The Heiress Who Broke Them All – The whip slashed downward, the crack echoing through the air. Freya Swanson crumpled to the ground, the searing pain in her back forcing her to look up. Her unfocused eyes met her father’s stern face. “Freya, do you admit your mistake?” Reid Welch asked. Freya stared at her father’s cold expression, looking a bit dazed. “Still being stubborn, huh?” Reid snapped. He raised the whip high before coming down again. A sharp, burning pain shot through Freya, and she let out a muffled groan. Memories surged through her mind like a tidal wave, and her head jerked up. Reid loomed over her, asking, “Now, do you admit your mistake?” The air was thick with silence.
Freya’s mother, Mia Welch, rose to her feet. She was nearly fifty, yet a lifetime of luxury had preserved her regal, commanding presence. She fixed her gaze on Freya’s stubborn face. “How shameless! You tried to seduce your sister’s fiancé, and you still refuse to admit it?” Freya came to her senses, the scene before her overlapping with memories from her past. She retorted, “I didn’t seduce him.” “How dare you still deny it!” Mia snapped. Freya gave a bitter smile and fell silent. Reid jabbed the whip at her and shouted, “Shameless! I never should’ve brought you back into the Welch family!” ‘Did you ever really see me as your daughter?’ Freya scoffed inwardly. She closed her eyes. Chloe Welch stood nearby, biting her lip, looking fragile and pitiful. “Dad, please forgive Freya. She’s your real daughter, and the engagement was meant for her anyway. I don’t mind giving it back to her.” “Don’t be ridiculous.
Weber only likes you,” Reid replied. Reid’s tone softened, but then he spun around to face Freya, rage flashing in his eyes. “You really don’t admit it, right? I’ll teach you a good lesson. I’ll act like I never had a daughter like you.” “Did you ever see me as your daughter?’ Freya scoffed. Reid was stunned upon hearing that. Freya swallowed the bitterness in her chest and slowly got to her feet. “Five years ago, you found me and said I was your lost daughter, but all along, Chloe was the only one you ever cherished.” She suddenly gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah, that figures. She’s a Welch, I’m a Swanson. You’re the real family. I was just foolish enough to think I belonged here.” Reid’s grip on the whip loosened a bit. He said, “Don’t talk nonsense. We didn’t want people to say Chloe wasn’t our real daughter.
That’s why we didn’t change your last name. And we didn’t want to hurt Chloe’s feelings.” ‘And what about me?’ Freya thought. ‘Don’t I get hurt too?’ Freya bit back her words. She didn’t want to dwell on it anymore. “Freya, please don’t blame Dad. It’s all my fault,” Chloe chimed in, her eyes brimming with tears. Reid tightened his grip on the whip. “Chloe, don’t cry, my sweetheart. Freya has no shame. I should never have let her return to this family.” “Fine, I’ll leave,” Freya said calmly. The room fell into a heavy silence. Freya felt drained, both mentally and physically. “Just as you wanted, I’m severing all ties with you all. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other.” Reid was stunned for a second, then suddenly laughed, “Who do you think you are? Without us, where else could you possibly go? “Do you really think you can threaten us with that?” He jabbed his finger toward the door. “Get out! Right now! From this day forward, you’re no daughter of mine.” Freya turned away in silence. She’d spent her whole life begging for their affection in her previous life.
Now, given another chance, she refused to beg for it ever again. Chloe watched Freya’s back, her gaze flickering. She muttered, “Mom…” Mia was unconcerned and snapped, “Relax, within three days, she’ll come back in tears and beg us.” Chloe insisted, “But we’re supposed to compete together tomorrow. Now that you’re kicking her out…” “She’ll only embarrass us even if she attends it,” Mia replied. Mia then turned to Chloe, her voice gentle. “Thank goodness I have you, sweetheart. I believe in you. Tomorrow, you’ll definitely take home the championship.” ***** The National Youth Ballet Championships was a major ballet event put together by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Tourism and the National Dance Association of Valemont. It was incredibly demanding, with exceptional professionalism and prestige. Brighthollow, as one of the regional competition sites, had been preparing for this event for a long time.
