Unwilling Bride: The 1V5 Love Drama novel Chapter 285

Chapter 285 What Was Never Chosen

Chapter 285 What Was Never Chosen

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Malory shook her head lightly. “When a lot of people dance, technique alone isn’t enough. If the movement has no spirit behind it, the whole thing falls flat.”

Before the words had even finished leaving her mouth, she turned toward Ava with bright eyes. “Ava, come on. Show us a little.”

Noelle and Zoey immediately joined in, egging her on from the side.

Ava rose from her seat at last. “Fine. Just a little.”

The instant she lifted her hand, the atmosphere changed.

Zoey’s eyes lit up so brightly she nearly cried out. “Ava, that looks amazing!”

The more Malory watched, the more shaken she became.

Zoey and Noelle could only see that Ava danced beautifully.

Malory, however, had trained in dance for twenty–one years. She understood far better than either of them what that “little bit” actually meant. Ava made it look effortless, almost casual, yet Malory knew very well that without years of serious training, no one could move like that. Oh my God. She’s been right next to me this whole time, and I’m only just finding out she’s this good. The thought made Malory’s heart race, and an idea immediately took shape in her mind. “Ava,” she blurted out, “is your class definitely set on an instrumental performance?”

Ava gave a small nod. “Yeah. Playing something is simpler. I just have to get used to one piece, and then I can go onstage.”

Malory’s eyes grew even brighter. “Then I have a sudden idea. I want to change my solo into a duet. Can I invite you to dance with me?”

Ava waved both hands at once in refusal. “No. Absolutely not. I don’t want to dance.”

Then she added, “Besides, your solo is already choreographed really well. There’s no need to change it.”

After a pause, she looked at Malory curiously. “With fundamentals like yours, why didn’t you apply for dance in the first place?”

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12:53 Thu, Jul 23

Chapter 285 What Was Never Chosen

It really was surprising.

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Instead of pursuing dance, Malory had ended up in the tiny and unusually niche Philosophy Department.

Malory’s expression dimmed a little. “You know what my family is like. My mom would never have agreed to let me major in dance. She said I wasn’t going to make a living from dancing anyway, and besides, the families behind my fiances are all powerful and well–known. I got angry, so I chose philosophy on purpose just to annoy her.”

A short, self–mocking laugh escaped her. “What I didn’t expect was to get that lucky. I overperformed on the SATs and barely squeezed past Starry Heavens University’s cutoff score.” Zoey inhaled sharply. “Malory, your mom’s way of thinking is way too outdated. What’s wrong with dance? Who’s to say you couldn’t have become a real dancer someday?”

She looked genuinely indignant now. “The way she talks, it’s like she thinks you’re not good enough for those fiances. That’s just putting you down for no reason.”

Malory pressed her lips together.

Something in her chest stung a little.

“My fiances‘ families really are stronger than mine,” she admitted quietly. “My family depends on them. Even when I was little, I could already sense that my parents were raising me with a purpose.”

For once, Zoey did not know how to respond.

She had never imagined Malory’s home life was this suffocating. Words gathered at her lips, but none of them seemed meaningful enough to say.

Noelle looked at Malory and asked directly, “Then what do you want?”

Malory shook her head. “I don’t really know. In a family like mine, wanting something doesn’t mean much. I was never really given a choice.”

Then she looked up at the others and forced a smile back onto her face. “Alright, enough. It’s fine. At least the men my parents chose are all talented and look decent. In other people’s eyes. their conditions are excellent in every way.”

After a pause, she laughed softly at herself. “Maybe I just still cared too much deep down about what my parents thought of me. Maybe that’s why I got trapped in my own head and resisted so hard.”

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12:53 Thu, Jul 23

Chapter 285 What Was Never Chosen

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She clearly had no desire to keep talking about her family, so she turned the subject away with practiced ease.

“Come on, Ava. Dance a little more with me.”

Ava stood again and accompanied her through another short section.

Zoey rested her chin on her knees as she watched the two of them move together. Then she glanced sideways at Noelle and lowered her voice. “Malory’s amazing too.”

And still, her family had turned her into a bargaining chip for marriage.

Worse, she could not even break free.

Noelle’s expression turned cold. “Not every parent in this world has children because they love them. Some people become parents for their own benefit, not for the child.”

Then her gaze darkened further. “You, me, all women, really. The second we’re born into this world, we’re already placed in a position where choice barely belongs to us in the first place.”

At least they had been lucky.

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