soon as the curtains fell, the interior lit up with twinkling lights, revealing that the trucks were filled with nothing but perfumed roses!
“Wow!”
The hotel staff gasped in amazement, covering their mouths.
So many perfumed roses!
They smelled amazing and looked stunning!
Taylor and the others looked at Grace with a surprised look.
Grace stood there, clearly taken aback by the unexpected sight.
Nydia exclaimed, “The roses are so beautiful!”
Hazel chimed in. “Yeah! What a pleasant surprise! Who’s so thoughtful to arrange such a big surprise?”
Grace cleared her throat.
Suddenly, Nydia remembered something.
Recently, Grace went on a tour in Heokrish. There was a wealthy businessman in Heokrish who fancied her and bought out the entire show. But Grace scolded him and got the tickets refunded.
Later, rumours of a romance between Grace and the Heokrish businessman surfaced.
Could these two trucks of roses be from the Heokrish businessman?
He was a suitor, pursuing Grace.
If it was from him, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Taylor asked. “Grace, could it be that dude Knight from last time?”
Grace pursed her lips. “How boring. What’s the point of having so many flowers?”
She turned and walked back into the hotel.
People passing by started taking out their phones to snap pictures of the roses in the trucks. Nydia and Hazel couldn’t resist either. They took out their phones and snapped a picture before joining Grace back in the banquet hall.
Before long, a crowd had gathered outside, drawn by the sight of the two trucks of perfumed roses.
It naturally also caught the attention of those in the neighboring hall.
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The waiters were gossiping, spreading the news that there were trucks full of roses outside.
Word traveled fast, and soon enough, folks from Vivian’s crew were also running out to take a look.
They had thought it might be some kind of marriage proposal.
But to their surprise, they saw signs on the mucks saying, “Happy Birthday Grace” and stuff like that.
“Oh man… How much do you think all these roses cost?”
“Do you think it’s from Grace’s secret admirer?”
“Such extravagance, using the most expensive rose perfume. It must have cost quite a bit.”
These roses are just for show. They can’t be used for anything else. They might wither overnight. What a waste. But when you have money, you can be whimsical. Just enjoy the momentary pleasure, and the money spent is worth it.”
“Could it be the rumoured relationship between Grace and that wealthy businessman from Heokrish? The one in real estate?”
“It could be…”
Whispers and gossip from nearby totally stole the spotlight from Vivian, the birthday star.
She felt a bit annoyed and glanced at Declan beside her.
Declan’s gaze was also fixed on the roses inside the truck, his expression seeming a bit lost.
He hadn’t expected there would eventually be another guy beside Grace…
Vivian nudged Declan with her elbow, a frown on her face. Only then did Declan react, “What’s wrong?”
Vivian asked, “Seriously? You’re asking me what’s wrong? It’s my birthday, and you didn’t even get me anything?”
Declan responded, “Isn’t this birthday party enough?”
She asked, “Enough? Enough for what?”
He responded, “Vivian, we’ve been married for so long. What’s the point of all this? Life’s about living it for ourselves, not for anyone else. And look around. Who here’s living better than you?”
This statement might have been comforting to Vivian before.
But clearly, it wasn’t enough now!
Among these dancers, the ones making a name for themselves were already top–notch. And for someone like Vivian, who could marry into wealth, they were even rarer.
So yeah, Vivian has been shining brightly in the circle these years.
But now that she’s getting older, her relationship with Declan isn’t like it used to be. After the passion faded and she saw her arch–rival Grace being pursued by wealthy men again and being showered with rose perfume, she couldn’t help but feel envious. It was only natural for a woman, right?
Vivian was dissatisfied with Declan, but she also knew when to hold back. She lowered her voice and said, “Looks like you’re not that into me anymore! Hmph!”
With that, Vivian turned and walked into the hotel, leaving Declan alone outside.
Before long, everyone else followed suit and made their way into the hotel.
Grace finished her meal, but the truck with the roses outside was still parked there. The hotel manager approached her, asking when she would have the truck moved. However, to move the truck, she needed to Contact the wealthy businessman first because she had no clue where to send it.
So, she headed out to the terrace and gave the rich guy a call.
The call connected quickly, and Grace’s voice was cold as she said, “Hello? Tell your driver to move the truck immediately. It’s disrupting the hotel’s parking. Don’t cause trouble for me.”
At the same time, Violeta was outside the hotel, taking photos with Nydia and Hazel.
