Chapter 3 She Didn't Earn This With Her Own Ability

I was back at the entrance of the theater, without even noticing how I was here. Standing there, I felt my heart, long numbed, ached once more. I seemed to hear the thunderous applause when the curtain fell. Once upon a time, those flowers of encouragement and endless rounds of applause belonged to me.

I was the strong and resolute mermaid princess, weeping as I raised a dagger against the prince who betrayed. And I was the brave and righteous adventurous pirate king, adjusting my hat for a clearer sights set on the stars and distant lands.

These vibrant characters I created had unknowingly fused with my soul.

I kept ask myself at every sleepless nights, "Have you truly reconciled yourself to a life like this?" How could I?

I recalled the year when I was 21. My aging mentor came to the Marshall family, shouting hoarsely at the doorstep, "Jordyn has been learning from me since she was four! She was born to be a star under the spotlight!"

But Cory said with a cold voice, "Mrs. Marshall cannot be an actress appear in public."

Locked inside, I cried and banged on the door until my left hand broke. But I had never saw my mentor again.

I found a chance to escape from the house, hoping to meet my friends at the theater. But I fainted halfway. When I awoke in the hospital, I was told that I was three months pregnant.

The care Cory offered me was like a comforting yet stifling embrace that I was taken good care and imprisoned.

I had a difficult birth when I bore Ryan, which left me a torn pelvis and a swollen body.

I refused to accept the changes on me and tried to stand on tiptoe but only fell heavily like a bird with broken wings. From then on, my life was completely shattered.

Those twenty-one years was like a dream. When the dream broke, I was just walking in this world like a ghost of my former self.

Under the dim streetlight, ash fluttered like a heavy fog settling in my mind. I leaned against the lamppost, attempting to stand on tiptoe. Then I seemed to hear the melody of "Das Musical Elisabeth" pouring forth like a gentle river.

I had never forgotten my past.

Someone from the theater peeked out, "Ms. Thomas, is it really you? Can you help us out? Mr. Marshall wouldn't mind, would he?"

I wiped away my tears, not wanting the younger peers to see me as a joke. I nodded, "I can make the decision."

After a night of practice, I was confident with myself. Worse, I'd run into Cory again. He was scanning the audience as if searching for someone.

Instinctively, I wanted to flee. But as my fingers brushed the tassels on my dress, I put myself together. Then I took a deep breath, reminding myself that we had no ties anymore.

I am Jordyn Thomas, the former main actress of this theater. I had my own aspirations and pride.

With a veil covering my face, I gracefully stepped onto the stage.

Age might have slowed my dancing, but that was not a problem. There were many forms of theater performance. And there were many possibilities of my life.

With a heavy thud of my cane made of rich mahogany wood and the stage lights flickered, the duchess was now on the stage with an confident and stoic aura. I spoke my lines rhythmically, and sang my songs gently and passionately. I put all the love and hate of half a lifetime into the role, during which I was utterly absorbed.

When I snapped back to the reality, I heard the audience erupt into applause. And I saw a flash of surprise and admiration flickered in Cory's eyes.

Staff members who knew me wept with joy, "It's so wonderful to have you back, Jordyn!"

During intermission, Nina burst into the theater's backstage. I had just changed back into my own clothes when she spilled makeup remover all over me.

When I was about to lose my temper, I turned and locked eyes with Cory's deep, dark eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I said coldly, "Unauthorized personnel must leave the backstage."

As I raised my hand to call security, Ryan rushed in. "Nina... Mom, what are you doing here?

Weren't you so determined about the divorce yesterday? You must follow us here as we brought Nina to the show."

He stabbed at my already wounded heart again with his mocking gaze.

Cory said nothing. But it was his silent acquiescence and indulgence toward Ryan that had caused the greatest harm to me.

In a moment, Nina had plucked nearly all the feathers from a prop hat.

I pulled her away. Then Ryan shoved me hard, "What does this worthless thing have to do with you? You're pulling Nina over this? Do you even have a heart!"

Cory couldn't stand it and wanted to reprimand Ryan.

Ryan, full of resentment, pointed at Nina. "She is crying! And don't you even care?"

Nina's confused face was now covered with tears.

Cory took a deep breath and ordered me with a solemn expression, "Apologize to Nina."

I bit my lip hard, finally unable to hold back. I raised a nearby cane high and struck it on Cory's head.

"You're not welcome to my performance! Get out!"

Ryan chuckled, "Mom, are you jealous that Nina is taken good care of because of her Alzheimer, so you're acting crazy? How can you still daydream at your age? Thinking holding a cane makes you a duchess?"

Before he could finish, staff had come and restrained him on both sides. "Don't make trouble here. Please leave."

I watched coldly as Cory pointed angrily at me, "She was the one causing trouble, why isn't she being kicked out?"

The staff dragged Ryan to the door and shoved him out. The door slammed shut in front of him.

"How dared they challenge our leading actress?"

The door was thick so they might not hear it clearly. But Ryan knew it was definitely nothing good.

For someone like Ryan, accustomed to privilege, even if people weren't entirely subservient to him, they were at least respectful. It was the first time he had been treated like this. This wasn't just a disgrace to him. It was as if his dignity was being ground into the dirt.

Thinking of the staff's respectful attitude toward me, Ryan was infuriated, "Mom must be basking in her theater-loving friend's glory. She didn't earn this with her own ability, yet she flaunts it in front of us!

No matter how close a friend is, she's still an outsider. Besides, her friend is gone. When Mom comes home, we need to talk to her, make sure she knows who's really her family members! Dad, don't you agree?"

Cory felt his head was throbbing with pain.

That obedient Jordyn had just hit him? Insulted him? And even kicked him out?

Cory's face darkened as if he'd lost his father.

Just as he was about to turn back for answers, Nina suddenly cried out. She raised her right hand, showing a barely noticeable cut on her thumb.

Ryan instantly forgot everything else, "To the hospital! Hurry!"