Before Kade could escape the music center, she was surrounded by a furious crowd of parents.


    "I thought you were a good teacher! Turns out you''ve been cursing our kids behind our backs?"


    "If you think our children are worthless, then why take our money? Why teach them at all?"


    "Kade, get out of here!"


    "Get out!"


    The angry shouts kepting. In the end, the management had no choice but to fire Kade on the spot to calm the situation. Then, Kade and all her belongings were thrown out.


    As she stumbled outside, her colleagues mockingly tossed her headphones onto the ground, sneering.


    "Weren''t you always so arrogant? Now you can''t even win a fight. Looks like you''re done in this industry after being cklisted by Luna Orchestra and this institution."


    Furious, Kade lunged forward, ready to fight but she was forcibly dragged away by security and thrown out of the building.


    She could still hear her colleaguesughing from behind the thin ss doors.


    Damn it!


    Damn Wendy! Damn Ruth! And that wretched Serena!


    If it weren''t for those two ganging up on her-if Serena hadn''t reced her in that performance—she wouldn''t have ended up hated by everyone!


    Her eyes burned red with rage.


    The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. So, she stormed straight to the hospital where Ruth was staying.


    She marched to Ruth''s hospital room, ready to demand answers. But just as she reached for the doorknob, a hand shot out from the side, gripping her wrist like a vice.


    "This ce is not for you."


    Kade flinched. Just as she tried to shake off the grip, her fingers twisted back sharply


    Serena''s expression darkened. "I won''t say it again. And I doubt your fingers can survive me twisting them a second time," her voice was low and cold, her grip tightening.


    The pain sent a warning straight to Kade''s brain, forcing her to snap back to reality.


    She staggered back two steps, yanking her hand away, and red coldly. "How dare you try to hurt me in broad daylight?"


    "This is a hospital. I could always


    Vol


    reattach your fingerster. But whether they''ll ever function the same again, that''s another question." Serena''s voice was calm, unhurried, her presence unwavering. "Now that you''ve been kicked out of Luna Orchestra, do you even have money left to insure your hands?"


    She took slow, deliberate steps forward, blocking the doorway like a guardian.


    Kade''s face twisted. She had noeback. But the thought of her ruined career made her grit her teeth in fury.


    "I worked with Ruth for years! I made


    her so much money! And now she wants to destroy mepletely!


    Serena, if you stay friends with


    someone this cold-hearted, one day


    she''ll abandon you too!"


    Instead of getting angry, Serena chuckled. She crossed her arms, her sharp gaze like a de.


    "You''re wrong. Ruth raised you higher than you ever deserved. She gave you the chance to be proud. And in return, you incited Wendy to kill her. The ungrateful one here is you, Kade."


    She took another step closer. "If you keep pushing, I won''t just break your fingers I''ll have you thrown in prison.


    "Ruth still has a soft heart. She doesn''t want to destroy you. But, I don''t have that problem. So what''s it going to be? Leave now, or keep going and destroy yourself."