All Chapters of The Dance of Vengeance: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The car cruised through the 600-meter tunnel, the passing lights outside the window casting fleeting shadows across Norman’s face. In those brief moments of illumination, I saw the restraint etched in his expression, as well as the unwavering intensity in his gaze. Before I could fully process the kiss, a sudden burst of daylight at the tunnel’s end made Norman pull back. The tunnel came to an end."Sorry," he murmured, his voice rough and low. "I didn’t scare you, did I?" My ears burned as I shook my head awkwardly. "No… no, you didn’t." "I’ve never… been with anyone else before," Norman admitted, sounding more nervous than I felt. "I guess I might be a little unpracticed." Feeling embarrassed, I blurted out, "Ash!" Even from my seat, I could see the driver fighting back a grin, his lips twitching dangerously close to his ears. Norman chuckled softly, leaning closer. "Violet, do you mind?" I froze, unsure how to respond. Answering that question in front of someone el

On the day of the live broadcast, I decided not to let Norman drive me to the studio. As I stepped out of a taxi, Julian wasted no time sneering. "Victoria, what’s this? Couldn’t reel in Norman, or did he toss you aside after getting what he wanted?" I ignored him and moved to walk past, but he blocked my way with outstretched arms. "Victoria, your leg hasn’t even fully healed. You can’t win this dance today.”I met his gaze coldly. "I could beat her on one leg if I had to." Julian let out a derisive laugh. "Looks like I really spoiled you over the years. You’ve completely forgotten your place again."Should I remind you of the past? Back when everyone wanted you gone, and you were so desperate you knelt at my feet, begging me not to leave. You couldn’t even buy a bottle of water without asking my permission. Did you forget all that?" My tone remained calm. "Julian, you couldn’t see or remember all the love I gave you. The only things you held onto were my moments of weakness

Julian’s smile froze. "Victoria, I’m genuinely congratulating you. Can you stop being so prickly?" "Oh, please. I can’t afford to handle Mr. Ford’s ‘congratulations.’" For once, Julian didn’t rise to my taunt. "Victoria," he said after a pause, his tone uncharacteristically calm. "These Louis XIV roses were flown in just for you. Didn’t you say you wanted them before?" I hesitated, memories surfacing. I had mentioned it to him once, a long time ago. Back then, I’d shared the stage with Averil at an event. I was the lead performer, and she was just a backup dancer. After the show, someone brought an extravagant bouquet of Louis XIV roses onto the stage and handed them to Averil right in front of me. That day, all the media headlines revolved around Averil. I, the lead performer, was reduced to her shadow. At the time, I didn’t know Averil was Julian’s mistress. When I got home, I vented to Julian, feeling slighted. His response was less than comforting. He’d scowled, ca

The past was like a dagger lodged in my heart, and every time I revisited it, the pain was sharp and unrelenting. My parents were renowned experts in biopharmaceutical research. At its peak, Rivers Biotech, the company they founded, was the uncontested leader in the industry. Their names frequently appeared in major news outlets, often accompanied by the glowing title, "The Pioneers of Biopharmaceutical Innovation."When I was seventeen, they developed a groundbreaking drug aimed at treating genetic disorders. The early trials were highly successful, drawing attention and admiration from across the industry. But tragedy struck when the drug moved to the final clinical phase. The first group of patients who received the treatment all died of drug toxicity. What followed was an onslaught of damning evidence aimed squarely at my parents. Accusations of greed and fraud surfaced. Rumors swirled that they had substituted cheaper ingredients to cut costs, carried out inhumane human

In the following days, I quietly monitored the internet. As expected, certain accounts began resurrecting the old corruption scandal surrounding Rivers Biotech. With the help of a few influential bloggers, the story quickly gained traction, making headlines across major platforms. Julian didn’t bother sending me any more threats. He knew I’d understand the message loud and clear. Perhaps, as always, he was perched on his pedestal, waiting for me to cave, to beg for forgiveness. But this time, I refused to give him the satisfaction. I ignored him entirely, right up to the day of my wedding. Of course, Julian wouldn’t let things go so easily. He arrived at my wedding uninvited, bringing Averil with him as if he had every right to be there. Norman’s expression darkened. "Mr. Ford, I don’t recall your name being on the guest list." Julian smiled coolly. "Is it really so inappropriate for an ex-husband to stop by and offer his congratulations to the bride?" Though his w