Unwilling Bride: The 1V5 Love Drama novel Chapter 290

12:54 Thu, Jul 23

Chapter 290 The Dance That Never Made It to the Stage

Chapter 290 The Dance That Never Made It to the Stage

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Laurent had always seemed like the kind of man who was too cold, too hard, too commanding ever to be changed by something like love. Yet a forced match had entered his life, turning him into someone almost unrecognizable.

The change in him was so drastic that it hardly seemed real. It was as though genetic compatibility had reached in, pulled his mind apart, and rebuilt it from the ground up.

By then, the sun was already setting, and the last of the evening light washed everything in gold.

Laurent settled the military cap in his hand back onto his head, then strode up the lowered gangway of the starship and disappeared into the cockpit.

Matthew waved him off from below. “Alright. Safe trip.”

The long–awaited freshman welcome gala had finally arrived.

The event was set to begin at dusk.

By then, the open–air venue had already been prepared. No one knew whose idea it had been, but this year’s stage had been built on Lantern Isle, right in the middle of Ember Lake. A bridge had been laid from the shore to the island and covered in red carpet, turning the whole setup into something far more elaborate than usual.

Ava did not head over until her classes were over that afternoon. Carrying her lute, she made her way to Ember Lake at an unhurried pace. At the entrance, she showed her performer’s pass to the student council volunteers before being allowed backstage.

By the time she arrived, someone was already rehearsing onstage.

Among all the performers for the night, she had come absurdly late.

Once inside, Ava first placed a video call to Noelle to ask where everyone was, then followed the directions and headed over.

The dressing room was small, but everyone was already there.

The moment Ava stepped inside, she looked around and froze. “What happened to all of you? Why do you all look so miserable?”

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12:54 Thu, Jul 23

Chapter 290 The Dance That Never Made It to the Stage

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Her eyes swept across the room again, and this time she noticed the missing person. “Where’s Malory? She’s not here yet?”

Naomi’s brows were drawn tightly together, and her face looked grim. Zoey stood nearby with her arms crossed, her expression just as ugly.

Ava turned to Noelle instead.

Noelle had already changed into her performance costume, and the effect was exactly what Ava had imagined–bold, heroic, and striking in all the right ways.

Noelle let out a heavy sigh. “Something happened to Malory.”

Ava’s heart sank slightly. “What happened? I didn’t see anything in the

group

chat.”

Zoey could not hold it in anymore and cut in at once. “It just happened a little while ago. Some disgusting piece of trash put a Hookjaw Spider in Malory’s shoe. After rehearsal, when she changed back into her own shoes, she got bitten.”

Her anger grew stronger the more she talked. “That spider is venomous. They rushed her to the hospital right away. We still don’t know exactly how bad it is.”

Zoey’s face tightened with fury. “Whoever did it is seriously vicious. They were jealous of Malory and scared she’d steal the spotlight tonight, but instead of competing openly, they used a filthy trick like this behind her back.”

Ava’s brows drew together. “What about the surveillance footage?”

Zoey let out a bitter laugh. “That’s the best part. The cameras just happened to be off during that exact time. If that isn’t deliberate, then what is?”

“Did anyone call the police?” Ava asked immediately.

Naomi shook her head. “Not yet. They took Malory to the hospital as soon as it happened.

“You know how the school handles things like this. Something this ugly happens on campus, and the first thing they think about is keeping it quiet.

“With the welcome gala about to start, if word gets out now, Starry Heavens University’s reputation will take a hit.”

Her expression turned colder. “If you ask me, the school doesn’t intend to investigate this at all seriously.”

Ava immediately opened her Holoband. “I’m calling Malory first.”

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12:54 Thu, Jul 23

Chapter 290 The Dance That Never Made It to the Stage

The video call connected almost at once.

Malory picked up quickly.

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The moment her face appeared on–screen, Ava saw that her eyes were already swollen and red from crying.

“Malory,” Ava asked softly, “how are you?”

Malory looked at Ava first, then at the others behind her, and saw the worry on every face.

The moment she saw that, the tears she had barely been holding back spilled over again.

“They already gave me an anti–venom shot,” she managed between sobs. “The doctor said the venom from this kind of Hookjaw Spider is limited so that it won’t kill me. But after a bite, the area can ulcerate.”

As she spoke, she angled the camera downward.

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