Chapter 178

Chapter 178:

Madisyn pressed her lips together, trying to maintain her composure. Andrew was clearly trying to charm her! She diverted her gaze and focused on Waylon. As Waylon hit the chorus, the crowd joined in, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Even Madisyn, who seldom indulged in music, couldn’t deny his talent. Her emotions surged with each note.

During the intermission, the buzz of excitement filled the air as everyone discussed Waylon’s performance. Amid the chatter, Madisyn’s phone buzzed—a message from Waylon himself: “How about dinner together tonight?”

A smile spread across her face as she typed back, “Sure.” She caught snippets of conversation from her colleagues nearby.

“Waylon is so handsome! I feel like my life is complete,” gushed Annis.

“I think so too,” Emeline Burke agreed. “I’ve liked him for so many years. But with my wedding coming up, I know I’ll have to give up on buying his albums and all that. It’s so sad to leave those dreams behind.”

“It’s okay, Emeline. We can still hold our idols in our hearts,” another colleague reassured her, understanding the bittersweet reality. “Post-marriage, priorities shift.”

“Yeah,” Emeline sighed. “If only we could have dinner with Waylon, just once…”

“I would love that too.”

They really adored Waylon. Madisyn thought for a moment, then turned back to her phone. “Would it be alright if I brought a few friends to dinner? They’re all huge fans.”

Waylon’s prompt reply came through. “Of course.” Madisyn smiled softly.

In the back rows, Teresa and her group buzzed with excitement. As they watched Waylon on the big screen, he appeared as charismatic as ever.

“Can you imagine being in the front rows?” one of them whispered, eyes glued to the screen that was now panning across the audience, giving everyone a brief moment of fame.

As the camera lingered on the front rows, the group leaned forward, curious about who could get such premium seats.

Liza’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Is that…?” she stuttered, rubbing her eyes for clarity.

Her friend gasped beside her. “That’s Annis and Madisyn! How did they get there?”

“I heard those front-row tickets were resold for tens of thousands of dollars. Are Madisyn’s tickets actually VIP tickets? What would that cost?”

The revelation sent a ripple of shock through the group. In their minds, Madisyn was just an ordinary colleague; this glimpse of her in such a coveted spot painted a different picture.

“Is Madisyn actually rich?” Liza turned to Teresa, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and curiosity.

Teresa scoffed. “How could she be? Her parents are farmers. It’s not like she’s got any real money.” Her voice dripped with skepticism. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s something shady about her wealth.”

The group exchanged knowing glances. Madisyn’s allure and apparent wealth led to unsavory assumptions. All that money must have been earned with her body. Disgust painted everyone’s faces.

“I understand now,” Liza said with a sneer. “It’s repulsive. I wouldn’t want tickets tainted by such means. You’re much better, Teresa.”

Teresa gave a small, wry smile, pleased by the comparison.

Meanwhile, Madisyn was chatting with Andrew when she casually glanced at the big screen. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted Teresa and Liza seated in a back row. But it wasn’t them that caught her attention—it was the man next to Teresa.

Kian?

Madisyn furrowed her brow.

Teresa and Kian were holding hands, looking unusually close. Were they kissing?

A shadow crossed Madisyn’s face as she quickly pulled out her phone and snapped a photo. There was no way she could just stand by and watch her friend be deceived.

“What’s wrong?” Andrew asked, noticing her sudden change in demeanor.

Madisyn hesitated, torn between revealing the truth and keeping quiet. Sensing her inner conflict, Andrew gently added, “If it’s hard, you don’t have to say anything.”

Madisyn glanced at Andrew, a grateful smile touching her lips before she explained, “It’s not my issue, so I can’t tell you. I noticed something off about my friend’s boyfriend.”

She hesitated because it was about Evie’s privacy, and even Evie didn’t know the truth yet. She couldn’t speak without her consent.

Andrew nodded in understanding, his calm demeanor putting her at ease. His respect for boundaries made Madisyn feel comfortable.

Just then, Annis noticed the two of them talking and curiously leaned in. “Madisyn, is this your boyfriend?”

“Yes, he is,” Madisyn responded with a smile, no longer feeling the need to hide their relationship.

Annis took a good look at Andrew’s face and immediately covered her mouth in surprise.

“Is your boyfriend a celebrity or something?” she blurted out excitedly, her eyes wide with admiration.

Madisyn chuckled softly, shaking her head. “No, he’s wonderfully ordinary.”

Annis was clearly still excited by Andrew’s charisma, almost rivaling that of Waylon, the star of the evening.

As the concert drew to a close amid enthusiastic applause, the crowd reluctantly watched Waylon exit the stage. Meanwhile, in the back rows, Liza, struck by a sudden thought, tugged at Teresa’s arm.

“Teresa, do you know Waylon? Could we have dinner with him?”

All eyes turned to Teresa, their expressions hopeful.

Given her status as a member of the Johns family, it seemed reasonable to expect she had connections with celebrities like Waylon.

Teresa internally cursed at Liza. Was she God or something? How would she know Waylon?

“He’s just an entertainer. We don’t usually associate with entertainers,” she said, shrugging dismissively.

Liza looked a bit let down, but her admiration for Teresa grew. “I’m so jealous. Do you usually hang out with other wealthy people?”

“That’s right,” Teresa said, tossing her hair back with feigned nonchalance.

She didn’t notice Kian’s subtle shift in demeanor, his fingers clenching into fists as he observed her quietly.

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