Chapter 4

When I returned to the studio, Chloe was standing in front of the mirror practicing her moves, still wearing my white sneakers.

Ethan held a new class schedule in his hands.

"I asked Chloe to shadow a few classes. She needs to familiarize herself with the project."

I took the schedule. My hours had been cut in half, and Chloe's name was scheduled for Saturday morning.

That was the class with the most children.

"Who changed this?"

Ethan said, "I did."

I looked at him.

"Do you even know the condition of these kids' ankles? Do you know which ones can't spin, and which ones can't stand for too long?"

His brow furrowed slightly.

"Olivia, don't make a simple matter sound so dramatic."

"Chloe is just coordinating the promotion. She won't actually be teaching the movements."

Chloe immediately nodded.

"Olivia, I'll listen to you. I'll do whatever you want me to do."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the glass cabinet in the corner.

Inside the cabinet was an old pair of ballet slippers.

The fabric had yellowed, and the silk ribbons were washed soft.

That was the pair my mom bought for me when I first stood up after my surgery.

She had stroked my head back then and said, It doesn't matter if you can't walk fast. Just being able to walk is enough.

Chloe walked over.

"These shoes have so much history. Can I borrow them for some promo photos?"

I spoke almost instantly.

"No."

Her hand stopped on the cabinet door, and her eyes turned red again.

"Olivia, I just think they're really meaningful. I didn't want to steal them."

Ethan looked at me.

"They're just an old pair of shoes. She'll return them after the shoot."

My tone was resolute.

"My mother gave them to me."

He paused. For a second, I thought he would remember.

He would remember the year I came out of the operating room, crying because I could never dance again, and how he had placed these exact shoes by my bed.

He had said, Olivia, take it slow. I'll help you stand up again.

But Ethan only said, "That makes them even more perfect for the project's background story. People will connect with it more."

Chloe softly added, "Exactly. Olivia's journey can inspire so many people."

I gripped the key to the cabinet. Ethan's face darkened.

"Olivia, are you really going to be this petty over a charity project?"

"Don't embarrass yourself in front of the kids."

The children were standing quietly nearby. Suddenly, I found myself unable to speak.

Ethan reached out and took the key from my palm.

"She'll return them as soon as she's done."

The moment the cabinet door opened, a sharp pain shot through my old ankle injury.

Chloe took out the old ballet slippers.

"Thank you, Olivia. I'll be very careful."

During the shoot that afternoon, she couldn't fit into them.

The shoes were half a size too small.

Chloe looked at Ethan.

"Maybe we should forget it. My feet are a bit wide. Forcing them in will ruin them."

Ethan looked at me.

"Olivia, how did you fit into them back then?"

I said quietly, "Because they're my shoes."

He thought for a moment.

"Cut the silk ribbons off and wrap them around her current shoes. The effect will be the same."

I looked up at him. Chloe had already picked up the scissors.

"Olivia, I really will replace them for you."

Snip.

The old silk ribbons were severed.

I stood frozen, my palms turning ice-cold.

Seeing the expression on my face, Ethan looked as if he wanted to say something.

But Chloe wrapped the ribbons around her sneakers and twirled in front of the mirror.

"Does it look good, Ethan?"

Ethan glanced at her.

"It's fine."

After the shoot, the old ballet slippers were carelessly tossed onto the table.

The fabric had a dusty footprint on it, and the ribbons were reduced to frayed stumps.

I picked them up, rubbing the spot with my thumb for a long time.

But the dirt wouldn't come off.

Ethan walked over.

"I'll have someone restore them."

He reached out to touch them, but I pulled the shoes back into my bag.

Ethan's eyes darkened.

"Olivia, I've noticed you've been getting harder and harder to communicate with lately."

Chloe whispered from the side, "It's all my fault. Olivia probably thinks I stole her memories."

Ethan rubbed his temples.

"Don't let your mind wander."

I grabbed my bag and walked out.

Ethan called after me.

"Come home tonight. We need to talk."

I didn't answer.

After leaving the studio, I sent a message to Lucas.

"Does the rehabilitation center you mentioned still need a curriculum designer?"

The reply came almost instantly.

"Yes. Have you made up your mind?"

I looked at the ruined ballet slippers in my bag.

The next second, Ethan's call came through.