The sisters struck their poses, while Violeta stood in the middle, holding up her phone for a selfie.
After taking the photo, Violeta glanced at it and zoomed in on one corner, only to discover a man standing in the background on the lawn, photobombing their shot. It seemed like this photo was a bust.
“There’s a guy over there.”
Hazel asked, “Where?”
The three turned their heads and saw a luxury car parked not far from the lawn.
A man was standing on the lawn, making a phone call.
Violeta’s gaze shifted slightly, and she spotted Grace on the hotel terrace and also on the phone. Violeta’s face lit up with excitement. “Hey, what if that guy is the rich dude chasing after Ms. Parker?”
Nydia chimed in, “I know, I know! He’s the big shot in real estate from Heokrish. His name’s Oliver Knight!
Hazel exclaimed, “Damn, he’s bold enough to show up in person. Let’s watch the show!”
The three of them hid nearby, silently observing as the two made their phone calls.
Though they couldn’t hear the conversation, they could imagine it vividly, and it seemed pretty thrilling!
Grace said. “Get the car out of here right now.”
Oliver responded, “It’s yours. Drive it wherever you want. Deal with it, however, you see fit.”
She remarked, “I’ve already said it, I don’t want to get married. Stop bothering me!
With that, Grace hung up the phone.
Just as she was about to turn away, she suddenly spotted a guy standing behind her.
Taking a closer look, she realized it was Declan.
As Declan got older, he lost the cool and charm of his youth, now carrying a strong scent of grease and the stench of a businessman filled with fat that Grace loathed the most.
Seeing Declan in front of her, Grace couldn’t believe she’d ever been attracted to such a sleazy guy.
The more she looked, the more disgusted she became, not wanting to spare him another glance.
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She stayed silent, thinking Declan had just come out to the terrace for some air. So, she strode past him, ready to leave.
But just as she passed him, he grabbed her wrist.
“Grace…”
Grace was puzzled.
Then she jerked her hand back as if she’d been touched by something toxic.
“What’s your deal? Are you out of your mind?”
Declan hesitated for a moment, then withdrew his hand with a hint of frustration. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything else. I just wanted to ask how you’ve been lately.
Grace retorted, “How I’ve been has nothing to do with you. Just focus on living your own life. Why are you so nosy? Got nothing better to do?
“Excuse me.”
Grace passed by him coldly.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, Declan found himself struggling to keep his composure as he watched Grace walk away.
Back then, the time he spent with Grace was the best part of his youth, and his feelings for her were genuine. If it weren’t for Vivian deliberately tempting him, he wouldn’t have fallen for it.
Now, after being married for many years, Declan has realized just how much Vivian loved showing off.
Thinking about it now, Grace was still the better choice. She was not into showing off or comparing herself. to others.
“Grace, I know you’ve been single all these years because you’ve been waiting for me….
What the?
Grace felt utterly disgusted as if she had swallowed something dirty. Her throat tightened, and she couldn’t speak a word because of the nausea.
While her decision not to marry did have some indirect relation to Declan, it was mostly because Grace wanted to devote herself to the stage. She had no intention of getting married or having children, as it would affect her physique.
She had long committed herself to the stage and had no interest in romantic relationships.
Grace turned around, ready to slap Declan across the face.
“What are you doing?”
On the nearby corridor, Vivian and a few friends were walking towards them. They were shocked to see Grace and Declan embracing. Vivian realized the situation and quickly glared at Grace.
Declan realized the situation and quickly let go of Grace.
“Vivian, it’s not what you think,” he hastily explained.
Vivian’s lips trembled with anger as she strode forward, raising her hand to slap Grace across the face.
Grace caught her hand, then swiftly delivered a slap to Declan’s face with her other hand.
Smack!
The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the corridor.
Declan was dumbfounded.
Everyone was dumbfounded
Vivian’s head buzzed with anger
Grace lightly shook her hand as if she had touched something dirty.
“Vivian, you better keep an eye on your husband, who’s always acting horny, It’s disgusting.”
With that, She walked away.
The imprint of Grace’s hand on Declan’s face was quite prominent, making the scene look ridiculous.
With so many people around, if this incident got out, he’d be in big trouble.
Declan quickly shifted all the blame onto Grace.
“Vivian. I was just coming out here toke, and she was the one who initiated the hug. She even said she wanted to go to a hotel later. When I rejected her the past held onto me tightly…”
Grace’s steps halted, and she turned to look at Declan.
