Upstairs, Ynda was pacing anxiously, phone in hand.


    What was happening? By now, Juniper should have been fired and cklisted by


    Mr. Tate! Why hadn''t Elvira called with the good news yet?


    Just as she was wondering, she heard heavy footsteps approaching.


    "Elvira!" Ynda opened the door, her face lighting up when she saw her.


    "Congrattions! You must have gotten the lead role, right?"


    Elvira said nothing, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Ynda, burning with pure hatred.


    "What''s wrong?" Ynda asked, confused.


    The next second...


    Elvira''s hand flew, striking Ynda across the face with a loud, sharp crack.


    "Ah!" The force of the blow sent Ynda stumbling and crashing to the floor.


    "Elvira, what happened?" Ynda was stunned, clutching her stinging cheek and staring in disbelief at the enraged girl.


    "You have the nerve to ask me that?" Elvira''s face was a cold mask as she advanced on Ynda, her eyes red with fury. "Weren''t you the one who told me Lunar was a terrible person?"


    "She is," Ynda whimpered, nodding fearfully. "She''s always been a worthle—"


    "Don''t you dare lie to me again!" Elvira, incandescent with rage, pped her again, then grabbed a fistful of her hair. "You used me as your pawn. You must have a death wish."


    After seeing the real news online, Elvira understood everything. Ynda had a grudge against Lunar. So, while the dancers were in intensive training and cut off from the news, she had spread malicious rumors. Then she''d used Elvira toin to Mr. Tate and Rachel.


    If it had worked, Elvira would have be the lead and would have certainly promoted Ynda to a backup dancer, setting her up for life.


    And if it failed, Ynda herself would suffer no consequences.


    Brilliant. It was a wless n!


    "I didn''t..." Ynda cried out as Elvira yanked her hair, the searing pain making her struggle desperately.


    "Thanks to you, not only have I lost the music video, but I''m also going to be cklisted from the entire dance industry!" Elvira''s grip tightened, as if she wanted to tear her apart.


    "Aaaah!" Ynda screamed and cried, unable to break free.


    "I''m telling you, this isn''t over," Elvira snarled, then violently shoved her away.


    THUD-


    Ynda''s head mmed into the floor, arge lump immediately forming on her forehead. Before she could even get up, the other dancers rushed in, their eyes zing with fury as they stared at Ynda.


    "There she is!"


    "Our careers are ruined, and it''s all because of this bitch!"


    "Let''s get her!"


    Then, the dancers swarmed her, a flurry of ps raining down on Ynda. "Help me!"


    The sound of ps mixed with cries of pain echoed through the room. "Hmph." Elvira stood with her arms crossed, watching coldly. The dance studio was soundproofed. Ynda could scream her lungs out, and no one would hear.


    Besides, the Sherwin family was currently in negotiations with the Sutton family, and they were the ones asking for the favor. Let''s see if Ynda dared to report this assault.


    "Hit her harder," Elviramanded, feeling even more emboldened.


    The pping grew louder.


    ...


    Downstairs, Jimmie, having dealt with the "trash," returned to his sister''s side.


    "Which school do you go to?" he asked softly. "I''ll drive you."


    "Huh?" Juniper popped the rest of the pistachios Jimmie had shelled for her into her mouth.


    "No need," she saidzily.