Chapter 40

Chapter 40:

The group had been mocking Madisyn, their laughter filled with condescension. Giana, however, remained silent, not defending her at all.

This realization sparked anger in Susan. How could she just stand there?

“If you’re not interested, then forget it,” Susan said coldly, pulling the gift back. “I’m leaving.”

Giana’s expression flickered. There was a strange relief as the gift left her hands, but she still muttered, “I never said I didn’t want it.”

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Susan studied her, feeling more disappointed than ever. Giana’s indifference was like a punch in the gut. What happened to the girl Madisyn had helped build a career for? Had fame really changed her this much?

Giana seemed so detached, so indifferent, like she’d forgotten how Madisyn had stood by her when no one else did. And now, just because she was a famous singer, Giana acted as though Madisyn wasn’t worth her time anymore.

Meanwhile, Jenna saw an opportunity to escalate the tension. “Susan, don’t be selfish. You shouldn’t keep the gift Madisyn prepared for Giana all to yourself!” she said with a smirk, grabbing the bag from Susan’s hands.

Jenna and her friends gathered around, expecting nothing more than some rustic trinkets. But what they saw inside left them speechless.

Sparkling beneath the light, a collection of high-end jewelry emerged from the bag, including the Cavo necklace they had just been discussing. The limited-edition diamond necklace, breathtaking in its brilliance, glimmered before their stunned eyes.

“Is that the… limited-edition necklace from Cavo?” one of Jenna’s friends asked, awe-struck as she held it up for everyone to see.

The once mocking group suddenly shifted their tone.

“Wow, this is incredible!”

“The limited-edition diamond necklace from Cavo… I can’t believe it!”

“Has Madisyn become this wealthy?”

Jenna’s face hardened. How could this be happening? Her former parents, the Chapmans, were simple farmers. There was no way they could afford such luxuries.

“Their earnings over ten years wouldn’t touch a million,” Jenna sneered, glaring at the necklace. “Madisyn must be going too far. Even if she’s trying to keep up appearances, handing out fakes is a step too far.”

Giana, who had been excited moments before, felt a wave of doubt. Right… Madisyn was raised by poor farmers. How could she possibly afford a necklace worth 1.5 million dollars? The possibility that it was a counterfeit gnawed at her.

Susan, seeing the shift in Giana’s demeanor, tried to intervene. “Madisyn isn’t a country girl anymore. Her parents—”

But Giana, now embarrassed and defensive, cut her off. Hastily, she repacked everything and shoved the bag back into Susan’s hands. “Susan, I thought Madisyn was my friend, but how could she try to trick me like this? Do you know what would happen if people saw me wearing a fake?”

Jenna’s friends snickered. “It’s sad, really. I actually thought it was real for a moment.”

Susan was furious. “Giana, you’ve known Madisyn for years! How can you just believe she’d give you something fake?”

Giana refused to meet her eyes. “There’s no way she could afford it,” she muttered, looking away, ashamed but too proud to admit it.

“You’re wrong. Madisyn’s parents—” Susan began again, but the disdainful expressions around her told her there was no point in explaining. They didn’t care about the truth. They didn’t want to see Madisyn succeed or live a comfortable life.

Giana’s changed completely. She wasn’t the same girl who had once leaned on Madisyn for support. Now, if Madisyn wasn’t useful to her anymore, Giana seemed ready to discard their friendship without a second thought.

Susan’s expression grew hard. “You’ll regret this, Giana. If you really consider Madisyn a friend, you owe her an apology.”

With that, Susan turned and left, clutching the gift that was meant for someone who didn’t deserve it.

Back at the Johns residence, the house was lively with guests and activity. Elaine welcomed Susan warmly, her affection clear as she presented a tray of treats.

“You young girls must love sweets. I had our chef make some for you and Madisyn. You’ll have a long evening of talking, and I don’t want you to go hungry,” Elaine said kindly.

Susan smiled, feeling a warmth she hadn’t expected. “Thank you, Mrs. Johns.”

Madisyn led her upstairs to her room, her voice cheerful. “My mom really likes you. She’s been talking about you ever since she heard you’d be staying over.”

“Am I imposing?” Susan asked, still unsure despite the warm welcome.

“Not at all! There’s plenty of space here, and with my brothers often away, the house is peaceful. I’d love for you to visit often,” Madisyn reassured her, her openness reserved only for close friends.

Once inside, Susan took a moment to admire Madisyn’s room. It was spacious and elegantly decorated in soft pinks, the kind of room that reflected Madisyn’s taste—refined yet unpretentious.

Then, Susan suddenly remembered something important. “Oh, Madisyn… Giana… ”

Madisyn turned to her, sensing something amiss. “What about her?”

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