Chapter 18

The annual dance competition at Northerford University had always drawn a lot of attention, and the auditorium was absolutely packed. Laura performed a modern solo titled Metamorphosis. The lights went out, leaving only a single, cool beam trained on the center of the stage. Dressed in pure black, she moved with supple grace, carrying a quiet inner stubbornness as she slowly began to dance to the music. At the climax, the music suddenly surged, and her movements grew more powerful in response. She leapt again and again, falling, then struggling back to her feet. In the end, she froze in an extremely difficult yet breathtakingly beautiful deep backbend. The lights snapped on. The hall fell silent for a split second before erupting into thunderous applause. Laura breathed lightly, straightened her back, and bowed to the audience. In the front rows to the left, Gunther sat applauding harder than most. His eyes were filled with undisguised admiration. And in the shadows of the very la