Now, not only did she find him disgusting, but he also lowered her opinion of him as a person.
“So that’s how it is Grace, you’re just despicable. Declan is Vivian’s husband, and you’re out here trying to seduce someone else’s husband? What kind of person does that make you! You’re a forty–year–old woman, and you’re stooping to such shameless acts. It’s truly disgusting”
Vivian’s friends joined in, adding their accusations against Grace.
Violeta and her two friends realized the situation wasn’t favourable out on the lawn, so they hurried back to the hotel.
Earlier, they had witnessed everything on the terrace. It was clear that Declan was shamelessly the one who initiated hugging Grace.
Soon, Violeta and her friends arrived at the scene, expecting Grace to be outnumbered and bullied.
But, to their surprise, Grace wasn’t bullied at all. Instead, she started arguing with them.
Yuck! If your eyes can’t see right, you might as well pluck them out of your faces”
“Declan’s got a belly, and he’s balding, looking like he’s sixty even though he’s not. Who’d fall for him? Who wants to hit on him? Even if I’m not caught, I still get attention just by walking down the street. See those two truckloads of rose perfumes? They’re gifts from my admirer. Why would I bother with him?
“Am I just as desperate as you all, or do I have as low a taste as you do?”
In Grace’s opinion, Declan wasn’t worth anything.
Vivian’s face turned red with anger.
“My Declan isn’t someone you can badmouth like that!”
Grace said, “Yeah, sure, then why don’t you just take your Declan back home and lock him up? Stop embarrassing yourself in public.”
Declan hadn’t expected to be seen like this in Grace’s eyes. He felt a bit resentful. “Grace, don’t act shameless. It was you who just said you couldn’t forget about me and that you’ve been single all this time waiting for me. I rejected you, but you’re still unwilling to let go and even followed me here.”
Hazel and Nydia stepped forward upon hearing this.
“Seriously, we’ve seen people who bo
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Nydia said, “We saw it all on the lawn behind the terrace just now. It was your pig of a husband who hugged our teacher. Ms. Parker struggled to get away, but he still tried to follow.”
Vivian’s voice was sharp as she exclaimed, “That’s impossible! You guys are this b*tch’s disciples. Of course, you’d support her. Grace, this isn’t over between us!
The guests in the dining hall were all prominent figures in the circle.
If this matter got out, Grace’s reputation would be ruined.
Violeta took a step forward, glanced at the surveillance camera in the corner of the terrace, and said, “Then let’s check the surveillance footage. There’s a camera right here. Let’s see who made the first move.”
Grace agreed. “Sure, let’s check!”
Upon hearing this, Declan was dumbfounded.
Just a moment ago, he had let alcohol cloud his judgment and couldn’t control himself when he saw Grace. Now, if they checked the surveillance footage, wouldn’t his actions from earlier be exposed?
Declan’s heart sank as he started to panic.
He whispered to Vivian, “Vivian if this thing blows up, it’s going to be bad for everyone. Let’s not make fools of ourselves. Let’s just drop it!”
Vivian’s heart skipped a beat when she heard his words.
After being together for so long, Vivian had already sensed Declan’s uncertainty. If he wasn’t sure, then he must be in the wrong.
This damn jerk wants to cheat on me with Grace behind my back!
In an instant, Vivian felt like she was being cheated.
She gritted her teeth, determined not to let Grace off the hook!
But if they checked the surveillance footage, Declan’s reputation would be ruined too. They were in this together, and Vivian had to think about herself as well.
If Declan lost face, it wouldn’t benefit her either.
After a few moments of silence, Vivian spoke up, “Fine, let’s check the surveillance!”
Declan remained silent.
Grace smirked. “Let’s go.”
The group headed straight for the surveillance room on the second floor.
Vivian was texting someone as they walked.
When they got to the surveillance room and asked to check the footage, they were taken aback when the security staff said, Sorry, the cameras on the terrace aren’t working. We can only see footage from the hallway, but it might not cover the terrace.
What a coincidence!
All the other cameras in the hotel were working fine, but only the ones on the terrace were down?
Hearing that the surveillance was broken, Declan breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that the surveillance was down, there was no evidence to contradict their claims, and they could easily frame Grace.
The cameras are down, Grace. You’re one lucky lady!
