Chapter 153 Cut Ties
Dante shot a skeptical glance at Lola.
The photo was indeed edited. He had fallen asleep on the sofa in the private room after a long game of cards. The photo was likely taken during that time, but there were other people in the room, and he and Lola certainly had nothing going on.
Seeing Dante’s doubtful look, Lola quickly explained, “My phone really got infected with a virus. I had no idea about the photo…”
Meryl narrowed her eyes. “Do you think Dante’s an idiot? Or are you just treating us all like fools?”
Lola lowered her head, saying nothing.
Meryl turned to Dante. “The evidence is right in front of us. The issues between you and Anne all stem from her. How do you plan to explain this to Anne?”
Dante glanced at Anne, then moved towards her, attempting to take her hand.
However, Anne jerked away.
“Don’t touch me! I feel sick just looking at you!”
Anne’s eyes welled up with tears, filled with pain and determination. It was clear that Dante had deeply hurt her this time.
She walked past Dante and headed for the hospital’s ward.
Dante started to follow but hesitated. As he saw Lola still there, he frowned.
Lola, crying, said, “My leg hurts so much. Dante, please take me home!”
Dante replied coldly, “Take a cab.”
“But I have a performance in a couple of days. Aren’t you coming to see it?” Lola’s eyes were brimming with tears, her expression heart-wrenchingly pitiful.
Dante’s jaw tightened. “Let’s not meet again."
“What? What did you say?” Lola was in disbelief.
She understood now. Dante was clearly trying to cut ties.
Her tears flowed freely now. “Why? Don’t you remember what I did for you back then…”
Dante said, lighting a cigarette and placing it between his lips, “Don’t bring up the past. You’re now the principal dancer with the troupe and you’ve met so many people through my connections. I’ve long paid off what I owed you.”
Lola’s face turned ashen.
Dante continued, “You staged all this, hoping for something that wasn’t yours to begin with. It’s my fault for giving you false hope and hurting Anne in the process. It’s high time you recognized your place.”
Dante took a deep drag of his cigarette, his expression as cold as ever.
His words shattered any remaining hope in Lola’s eyes.
Dante nodded briefly at Chandler and Meryl, then turned and headed back towards the hospital.
Meryl intended to follow but was stopped by Chandler.
“Where do you think you’re going? Let them have a moment alone.”
Meryl was concerned, particularly about Anne’s well-being. She feared Dante might cause Anne more distress.
Chandler said, “Don’t worry. Dante might act tough, but he’s not completely clueless.”
Meryl realized Chandler was right. If Dante were truly oblivious, he wouldn’t have just severed ties with Lola.
Reflecting on their past, Meryl couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia.
Five years ago, Anne was the principal dancer and the star of the troupe. Lola was just a backup, an unnoticed newcomer with no chance to perform.
On that fateful day, Anne had planned to confess her feelings to Dante.
But just before going on stage, she suddenly fell ill. The confession was postponed, and Lola took her place on stage.
During the performance, an accident occurred, and Lola saved Dante’s life. She was injured in the process, so from then on, Dante had been treating her differently.
Ironically, just a couple of years later, another stage mishap occurred. Anne fell from a height during her performance and broke her leg. At that time, Anne and Dante had just gotten married, but she was forced to recover abroad. Anne’s injury had left her with lasting problems, and she could never dance again.
Lola stepped into Anne’s position and had held it ever since.