Vanessa led Lila toward the piano room. As she passed Clara , she deliberately slowed her pace and said softly, "Clara, don't be too sad. Women should pay attention to their figure. Mr. Huo actually likes slender girls. I've been practicing yoga recently. If you don't mind, I can teach you a few shaping poses."
Her voice was gentle, but her tone carried a condescending sense of superiority, like a fine needle piercing Clara's most painful spot.
Liam was about to follow when Clara grabbed his sleeve.
"What is it?" He turned around impatiently, his gaze still lingering on Vanessa 's retreating figure.
Clara 's fingertips trembled slightly, her voice carrying a final glimmer of hope: "Are you free on the 10th?"
The 10th was the last day of the cooling-off period for divorce. If he went to the Civil Affairs Bureau that day to withdraw his application, they could go back to the way things were. A faint flame still lingered in her heart, hoping he would remember their past affection and turn back to her.
Liam frowned and replied dismissively, "I don't know, I've been very busy lately. Vanessa said there's an art exhibition downtown, and I have to go with her that day. What's up?"
Clara abruptly released her grip, and the flames were completely extinguished.
It turned out he wasn't busy; he was just too busy to pay attention to her, too busy to remember this day that was so important to their marriage. Watching his hurried departure, a bitter feeling welled up in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word.
Back in her room, Clara locked the door and pulled a dusty box from the bottom of the wardrobe.
She opened the box, and inside was her old ballet dress. The pristine white tulle was still brand new, though she could no longer wear it. Beside it lay her international ballet gold medal trophy and a pair of ballet shoes with worn-out toes. She picked up the shoes, her fingertips tracing the patterns on them, remembering herself spinning and leaping on stage back then, and tears finally streamed down her face.
She took out her phone and dialed a number she hadn't heard from in a long time.
"Hello, it's me, Clara ."