“Even though there’s no evidence of your shameless deeds, we all saw it with our own eyes Grace, just you wait. Your good deeds today will spread throughout the entire circle tomorrow. Let’s see how you’ll face everyone after that!
Violeta glanced at the monitor next to her.
Violeta stepped forward and twisted the knob on the black–screen monitor. The surveillance screen flickered for a moment, and just as it seemed like the image was about to appear, the security personnel nearby immediately scolded, “What are you doing? Don’t touch it randomly. Can you afford to pay you break it?
Violeta asked. “Is this monitor broken? Why did it flicker just now?
The security personnel replied, “The screen’s messed up. That’s why the surveillance isn’t working”
for it if
Violeta pointed to the nearby functioning monitor. “Why don’t we just connect the surveillance camera to this working monitor?”
Nydia and Hazel nodded in agreement with Violeta’s suggestion, giving the security personnel incredulous looks. “Yeah, why not just switch monitors? Are you intentionally trying to avoid letting us see the surveillance footage?”
Grace glanced at the security personnel.
The security personnel stuttered, taken aback. “Um, well
Vivian watched as the security personnel struggled under the pressure, feeling uneasy.
Fortunately, at that moment, the head of security walked in from outside. “What’s going on here?”
The security personnel hurried forward and said, “Captain, they want to access the surveillance, but this monitor is broken, and we can’t do it.”
The captain glanced subtly at Vivian, then turned to Nydia and Hazel without mincing words. “So, you want to access the surveillance, huh? Never mind that the monitor is broken. What kind of people are you anyway? Just because you want to access the surveillance, do you think you can? Did you lose something? Did you call the police?”
“Get out, get out! Didn’t you see the sign outside? It says: No Unauthorised Personnel Allowed!”
The group was promptly escorted out.
Vivian smirked, her lips curling with malice as she said to Grace, “Grace, get ready to see your reputation crumble!
“I’ll make sure you’re the front–page headline in every entertainment magazine tomorrow! Shameless.”
With that, she turned and left.
Vivian arrogantly left with her entourage.
Hazel and Nydia’s faces were flushed with anger. They wanted to seek justice for Grace, but they didn’t know what they could do.
Violeta narrowed her eyes slightly, suddenly realizing that this hotel seemed to have an investment from the White family.
If the security wouldn’t let outsiders access the surveillance, then they needed someone higher up to come and handle it personally.
Violeta took out her phone, intending to call Zoren to come over.
But before she could dial, the lift door at the end of the corridor opened, and a well–dressed middle-aged man stepped out.
Chapter 197
Hazel said, “It’s the man who was on the lawn earlier, talking on the phone with the teacher
Violeta raised her eyes slightly and saw Oliver.
Oliver had come up to find Grace. Earlier, Grace had hung up on him, and after some thought, he worried that she might be angry. So he came up to explain himself. If she didn’t like the roses, he would have someone take them away.
“Grace.”
Grace got a headache as soon as she saw Oliver. I’ve told you, call me Ms. Parker!
Vivian and her group heard their conversation and stopped in their tracks. Everyone turned their gaze towards Oliver.
So this man was the wealthy real estate tycoon from Heokrish? The one pursuing Grace!?
Vivian frowned. The guy in front of her had a strong presence. He wasn’t super muscular, but his suit made him look every bit like a mature man.
Oliver was a head taller than Declan. He walked over to stand beside Grace.
The two of them looked like a perfect match.
Mostly because Oliver took good care of himself and had a strong presence.
Unlike Declan, who had worn himself out over the years with smoking, drinking, and socializing.
Seeing this contrast…
Vivian felt a pang of jealousy. How could Grace, at her age, still meet such a great guy while Declan had turned out like this? The comparison made her feel really bitter!
No wonder Grace wasn’t interested in Declan earlier.
If she were in Grace’s shoes, she wouldn’t be interested either,
Grace was Vivian’s arch–enemy, and Vivian refused to admit that she was worse off than Grace. So she quickly looked away and walked off.
Oliver said, “Aren’t ‘Ms. Parker and ‘Grace‘ the same? Calling your first name makes it sound like we’re close.”
Grace said, “Stop joking around. We’re not that close.”
Oliver changed the subject. “Why did you all come up here?”
Hazel responded, “We came up to check the surveillance footage. They falsely accused Ms. Parker of seducing that pig.
“What?”
His dark eyes grew even darker. “Did you find the footage?”
