Chapter 106

Chapter 106:

The news report froze Phyllis and Jenna in place, keeping them from changing the channel.

They were utterly bewildered.

Someone from their country had actually won the championship?

Everyone knew Rosaline and Gerard were knocked out in the second round, so who else could have possibly won?

Madisyn? But wasn’t she supposed to be missing?

Confused, Jenna and Phyllis kept watching TV, only to see a few images flicker onto the screen. A woman stood on the stage, exuding an ethereal beauty, like a goddess who had just graced the earth. The screen also showcased a video of the award ceremony with the anchor’s commentary:

“For the first time in five years, our country has triumphed in the international dance competition. Madisyn Johns’s exceptional performance stunned the audience and sent shockwaves through the National Dance Association of Mafelen. The National Dance Association of Mafelen, desperate to ensure victory for their own dancer, resorted to every shady trick in the book, even trying to kill Madisyn. All of their underhanded maneuvers have been meticulously documented. Anna Murray’s teacher, who had orchestrated the car accident, has been taken into custody. Meanwhile, Will Simmons, a judge from Mafelen, faced expulsion from both the competition and the association for his blatant favoritism toward his own country’s contestant, leaving his once-stellar reputation in ruins.”

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This was a seismic upheaval, the likes of which had never been seen before.

The National Dance Association of Mafelen had long been infamous for its corruption—a fact well-known but seemingly insurmountable. Yet, Madisyn not only clinched the championship but also swept the competition clean of its tainted practices. She was simply radiant.

But Jenna felt as if her eyes had been pierced with daggers.

Could that truly be Madisyn?

Jenna couldn’t believe it, so she took another look.

It truly was Madisyn.

Jenna was hit by a wave of dizziness, her head spinning as if she might faint on the spot.

Madisyn had actually soared to such dizzying heights.

Jenna had never dreamed she’d be bested by the daughter of two farmers. It must be because of Madisyn’s upbringing as a child. Had she been raised in the Chapmans’ home, she might have claimed the title of international champion herself.

Jenna’s jealousy was so intense that she nearly bit through her own lip.

Phyllis, jolted from her initial daze, quickly reached for her phone. A glance online revealed that, just half an hour earlier, the news of Madisyn’s championship victory had already swept across the internet, with everyone joining in the celebration.

The gossip woman who had chatted with Phyllis earlier wasn’t mocking her; she genuinely envied her.

Phyllis felt a sudden, constricting pressure in her chest. What had she said?

Damn it!

Noticing a chat group buzzing with activity, she swiftly tapped on it to find out what was being discussed.

“Is Madisyn truly that extraordinary? She won the championship. My God, she’s remarkable. If I had a daughter like that, I’d be over the moon.”

“I heard she was once Phyllis’s daughter. I never would have guessed that Phyllis had had such an exceptional child.”

“Indeed, Madisyn is absolutely remarkable, bringing glory to our nation. I was captivated by her from the very first moment I laid eyes on her.”

Everyone was singing Madisyn’s praises and genuinely envying Phyllis.

Just then, the woman who had chatted with Phyllis earlier appeared. “Oh, stop it. If you keep going on about it, Phyllis will get upset.”

“Why would she get upset? Isn’t this something to celebrate?”

The woman replied, “Madisyn isn’t Phyllis’s biological daughter; she’s already gone back to her birth parents.”

“But Phyllis has brought her up. That bond still makes Madisyn Phyllis’s child.”

The woman replied, “I’m not sure why, but Phyllis doesn’t seem keen on discussing it. I offered my congratulations, but she wasn’t exactly thrilled. Perhaps their relationship isn’t as close as one might think.”

The woman even went so far as to share her chat log with Phyllis afterward.

Everyone fell into stunned silence after reading it, wondering if Phyllis had lost her mind.

How could Phyllis fail to cherish such an extraordinary daughter?

Anyone else would be thrilled to have Madisyn.

From that moment on, the conversation took a distinctly sarcastic turn.

“Phyllis’s biological daughter must be so extraordinary that Phyllis barely values her former one.”

“How did Madisyn manage to locate her biological parents so swiftly? How I wish I had adopted her myself.”

“If Phyllis doesn’t care for Madisyn, she could always pass her on to me. I have a soft spot for kids who can dance.”

Every word dripped with scorn and derision for Phyllis.

Phyllis’s breath came in shallow, rapid bursts, and a sharp ache gripped her chest.

The immense glory had just slipped through her fingers.

If Madisyn had remained with the Chapman family, her title as an international champion would have brought them untold benefits.

Phyllis’s regret was so profound it felt as though it might swallow her whole.

“Mom, are you okay?” Jenna saw Phyllis’s ashen face, looking like she might collapse any moment, and asked with genuine worry.

“I’m fine!” Phyllis snapped, rising abruptly and storming out.

Jenna stood there in shock. It was the first time Phyllis had spoken to her with such harshness.

And it was Madisyn’s fault.

At the Johns’ house.

Though Kristine had only been in the hospital for a few days and was still far from fully healed, she thought, since Madisyn was now gone, she should head home, hoping to win back favor.

The house was eerily silent.

Kristine stepped into the living room, where Elaine and Glenn were deep in conversation.

Dane was present as well, though he wasn’t part of the ongoing conversation.

As Kristine walked in, their faces hardened with displeasure. Glenn’s voice cut through the air, sharp and icy, “Why didn’t you give us a heads-up before coming back?”

“Dad, Mom, I heard about what happened to Madisyn, so I rushed back to see how you’re holding up.” Tears welled up in Kristine’s eyes. “I can’t believe that something like this happened to Madisyn.”

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