10.10
Chapter 131
Chapter 131
Selene stepped onto the stage, accepting the gleaming gold medal from the chairman of the committee.
Standing before the microphone, she heard the host’s voice: “Miss Thompson, everyone is dying to know–how did a woman who spent seven years as a full–time homemaker walk away with the top prize?”
The stage lights blazed so hot she felt she might melt, but in that moment, Selene’s elegant features seemed to glow even brighter in front of the cameras.
She drew a deep breath and, for a second, it was as if she could see her eighteen–year–old self sitting in the audience below.
Her dark eyes sparkled, alight with the brilliance of a thousand stars.
“My secret for standing here with this medal?” Selene’s voice was clear. “I finally learned to love myself. I found the courage to embrace a new life, without shrinking from others‘ opinions and without doubting my own worth because of what the world might say.
I allow myself to be rejected–but I don’t seek anyone’s approval but my own. I am my own master, truly and completely.”
A warm, spring–like smile bloomed on her lips as she faced the countless cameras. “I often look back at the road I’ve traveled, but I will never walk it again.”
Selene had just won the ALI Math Competition’s gold medal, and the news exploded across the internet.
“Let’s congratulate this outstanding woman on winning the Aldonia Grand Prize! May her future be nothing but bright!”
“Ms. Thompson, there’s a whole world out there waiting for you now!”
“I always say when a woman stops living for a man’s approval, her world becomes limitless.”
Top universities across Aldonia rushed to send their congratulations online.
Within half an hour, renowned international institutions posted on social media, publicly inviting Selene to join them.
Only then did everyone realize just how high–profile this year’s ALI competition had
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become.
As world–class universities extended their offers, major companies at home didn’t want to be left behind.
Even government–backed defense firms reached out to Selene with enticing proposals.
Meanwhile, some sharp–eyed users revisited the social media accounts of a few wealthy socialites. Not long ago, these women had apologized for bullying Selene’s daughter, but when Selene’s competition results were questioned, they’d quickly deleted all their “apology” posts.
“Selene just won gold. Ladies of the high society club, anything to say for yourselves now?”
“Fair–weather friends, social climbers, you look down on ordinary people and get away with it in real life–but online, we’ll make sure everyone sees you for what you are!”
Those same women who had once apologized to Selene were watching the live stream of the championship.
As one challenger after another fell to Selene and left the stage defeated, their faces grew increasingly grim.
The ALI Group broadcast the entire event live; with every round Selene won, her influence doubled online.
One of the socialites, watching the disaster unfold, hurried to shut down her own social media accounts.
After the competition ended, a message popped up in their private group chat:
“Should we apologize?”
“Would it even make a difference at this point?”
Another replied miserably, “My husband and mother–in–law are furious.”
“Mine is yelling at me too.”
Now that the world’s top universities and corporate giants were clamoring to recruit Selene, news of their bullying at Charteris Academy had reached their husbands‘
ears.
What happened to them at home was anyone’s guess, but on the internet, their influential spouses took matters into their own hands–posting public apologies to
10:18
Selene and her daughter from their official company accounts
As Selene stepped down from the podium, scholars and professors crowded around, eager to congratulate her.
She caught sight of Adrian, standing several yards away, watching her quietly
..
Chapter 131
Selene and her daughter from their official company accounts.
As Selene stepped down from the podium, scholars and professors crowded around, eager to congratulate her.
She caught sight of Adrian, standing several yards away, watching her quietly.