Grace took out her phone. “No, I was just about to call the police.”
This matter had to be handled properly. She wouldn’t just stand by and watch her decades-long reputation be ruined.
The hotel refused to let her check the surveillance footage, so Grace suspected that they had colluded with Vivian.
In that case, she would call the police!
What?
Vivian and her group, who were leaving, immediately stopped in their tracks when they heard this.
No way!
Wait, this guy owns the Spring City Hotel?
Violeta, who was in the middle of a call, was taken aback. Just then, the call connected, and Zoren’s voice came through: “Hello, Vio, what’s up?”
She asked,… Zoren, where are you?”
Zoren replied, “I’m at the arcade on Westwood Lane.”
She said, “Nothing, just thought of asking you to swing by Spring City, but never mind now. Enjoy your time.
He was taken aback. “Oh… ‘
But before he could finish his words, Violeta hung up.
Zoren glanced at the screen after the call ended, murmuring. “Vio hung up so quickly, I didn’t even get to finish what I was saying.”
Liam and his friends, who were playing pool nearby, heard Zoren’s words.
He teased, “Who’s calling so late? Which girl is it this time?”
Zoren replied, “Mind your own business. It’s Vio.
Hayden asked, “What’s wrong with her?”
Zoren pocketed his phone. “Who knows? She just mentioned wanting me to swing by Spring City Hotel, but then said it wasn’t necessary. Probably nothing serious. But there’s something fun going on in Spring City tonight.”
Jasper chimed in, “Is it about Grace Parker and Vivian Montclair? Should we go and join the fun?”
Jasper had been with Lucy before, so naturally, he had heard about the love–hate relationship between her master Vivian and her rival Grace Resides this matter wasn’t a secret within their circle. Even though many years had passed, the fiery relationship between these two women was still worth watching.
“Let’s go,” Hayden said, putting down his pool cue.
Zoren teased, “Hayden, since when did you become interested in gossip and joining in on the fun?”
After leaving the pool room, the group drove to the Spring City Hotel.
Meanwhile, at Spring City Hotel…
In the surveillance room, everyone was surprised to find out that Oliver was the owner of the Spring City Hotel.
“You’re the owner?”
“Yeah.”
Grace looked surprised, but then quickly shifted her gaze to the other side, where she stared at Vivian.
Vivian turned pale, completely caught off guard by this revelation.
Declan’s expression mirrored Vivian’s, equally surprised but also tinged with fear.
Oh no…
If they pull up the surveillance footage, wouldn’t everything be over?!
Grace and the others walked back to the surveillance room. The captain of the security team inside, seeing them return, used the same tone as before. “Why are you back again? Didn’t we already tell you that we couldn’t access the surveillance?”
The captain of the security team, a minor character, didn’t recognize Oliver.
Plus, Oliver didn’t often visit Quinston, so he quietly took out his phone and called the hotel manager.
Oliver said, “No need to call the police. I’m the owner of this hotel. Let’s go check the footage.”
Chapter 198
Soon enough, the manager on duty rushed into the surveillance room.
“Hello, Mr. Knight!”
Oliver didn’t reply verbally but signaled with his eyes for him to take action.
The manager directed him. “Quick, pull up the surveillance from the terrace corridor.”
The captain of the security team paused for a moment. Hearing the manager address Oliver so politely, he understood that this guy wasn’t just anybody. After a quick thought, he promptly instructed his team to retrieve and display the surveillance footage.
In just a short while, the surveillance footage that couldn’t be accessed before suddenly became available.
On the display screen, the scene from the terrace slowly emerged. It was clear as day. Declan had initially grabbed Grace’s hand, and even after she pulled away, he persistently pursued her and tried to hug her.
“Oh! The truth is out!”
“That’s him, being all creepy and handsy. And when he got caught, he had the nerve to blame Ms. Parker.”
“Such audacity!”
Vivian and her group, standing outside, also saw the footage on the monitor.
Vivian gritted her teeth, while Declan’s face turned red and then white. He tried to justify himself. “I was drunk earlier, so I didn’t know what I was doing. It wasn’t intentional…”
Vivian’s friends beside her looked troubled, unsure of how to react.
They had previously boasted about tarnishing Grace’s reputation.
Now that the truth was revealed, they were left speechless.
Grace turned to look at Vivian. “Vivian, it seems like you haven’t been doing so well these past few years, huh? Hehe.“”
Then, Grace swiftly took out her phone and called the police.
