The Inescapable Celibate Heir Chapter 79: The Show Begins

As the Dance Club was getting ready to perform, the Snooker Club members were still busy wrapping ribbons. 

Mira carefully covered the rough ropes with silk, tying a sturdy sailor's knot at the end. "Perfect! Just in time before we go on stage!"

Willow and Sophie had already arrived and were seated in the audience, waiting for Victoria's performance. Her act was the last one of the night, as it was the most anticipated. 

Surprisingly, many students from Brightlight University had shown up, including Francis. 

Sophie naturally squeezed in next to Francis, tearing open a bag of chips and munching loudly. "Francis, why didn't you tell us you were coming? We could have come together."

Francis replied, "It was a last-minute decision. I had nothing else going on tonight, so I thought I'd come and see the show."

Willow asked, "So, are you more interested in the Dance Club's ballet and street dance mashup, or are you looking forward to the Snooker Club's Sword Dance?"

"Dance? I'm not into dance. I'm just here to see how the Snooker Club embarrasses themselves again this year."

Sophie chimed in, "Well, you're in for a disappointment. This year, they're featuring Victoria. Not only will they not embarrass themselves, but they'll probably win the best performance of the night!"

A guy from Brightlight University interjected, "How do you know that, Sophie? Since when are you so close with Victoria? I remember you two had a fight during the league."

Sophie proudly said, "We take dance classes together."

Everyone looked at Willow in surprise, even Francis raised an eyebrow. Willow was known for being reliable, so they were skeptical but intrigued. 

They all knew that Willow and Sophie's teacher was the renowned dancer Diana. If Victoria was learning with them, then tonight's performance was definitely worth watching!

"On one side, we have the Dance Club, champions for several years, and on the other, Mrs. Hamilton's student. The competition is fierce tonight!" a Brightlight University student said excitedly.

At that moment, the host announced, "Let's welcome the Dance Club with their spectacular ballet and street dance mashup! Give them a big round of applause!"

As the applause filled the room, the stage lights dimmed, and a group of girls in white dance dresses began to twirl gracefully, surrounding Lily, who wore a crystal crown. Her movements were elegant and regal, her pointed toes and high neck making her look like a swan princess.

"She's stunning! No wonder Lily has been Nexus College's Campus Queen for two consecutive years. Every move she makes is so graceful, like royalty. This has to be the best performance of the night," a boy praised.

Sophie shot him a disdainful look and said, "Just wait until Victoria comes out. She'll be even more breathtaking! Tonight's champion will definitely be Victoria!"

A girl sitting in front of Sophie turned around and scoffed, "No one can beat Lily! Besides, your precious Victoria might not even perform."

She was a member of the Dance Club and knew about the backstage mishap, even though she wasn't performing tonight.

Sophie's hand shook, spilling half the bag of chips. "What do you mean, Victoria might not perform?"

"You wouldn't know, being from another school. The Snooker Club's stage props were destroyed. Without them, Victoria wouldn't dare go on stage. It would be humiliating."

"What?" Sophie was so shocked she crushed the chips in her hand. 

Victoria's performance relied on those props; without them, the performance wouldn't meet expectations, and they might lose to the better-prepared dance club.

Just then, the host announced Victoria's turn. She descended gracefully from a swing, her dress adorned with diamonds that reflected a rainbow of colors. 

The flowing red silk around her hands accentuated her long, elegant fingers. Her captivating eyes, lined with long red eyeliner, seemed to smile at everyone in the audience, making them feel as if she was looking directly at them.

Ella, who had just finished her performance, sat in the audience biting her lip as she watched the radiant Victoria. 

Vivian, on the other hand, dismissed her with a glance. "It's just a knockoff of Diana's dance costume. You can buy one online for a hundred bucks."

Lily, however, frowned and watched intently. "No, the craftsmanship and the purity of the diamonds look real." 

She had a bad feeling; the costume was so exquisite that it would surely garner many votes.

No one argued with Lily, but they didn't believe Victoria could be wearing the real thing. 

Ella speculated, "Diana's original costumes are museum-worthy. Victoria's must be a good imitation."

Others agreed, thinking the costume's beauty was due to the stage lighting. 

Walter, sitting nearby, felt a pang of sympathy for Ella but was confident that his sabotage of the ropes would soon cause Victoria to fall, ensuring the Dance Club's victory. Though Ella wouldn't know it was his doing, he was happy to help her in secret.

As Victoria descended to about ten feet above the ground, she felt a strange vibration in the swing and heard the faint sound of a rope snapping. She quickly composed herself, realizing someone had tampered with the ropes. 

She shifted her weight and grabbed the other rope, just as one side snapped. Using the momentum, she slid down a bit and then gracefully leaped to the ground.

The audience gasped in shock. Ethan stood up in alarm, but he was too far to help. 

No one noticed Walter's smug smile. He had planned for Victoria to get hurt but not fatally, as a punishment for opposing the Dance Club.

However, Victoria's graceful landing was seen as part of the dance. Despite her slightly numb leg, she seamlessly transitioned into the next move, maintaining the performance's beauty. 

The audience breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was a false alarm.

Only the Snooker Club members, who had seen the rehearsal, knew the move wasn't part of the choreography. It was Victoria's quick thinking! 

Ethan also realized the ropes had been sabotaged. Furious that someone had nearly injured Victoria, he sent a message to the school authorities, demanding a thorough investigation.