The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 233

Jenna's eyes were no longer filled with panic, but she was still hesitating.

Riley pushed a little harder, offering the ultimate motivation. "Once your daughter is older, you can teach her how to dance."

A mother's love is her strongest engine.

Instantly, the walls in Jenna's eyes began to crumble.

Riley pulled her into the crowd, and they started moving. At first, Jenna was stiff, terrified of the spotlight. But the primal need to dance, combined with the euphoric, judgment-free energy of the crowd, began to thaw her.

She started extending her arms. She tried a spin. Eventually, she completely surrendered to the music. It had been so agonizingly long since she had danced that she entirely lost herself in the rhythm. By the time the song ended and she was breathless and dripping in sweat, she realized she was the only one still moving.

The impromptu crowd had formed a massive circle around her, giving her the floor. Hundreds of eyes were locked onto her like a spotlight.

A massive wave of crushing insecurity slammed into her, paralyzing every nerve in her body.

Riley immediately started clapping. The spell broke, and the entire hallway erupted into deafening applause and cheers.

"That was insane!"

"You're incredible!"

"Are you teaching classes?"

The panic and self-loathing in Jenna's eyes vanished, washed away by the roaring validation and warmth of the crowd. She stared at the cheering faces, her chest heaving, tears spilling hot and fast down her cheeks. She hadn't felt this overwhelmingly alive in years.

Riley squeezed her hand. "You are so breathtaking when you dance."

Jenna threw her arms around Riley, burying her face in her shoulder and sobbing violently.

Riley gently rubbed her back, letting her cry. This was exactly what she needed. The only way to heal the poison in her heart was to let it bleed out completely.

Leaving the studio, Riley could tangibly feel the shift in Jenna. The heavy, suffocating aura of death that clung to her had dissipated.

Recovery was a marathon, not a sprint. But as long as she was willing to take a step forward, she would eventually walk out of the dark and back into the sun.

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