“If you were drunk, then go explain it to the police. You attempted sexual assault and made false accusations. I’m going to get to the bottom of this!”
Vivian felt utterly humiliated!
She couldn’t bear to stay a moment longer and turned to leave.
Declan hurried to catch up, and the others followed suit, leaving one by one.
With everything resolved smoothly. Grace felt a great sense of relief. She turned to Oliver and said, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier that you own Spring City Hotel?”
Oliver replied, “Well, you never asked, did you?”
Grace retorted, “If I didn’t ask, couldn’t you have mentioned it?”
Oliver conceded, “Okay, my bad.
The two of them bantered back and forth in the surveillance room.
Nydia exchanged a glance with Hazel, then quietly walked out of the room with Violeta.
They reached the ground floor.
Violeta glanced at the time.
“It’s getting late. I should leave.”
Nydia said, “Yep, I’ve had my fill too. Let’s just sit back and watch Vivian and her husband’s reputation get tarnished tomorrow!”
Violeta grinned. “Today was really satisfying. I was actually planning to call my brother to come and check out the surveillance.”
Hazel chimed in, “Yeah, none of us expected Oliver to be the boss. But do you think MS. Parker and him are a good match?”
Nydia laughed. “Haha, if the teacher knew we were talking about this behind her back, she’d be mad.”
Violeta said, “I’ll head off first. Let Ms. Parker know later. The rematch is coming up soon, and I need to train these next couple of days.”
“Okay, Vio, you go ahead.”
Violeta left the hotel.
The two trucks parked outside had already driven away, but the scent of perfumed roses seemed to linger in the air, refreshing and delightful.
Violeta stood under the bus stop sign, the sunlight casting long shadows.
She was about to call the driver at home to come pick her up.
But before she could even dial the number, she heard the sound of several motorcycles in the distance.
“Vio!”
Violeta looked up and saw four people speeding towards her on motorcycles.
Motorcycles?
Violeta glanced at the high–end motorcycles they were riding and immediately recognized their top-notch quality.
While it wasn’t surprising to see others riding motorcycles, seeing Hayden on one did catch her slightly off guard.
But then again, it wasn’t that unusual for guys to enjoy motorcycles, especially if they had the money for it.
“Why are you guys here?”
Zoren took off his helmet. “We’re here to watch the show. Looks like we missed it, huh? We arrived late.”
“Yeah, you guys are late.”
Jasper caught a whiff of a faint rose scent in the street. “Why is there still a smell of roses here?”
Violeta replied calmly, “Earlier, there were two big trucks filled with perfume roses parked here for about an hour or so.
Hayden asked, “Are you heading back now?”
Violeta nodded. “Yeah, I was thinking of sending you guys a message when I got back.”
Liam suggested, “Now that we’re already out, why don’t we have some fun?”
Zoren said, “Yeah, let’s enjoy ourselves for a bit.”
Violeta, hands in pockets, asked with interest, “What do you have in mind?”
Zoren chuckled. “How about we take you for a ride?”
Violeta raised an eyebrow. “Taking me for a ride? You know racing is prohibited in the city, right? Are you guys planning to make headlines tomorrow?”
There were clear rules in the city, with speed limits, and even if you had money, you couldn’t just do as you please. Plus, Hayden had a special status, making it even more impossible for him to act recklessly.
“To Moon Bay.”
Chapter 199
“The road ahead is a paradise for motorcycle gangs.”
Violeta had heard about Moon Bay but had never been there.
In her previous life as a stunt performer, Violeta shot a scene where she drove a motorcycle off a cliff. She had to control a motorcycle three times her weight and dive from a green screen ten meters high.
The stunt coordinator at that time was a motorcycle enthusiast.
Violeta had talked with him before and heard him mention “Moon Bay. He also said that Moon Bay is a paradise for motorcycle gangs.
Nonetheless, the path to reach it was challenging, and one error could be deadly for those enjoying their passion.
“I haven’t been there before, but I’m curious. Let’s check it out!”
Violeta moved forward, ready to ride Zoren’s motorcycle.
However, Zoren stepped back a bit and proposed, “Vio, why not ride with Hade? His motorcycle is more spacious than mine.”
Violeta remained silent.
“Alright then.”
Violeta had no choice but to sit on Hayden’s motorcycle.
Sitting behind Hayden, she rested her hands on his shoulders.