Thus, when Olson Stevens, the director, heard that a contestant wanted to switch her performance just one day before the event, he practically jumped out of his seat. He shouted, “No way. I won’t allow it. Freya, do you even know who the judges are tomorrow? “George Hunter, Clara Ford, Franklin Tucker… These people are absolute giants in the field. The other contestants have been busting their asses, practicing day and night, just hoping for a nod from them. If you’re lucky, you might even get chosen as their student. “But you? You want to switch your dance at the last minute? Are you kidding me?” Freya replied, “Mr. Stevens, that’s exactly why I’m switching it. This competition is too important to mess up.” “How long have you even practiced this new dance? Tomorrow’s competition is going to be broadcast live across the country. If you screw up, you’ll make a fool of yourself in front of everyone watching,” Olson said. Freya replied, “I know. Trust me. I won’t gamble my whole dance career.” She looked up, her eyes full of resolve.
There was no mistaking how serious she was. “You…” Olson tried to say something, then let out a frustrated sigh. “Suit yourself.” Freya flashed a grin and suddenly asked, “Hey, Mr. Stevens, do we get free food from the organizers?” “Huh?” Olson was caught off guard by her question. ***** The next day, after having two free meals at the venue, the dance competition kicked off right on schedule. The area outside the venue was packed, and media outlets were already flooding in, getting the buzz going early. The Welchs showed up early. Mia looked around at the lively crowd, feeling nostalgic. “I used to compete in the Brighthollow Dance Championships, and I even won the trophy. It’s gotten so much more popular and lively over the years.” “Yeah,” Reid said, feeling upbeat. “You really wowed everyone in the whole city back then. How time flies.” Chloe chimed in, “Trust me, Dad. I’ll bring home the trophy today and make Mom proud.” “I absolutely trust you,” Reid smiled.
Weber Burton, Chloe’s fiancé, arrived as well. Seeing how supportive Chloe’s parents were, he couldn’t help but ask, “Where’s Freya, by the way?” “She’s got something going on, so she won’t be competing today,” Mia replied, not wanting to elaborate. ‘With Freya’s personality, she’s probably hiding in some corner, quietly crying. There’s no way she’d show up for the competition,’ Mia thought. ***** Soon, the auditorium was packed. The emcee walked onto the stage, and the curtains rose, officially kicking off the competition. The state media began streaming the event live. “First up is a ballet performance, Swan Lake,” the emcee announced. Dancers moved elegantly to the rhythm, and the stage lights danced and flickered. Before long, it was Chloe’s turn to take the stage. Reid and Mia sat up straighter, while Weber watched the stage with a smile full of anticipation. Chloe stepped onto the stage. She wore a pink ballet costume, its layers of tulle light as air. As she turned, the skirt trembled softly around her, and she seemed to hover above the stage with effortless grace.
Backstage, Freya, already changed into her costume and ready to go, stood in silence. She watched Chloe’s performance unfold, her expression unreadable. “Wow, she’s impressive. So light and graceful. Every step is beautiful,” one of the judges remarked. “She’s got both the artistry and the skill. Her dedication really shows,” another judge added. Chloe, personally trained by Mia, did make her mom proud. As soon as she finished, the judges showered her with praise and gave her a combined score of 9.62. “9.62!” The emcee’s exaggerated voice echoed through the entire venue. That was the highest score anyone had gotten so far. “Bravo,” Reid exclaimed, his voice booming through the hall. Mia beamed with pride, clearly basking in her daughter’s success. ‘That’s our good daughter,’ they thought, feeling a surge of pride. Arabella Cobb, another socialite from Brighthollow’s elite circle, couldn’t help but comment, “Mrs. Welch, Chloe really takes after you. That dance was absolutely amazing.” Mia put on a modest front, but her pride was written all over her face.