Chapter 254

“Third,” her voice grew icier, “even if desperate enough to fabricate controversy, why not claim the original piece as your own? That would’ve been straightforward – certainly better than composing that… neither-here-nor-there derivative.”

Alarieka’s tone sharpened. “Forgive my bluntness, Ms. Whitaker, but your defense lacks logic and coherence. It’s frankly absurd. Frankly, it seems reviving Lindsey’s reputation was your pretense. Plagiarism was your true aim – everything else is justification.”

Roschelle’s face paled visibly. She stumbled backward, eyes wide with panic and helplessness. Alarieka frowned, tracking her retreat. Roschelle neared the stage edge – one more step would collide with the metal scaffolding, risking a three-foot fall.

Roschelle’s delicate brows furrowed, vulnerability lacing her whisper: “I’m sorry… I didn’t know… I was too flustered to think clearly…”

Alarieka’s gaze locked on Roschelle’s backward steps. The metal frame loomed dangerously close. She instinctively reached out. “Wait–”

Below stage, Paloma Wyatt’s stern voice cut through. “What are you two doing? This is the finals – no place for such antics!”

Roschelle recoiled violently. Her right shoulder slammed into the iron scaffolding. Her left foot slipped into empty air, balance vanishing instantly. A sharp gasp escaped her as she teetered toward the drop – only saved by her shoulder’s impact anchoring her against the frame.

Alarieka’s pupils contracted. She lunged forward, hand outstretched.

Slap–

Alarieka froze. Roschelle had smacked her hand away.

Simultaneously–

A faint creak – creak of shifting metal – whispered in Alarieka’s ears. Her eyes snapped upward.

The scaffolding above Roschelle’s head began groaning, tilting – teetering precariously. If it fell, Roschelle stood directly in its path. No doubt, if that heavy iron frame fell from such a height onto someone, their blood and flesh would be flying everywhere!

Alarieka didn’t hesitate, charging straight toward Roschelle.

The grinding sound from the machinery overhead grew louder. The audience suddenly erupted into chaos. Out of the corner of her eye, Alarieka saw spectators and judges leaping to their feet. Shouts poured into her ears.

“Run! Run now!”

“The frame’s collapsing! Get out of there!”

Alarieka’s heart clenched. She lunged forward with even greater strides toward Roschelle. Her hand shot out, grabbing for Roschelle’s wrist!

She caught Roschelle’s wrist!

Relief flashed in Alarieka’s eyes. She immediately tried to pull Roschelle sideways, aiming to dodge the falling frame!

But a dark figure suddenly flashed before her. Stunned for a split second, Alarieka looked up to see Kieran Argent, somehow now on stage, his face grim. He seized Roschelle’s other wrist, yanking her into the protective circle of his arms.

Then, Alarieka felt Roschelle’s wrist twist slightly in her grasp. When Alarieka looked up, she saw Roschelle nestled against Kieran’s shoulder, her face buried there, looking back at Alarieka with a smile that was both meaningful and proud.

Stunned, Alarieka loosened her grip on Roschelle’s wrist.

At that very moment, the screams from below intensified. The iron frame overhead tore free completely.

The screams grew louder, yet to Alarieka they suddenly felt worlds away – distant and muffled, as if separated by an invisible barrier.

She watched Roschelle wrap both arms tightly around Kieran’s waist, burying her face completely in his chest.

Kieran, in turn, locked his arms around Roschelle’s shoulders and waist, using his body to roll them both sideways – clear of the collapsing metal frame’s path.

In the sudden silence, time seemed to slow. Alarieka heard her own ragged breaths and pounding heart with startling clarity.

Everything blurred. She didn’t even register the sharp sting piercing her heart’s softest core.

Without looking up, she sensed the metal frame plummeting toward her.

Alarms blared in her mind. Gritting her teeth, she lunged in the opposite direction of Kieran and Roschelle.