The Grand Mistress

The injury of Simione made a serious loss in Devon City's ballet industry. Many investor's turned their backs in Mara Ballet Company which at this time was the top prestigious company in Devon City for the sole reason that they failed to settle the matter with the Don. 

Afraid to meet the Don's fury and backlash, many pulled their supports out from Mara Ballet and news of it going bankrupt went on only after months of Simione's hospitalization.  In an attempt to appease the Don, they went on giving the limelight to Feather and secure a scholarship for her for Voltaire ballet using their connections in such an international company, but even then, such didn't pacify the Don's fury.

Voltaire Company on the other hand, who receives annual financial support from the Don, welcomed Feather with open hands and made sure that the Han's reputation would not be tainted by the accident. Since it had been long that Voltaire ballet as well as the Han's boasted about having a talented heiress, they replaced the injured Simione with Feather and pretended nothing happened. This was all done by Voltaire company to escape criticism and backlash from the anticipating fans. So, Feather debuted in due time following the career plan that was meant for Simione.

As for the Tang boy, he got his chance in stardust as Pinochio in Stardust as the latter chose to continue their traditional performances because of Simione' injury. This performance paved the way for Lyndon's career in ballet and was later on offered some scholarship in London like Feather had.

Simione on the other hand, stayed in the hospital for over a year to recuperate and after that, was brought to the Han's ancestral mansion to live with his grandfather.

****

Back to the Present Day

Simione was in an empty stage of Mara Ballet Company Theater. The theater had been closed for several years already because the company went bankrupt and so this theater had not been used for a while. The current owners rented it for clients on a few occasions but it had already lost its original glory. Besides, in Devon City, many ballet theaters had already been set up and people had forgotten about the once prestigious theater.

The girl stood in the center after she wore an old ballet shoe she found in the back stage. It must have been owned and left behind by the previous ballerinas who used to dance there. The ballet shoe was a perfect fit and even without a spotlight, Simione started a ballet routine that she still remembers. As she danced and glided, she could hear some music in her ears the old days and dance harmoniously with it as if it was playing in the background. She tiptoed and turned, making exquisite and calculated moves as a real ballerina but a few minutes into the routine her legs gave up and she fell to the floor.

The fall didn't stop her however and so she got up again and danced until she fell one more. Again and again and again until she found herself deeply frustrated about her feet and started crying helplessly. 

"Foolish girl," Simione sniffed and laughed at it like a mad woman. "How could you blame such a tragedy to fate when he had nothing to do with it. It was Feather again. You had fallen hard to Feather's schemes again unknowingly,"

"Hahhahaha," The girl laughed at the truth miserably. "The truth wouldn't have hurt much, not until it occurred to her that the love she found after the tragedy wasn't love after all. It was a well thought of payment for the paths she paved way for both Feather and Lyndon's career. How pathetic. Did Feather laugh at her back at this? 

Was this why Feather Han was so confident that Lyndon doesn't love her and blatantly snacthed him away because she knew the truth? The truth that all what Lyndon did for her come from his guilt of not confessing to the truth? Did the man even love him even once?

So all of it was a lie? Perhaps the only consolation she had this time was that grandmother Silicia and grandfather Williams had nothing to do with it and their love for her was real. Perhaps they were the only good thing she got out from the all of those things but even such a fact cannot prevent the raging fire that went onto Simione's stem.

With hands on the floor and tears falling off, all of the kindness that was left of Simione's heart faded into dust. In a second, her once beautiful heart was clouded with fury and resentment that she could think of nothing then but revenge. Revenged for her broken dreams. Revenge for her broken feet.

"Have I been too easy with your Feather Han?" She hissed. "Want to have a taste of my fury?"

In a moment, she wiped off her tears and dragged herself out from the stage. Her mind was blurred and all she could think of then was the desire to see Feather in misery. She had nothing to lose now anyway, Lyndon had woken up and so someone could take care of grandmother Silicia and grandfather Williams. She had no more things to worry about.

She doesn't even fear what's going to happen to her. At this point in her life, there was only one thing she wished and that was Feather's broken heart. Not even the fear that Hawk Monsanto can kill her in the process so long as she can see before her eyes how Feather cries with blood.

Feather's tears. Just that. That was all she wanted. That was all she ever desired at this very moment. That was the only thing that can redeem her brokenness.

Hawk Monsanto can  kill her after. She'd gladly hand him her life in exchange for his beloved's broken heart.

"Just wait for me, Feather Han," Simione promised under her fuming breath. "I'll come for you, that is a promise!"