Once they were ready, the four motorcycles traveled alongside each other.
The evening wind whispered past her ears, ruffling Violeta’s hair. She reached back to fix it and caught a faint scent of aftershave in the air.
Violeta’s eyelashes quivered a bit, and she then looked down at Hayden in front of her.
They were very close to each other.
The aroma was so subtle that Violeta questioned whether she imagined it.
In reality, Hayden had no particular scent, just the clean and fresh smell of bath products.
Like a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, Violeta’s mind briefly envisioned the sweet and tangy burst of orange and grapefruit.
Suddenly struck by a whimsical thought, she said, “Hayden, you actually smell quite nice.”
Hayden was startled by her sudden comment.
Hayden exhibited a noticeable increase in tension briefly, showing no response to her remark as if he hadn’t heard it.
Yet, his slender fingers clasping the motorcycle’s handle grew tighter, causing the joints of his light complexion to become paler under the strain.
They eventually arrived at Moon Bay.
In this region, there were no enforced speed restrictions since Moon Bay was primarily a wild, untamed area where rough mountain pathways connected Quinston and Heokrish.
Because of the minimal infrastructure, there were no set limits on how fast one could travel.
This drew many motorcycle gangs, often gathered in this locale…
Each year, the perilous mountain paths resulted in fatal crashes, with motorcycle gangs losing their lives due to errors in operation.
The relevant authorities had once attempted to intervene, but they proved powerless against the fervor of the motorcycle gangs. Thus, as time passed, their grip slipped away entirely.
At the entrance to the mountains, a handful of people were preparing for the journey. Upon spotting Violeta and her group approaching, they glanced at their motorcycles and let out whistles of admiration.
“Buddy, your ride is quite impressive!”
Zoren chuckled and patted his own seat cushion. “It costs me over 300 thousand dollars on this baby.”
“Impressive.”
Zoren’s behavior made it clear they all came from wealthy families.
After all, how else could they afford such extravagances?
“Will you guys join us later?
And why did you bring a girl along?
Zoren casually answered, “Yes, just giving my sister a ride.”
But this sister was not what the man imagined.
The man talking to them appeared doubtful about the “sister” explanation but smiled and reassured them, “Don’t worry, there will be plenty of company once we get up the mountain. You all are so stylish. You’ll definitely get lots of attention! Haha, I’ll go in first. See you all inside later!”
With that, the men jumped on their motorcycles and sped away,
From the tone of that man’s voice, it sounded like there was a party going on inside, lively and bustling. with plenty of opportunities to pick up girls!
Violeta tapped Hayden’s shoulder and said, “Let’s go. Let’s see what’s inside. We’re already here, so we might as well check it out.”
Jasper added, “Let’s go, now that we’re here.”
The four of them rode up the mountain, following a rough path, to reach the motorcycle gang’s base.
When they arrived, they were welcomed by a lively party already in progress.
The man who had spoken to them earlier was chatting with a group of people, all wearing studded leather jackets.
“Hey, they’re here!”
The man, accompanied by his friends, approached them and pointed at Zoren’s motorcycle, saying, “This is the motorcycle you mentioned from the international motorcycle show, isn’t it? You said this cost over 300 thousand dollars! Tonight’s going to be thrilling.”
Dismounting from his motorcycle, Zoren made a generous offer, saying, “Interested, buddy? Let me take you for a ride.
Witnessing his generosity, the others became relaxed and easygoing. Soon enough, they were all enjoying themselves together.
Violeta also joined them as they got off the motorcycle together.
The atmosphere here was truly lively, with the men chatting about topics revolving around motorcycles and girls.
Before long, a woman walked over with a drink and began chatting with Violeta.
“I don’t drink beer, sorry,” Violeta replied.
“Okay. Is that guy from earlier your boyfriend?” the woman inquired.
“No, he isn’t,” Violeta replied simply.
Chapter 200
Upon receiving Violeta’s answer, the woman’s face lit up with happiness.
Following a short chat with Violeta, she swayed her waist and headed towards Hayden. Violeta glimpsed at the woman’s departing form before resuming her exploration of the base camp.
Approximately seven or eight minutes later, the woman came back to Violeta with a crestfallen look. “Are you joking with me?”
Violeta was confused. “What are you trying to say?”
The woman clarified, “You mentioned he’s not your boyfriend, but he explicitly stated that you’re his girlfriend!”
