Chapter 78 The Last Dance
Guided by Brian, Rachel started to move with increasing confidence.
“One more run–through, then we’ll do the whole dance, okay?” Brian suggested softly right beside her ear.
Her features relaxed into a gentle smile, and she nodded faintly in agreement.
Yet, the extended session, coupled with her unusual choice to wear high heels, had left her heels sore, her skin blistered and slightly bleeding.
Nevertheless, she reassured herself that enduring this was part of realizing the dream she had harbored for so long.
Thus, she persevered.
Noticing something amiss, Brian asked with concern, “Is there a problem with your
foot?”
“No! I’m fine!” Rachel quickly dismissed.
She was keen to maintain her composure, unwilling to expose even a hint of weakness
to him.
“Let me have a look.” Without waiting for further objections, he gently picked her up
and set her down on a nearby chair.
“You don’t have to fuss over it.” Rachel tried to assure him, but Brian was already carefully lifting the edge of her dress to check her foot.
Carefully, he removed her high heels.
As soon as the shoes were off, her heels showed clear signs of bleeding. Her feet were covered in burst blisters, looking quite painful.
“Your feet are this damaged and you said you are fine?” Frustration tinged Brian’s voice.
“I just need to make it through one more dance,” Rachel murmured. “I can handle it. Let’s complete it.”
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Chapter The Last Dance
They were close to creating a perfect conclusion.
But Brian was firm. “We’re stopping now. You need medical attention.” He stooped, preparing to lift her to safety.
Rachel halted him, her eyes imploring. “Please, let’s just finish the dance. Dancing means everything to me today.”
“Are you certain?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then promise me you’ll follow my lead exactly.”
She agreed. “Yes, I’ll listen to you.”
When they stepped back onto the dance floor, Rachel was barefoot.
Brian drew her in close, allowing her to stand on his feet for support.
Together on the dance floor, they stood intimately close, embodying a couple deeply in love, seemingly inseparable.
“Ready?” he whispered, his nose gently brushing against hers.
“Yes,” she confirmed.
As the soft music started, they moved in sync.
With each twirl he led, her skirt flared out gracefully, mimicking the wings of a fluttering butterfly.
In those moments, she radiated pure joy.
Despite the pain in her feet, her spirit soared.
This long–awaited dance was now a reality.
Feeling fulfilled, she experienced a profound sense of completion.
As the music dwindled, Brian drew her in close, breathing heavily from the exertion.
His look was intensely focused, filled with a mix of passion and devotion, completely mesmerizing.
Rachel felt a profound shift within her.
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Chapter 78 The Last Dance
For the first time, she let go of her reservations.
With newfound confidence, she reached up and gently held his face, her actions bolder than she had ever imagined.
She moved closer, her nose softly touching his, while a gentle smile appeared on her
lips.
That smile, soft and charming, hid a compelling allure that was hard to resist.
“Brian…” she murmured, her lips slightly parting, her voice filled with warmth. “I’ve longed to dance this piece with you. In the past, I was so reserved, overwhelmed by my fears–fear of mockery, fear of your disapproval. So, thank you. Thank you for helping me realize a dream from years ago, for this moment.”
“Rachel…” Brian tried to respond, his voice thick with emotion.
But she gently hushed him, placing her finger on his lips. “Shh…”
She tiptoed closer, her lips lightly brushing against his.
The kiss was delicate, neither deepening nor breaking away.
She simply held it there, a tender connection.
At that moment, it seemed as though time itself had paused.
Brian was jolted back to the present by the unexpected moisture on his lips.
Tears silently streamed down Rachel’s face, cold and persistent, leaving their trace as they fell onto his lips.
As he moved to wipe away her tears, she took a sudden step backward.
Her eyes, filled with tears yet shining with a luminous smile, met his gaze.
“Brian, the act ends here. It’s time for us to move on. Goodbye.”
With those parting words, she picked up her high heels and dashed away.
Brian reached out too late to stop her; he only managed to brush against the fabric of her dress as it slipped through his fingers.
He was left with nothing.
For her, their interaction had been a mere act, a performance orchestrated for Jeffrey.
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Chapter 78 The Last Dance
Now the music had ceased, and the spectators had left.
It was almost comical how seriously he had taken the charade.
On her way back to the hotel, Rachel encountered Trey.
Noticing her barefoot and disoriented appearance, he quickly approached. “Rachel, what happened?”
Reflected in the mirror, Rachel noticed a familiar man approaching.
It was unmistakably Brian.
He had come after her.
She was aware that he carried a heavy burden of guilt towards her.
Yet, she could not let herself be swayed by feelings that stemmed solely from guilt.
She was weary of the ongoing sense of defeat and the constant comparisons to others, such as Tracy or Doris, realizing she would never match them.
Nor did she wish to try any longer.
“Could you help me inside? I’m really tired,” Rachel murmured, seeking comfort in his
arms.
Immediately, he picked her up gently.
Frozen in place, Brian watched their figures grow smaller and disappear into the night, slipping away from his reach.
The next morning, Brian left with Tracy.
Rachel received a call from Ronald, saying, “Ms. Marsh, Mr. White’s flight is scheduled
for 9 a.m.‘
“Thank you. I wish him a safe flight,” Rachel answered calmly.
A shadow passed over Brian’s face, but he kept his silence.
Three days after his return, he buried himself in work, immersing himself completely until he emerged to invite Norton and some friends out for drinks.
The outing was nothing less than luxurious, with rumors flying that he had reserved
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Chapter 78 The Last Dance
the entire club for the evening..
Despite the manager introducing group after group of women, Brian sent each away.
As the manager became increasingly concerned, Brian, now visibly tipsy, signaled to a waitress who had just served their drinks.
“You. Come here,” Brian said with a decisive tone.
“Me?” The waitress halted, visibly startled.
“Yes, you.” He confirmed.
Alcohol sharpening his tone, his words cut sharply through the air.
Startled and scared, the girl placed the drinks down and faltered. “Please, let me be. I’m only here part–time. I’m not here for… other services.”
Brian’s response was a harsh chuckle, his disbelief evident.
Her eyes darting around the room in panic, she felt her fear escalating.
Seizing the moment, she dashed away, heading straigh boyfriend.
Upon returning, she found the manager waiting for her.
“Sonya, how long have you worked here?”
Her voice trembling, replying, “Tw–twenty days.”
for the restroom to call her
“I see,” said the manager with a significant look. “You’ve not yet been paid, correct? Return to the room, keep our guests satisfied, and I’ll increase your monthly wage
threefold.”
The girl’s tears began to fall as she vehemently shook her head.
“I’ve been clear since my first day. I’m not here to sell my dignity,” she insisted.
“Just sit with them and share a drink, that’s all I’m asking,” he replied.
Despite his words, she kept shaking her head, visibly terrified.
Finally, the manager forcefully grabbed her arm and dragged her back towards the private room.
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