Chapter 2

Perhaps she could sell her kidney? It would not do since she only had one left. How about her liver? Many years ago, she nearly lost her life on the operating table when she had a part of her liver removed to save Hugh. Since then, her liver health had been affected significantly. Even now, she had to take all sorts of medications for her liver. She could not afford such risks. She could not endanger her life because she had to stay alive to fulfill Rei’s dying wish. That was when a strange message popped up on her phone. “Recruitment Notice: Royal Palace Nightclub is recruiting dancers! Monthly salary: Two hundred thousand dollars.” Royal Palace—the biggest club in Capital, a gathering place of the wealthy. Back when she was filthy rich, she pestered Hugh to take her there out of curiosity. All the ladies there were akin to goddesses, their dances were sultry and seductive. The establishment was the definition of prime entertainment. In the past, she scorned such professions, but things were different now; she was desperate for money. The offer of two hundred thousand dollars a month was too much for her to resist. All she had to do was to work there for two and a half months to put together the funds to save Tracy. Considering her circumstances, it was the best option for her; especially since she started ballet at the age of four, and she had a solid foundation in dancing. With that in mind, she figured she could give it a shot. Dignity was nothing to her, particularly in the face of money and a situation where a person’s life was on the line. The only problem was whether Royal Palace wanted anything to do with an ugly woman. - One night a month later, Royal Palace was ready to kick off another night of wild partying, for the guests to indulge in their wealth and desires. Inside the powder room backstage, Iris was wearing a skin-tight and skimpy tassel dress in bright gold, with its top wrapped snugly around her chest. She stood in front of the full-length mirror, whose frame was inlaid with gold and diamonds as she was slowly putting on a glittering gold butterfly mask that matched her outfit. Just like that, her hideous face was covered up. For what it was worth, she was still devilishly sexy and beautiful if one only looked at her figure. The only glaring flaw was the twisted and wretched scar on the right side of her abdomen. It was the scar left behind from when she had her kidney removed. Sometime before that, there was yet another incision scar left behind from when she removed part of her liver. When she still had money, she spent a significant sum to have the scar addressed by a plastic surgeon. Suddenly, a lady in heavy makeup appeared. It was the manager, Claire. She approached the door in quick, purposeful steps and waved Iris over, “Vermouth, you’re up next. Come with me.” Iris immediately snapped back to her senses upon being summoned. She grabbed a concealer cream from the drawer and quickly applied it to the scar on her abdomen. Then, she applied a temporary tattoo sticker of a phoenix on that same spot. After peeling off the sticker sheet, the shape of a beautiful and soaring phoenix bathed in flames came to life there and then around the right side of her waist reaching toward her abdomen. The scar was completely concealed. Satisfied with the effect achieved, she followed Claire toward the stage. It was a month ago when she stepped into this place to look for a job. Claire did not reject her immediately and was kind enough to allow her a chance to showcase her dancing abilities. After the audition, Claire allowed Iris to perform if she had a mask on. With that, Iris was given the stage name Vermouth. Taking pity on her circumstances, Claire was even so kind as to advance her ten thousand from her month’s paycheck. Everything seemed to work out a little too swimmingly, but Iris figured Claire was just that enchanted by her dance. After getting the money, she went to Rei’s home on her first day off and handed the money to Tracy for dialysis first. She then promised Tracy that she would help her with the kidney transplant in time. Above all else, Iris was grateful for Claire. The stage's curtains parted. Iris lay elegantly on the hammock laced with black silk strung on stage from the ceiling above. She began to sway her body seductively, following the rhythm of the melodic and atmospheric music drowning the venue. Underneath the spotlight, she looked like a black peony in blossom. She had an air of elegance and mystique about her. She continued to work her charms on stage as the hammock was slowly pulled toward the ceiling. Soon, she was dangling twenty meters above the stage. Everyone was transfixed by the dangerous and tantalizing show. At such a height without any safety measures, a careless fall would be nothing short of deadly. Everybody’s gaze was fixed on her. They could not take their eyes off her. This was a signature performance that she had been performing since she started working here. Many people were drawn to this particular performance because of the risk factor involved, mixed with the amazing presentation. The crowd was greatly mesmerized and were more than satisfied with the show Iris put on. Soon, they started throwing countless bills on the stage and cheered feverishly. Inside Royal Palace, money was nothing more than paper. Countless dollar bills fluttered in the air like snow as the performance reached its climax. This spurred Iris to put even more of herself into the show. The entire time during the performance, Hugh had been in the VIP section on the second floor. He was fiddling with an amber bracelet in his hand, and there was a sharp and icy glare in his eyes. Underneath his imperceptible dark eyes was a cloud of darkness as he observed intently the woman who was flirting with death high up above in the air. “Baron, your nightclub sure is something else. How long has it been since this Vermouth’s debut anyway? She hasn’t been performing for that long and she’s already well-known among the social elites. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before she upstages Rose,” Klein Ernest expressed with amusement next to Hugh. His eyes were filled with wonder as he beheld the woman in the air. Hugh did not offer a response. His eyes were fixed on the same subject. In the past, another woman had performed the same dance for him on his eighteenth birthday. That woman was still his little sister at that time. Even now, they were still siblings. However, the only thing they shared in their relationship at this point was hatred. The relationship they once shared was nothing to look back on with fondness. Just as the song was nearing its end, Iris suddenly shifted her balance and dangled her weight upside down on the hammock! The enchanting figure hovered like a bat in the sky. The only thing keeping her strapped was her legs tangled in the hammock. How dangerous, how fascinating! It drew a terrific cry from the crowd! Hugh's fingers gripped the bracelet tightly as he held his breath and his heart nearly stopped from the suspense. Meanwhile, the hammock began to lower itself to the stage. Even more dollar bills were thrown in the air! Soon, Iris landed on the stage. After calming her nerves, she gracefully let go of the hammock and took a step back. She saluted her audience. In that instant, Hugh frowned sharply and uttered, “Iris.” In the next second, the bracelet snapped. It was a terrific crack that sent countless beads of crafted pearl, each worth a fortune, scattering like rain!