Violeta was taken aback. “Huh?”
The woman walked over with Violeta and confronted Hayden.
“Are you two a couple or not?”
Violeta’s gaze met Hayden’s, and they shared a silent understanding of something.
It seemed Hayden used her as a shield to reject the woman.
Since the woman didn’t know her, Violeta complied with Hayden and said, “Yes.”
Upon hearing her response, the woman grew even angrier.
“You’re both playing games with me! You said no earlier, and now you’re saying yes?”
Violeta replied hesitantly, “I wasn’t playing with you.”
The woman put her hands on her hips and shouted, “Arrest them!”
Her loud call instantly drew the attention of seven or eight burly men from the crowd, who surrounded Violeta and Hayden.
Violeta was momentarily stunned, not expecting the situation to escalate like this. She glanced at Hayden.
Nearby, Jasper and the others noticed the commotion and hurried over.
“What’s going on here?”
A man who had chatted with Zoren earlier informed them, “That’s Natalie Yarrow, the daughter of the local motorcycle gang leader. How did you guys manage to anger her?”
Irritating the daughter of the motorcycle gang leader?
Quite audacious.
Zoren moved ahead to protect Violeta and questioned, “What’s the matter? Are you seeking a confrontation?” “Vio, what’s going on?”
Violeta murmured, “This woman was flirting with Hayden, but he used me as a pretext to turn her down. We didn’t anticipate her reaction.”
Liam glanced at Natalie in front of him, adopting a more friendly tone.
“Miss, why don’t you try your luck with someone else? Hayden doesn’t appreciate being approached like this. Besides, even if you initiate a conversation, shouldn’t others have the right to decline? What kind of logic is this? We’re all here to have a good time, so how about we all take a step back? If things escalate, I guarantee it won’t end well for anyone.”
Natalie narrowed her eyes. “We won’t end well? Haha, you think I’m a fool! This girl just said she’s not his girlfriend, and now he’s saying she is. You’re just trying to fool people here!”
Violeta interrupted. “It’s simply a miscommunication.”
Natalie countered. “A miscommunication? Then finish all the beer in those two boxes over there, and we’ll regard this matter as resolved. Your behaviour has been deceitful since you got here. Your integrity is in doubt!”
She pointed to several beer boxes under the nearby table, demanding that Violeta finish all the drinks.
Otherwise, the matter wouldn’t be settled.
Violeta hadn’t expected the woman to be so hot-tempered. Glancing at the boxes of beer under the table, she spoke up, “What if I refuse to drink?”
“Refuse? Haha.
Natalie sneered, “Haven’t you heard that people often die at Moon Bay? Offend me, and do you think you’ll safely leave? Ridiculous. I can easily toss you into a ditch, and tomorrow’s news will report a few daredevils crashing their motorcycles off a cliff, bodies never to be found.”
Violeta was speechless.
Huh!
Quite a bold statement indeed.
Indeed, it carries a strong implication.
Violeta chuckled, while Hayden’s expression darkened slightly.
Liam remarked, “You really overestimate yourselves. Just a few of you think you can trap anyone?”
Natalie retorted, “Then let’s give it a try! Attack them!”
At her command, several burly then nearby rushed forward to subdue them.
Violeta, being the only woman among them, naturally became their primary target. Three of the men charged at her, but she swiftly kicked over a nearby bench and then delivered a powerful kick. The bench struck the chests of the three men with great force, sending them tumbling to the ground.
“Ah!
“Thud!”
The three burly men, now lying on the ground with the bench on their chests, felt the pain throbbing in their chests.
They hadn’t expected Violeta to appear fragile but possess such strength.
“This damn girl! Grab her, guys!”
Several more burly men lunged at Violeta, but this time they were intercepted by Zoren and the others using bottles.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Next came the shifting of tables, bottles flying, and glass shards scattering everywhere, extinguishing several lights on the ceiling.
Observers at the gathering swiftly sought shelter outside, whispering among themselves.
“Oh gosh, this is escalating into a conflict!”
“I never thought these people would be so proficient in fighting.”
“I presumed that girl would depend entirely on men for defense, but despite her slim figure, she can defend herself well in a brawl!”
“Hey, check it out! Natalie is calling for backup.”
“It seems they’re in a tough spot. Natalie’s dad heads the motorcycle gang. By crossing them, they’ve probably put their future in Quinston at risk.”
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