an interview with Ms. Thompson!”
Chapter 73
The headmaster was at a loss. Why were there suddenly so many reporters crowding the school gates?
They were all clustered around Selene. Could it be that she’d invited them here herself?
But how could that be? She was just a cast–off from the Vaughn family, tossed out without a penny. There was no way she had the influence to summon a pack of journalists.
He hesitated, confused. “I didn’t get any notice about an interview. Oh, come on! Everything you just saw–it was all staged! Whatever your cameras captured, it wasn’t real!”
Trying to salvage the moment, the headmaster forced a smile at a petite female reporter.
“Ma’am, please, come inside! I’ll give you all a personal tour, share the proud history of Charteris Academy!”
But the reporter barely spared him a glance. “We’re not here for you. We just couldn’t stand the way you behaved.”
The headmaster blinked, flustered. “Then why are you all at the school gates? What do you want?”
He’d hardly finished when the petite reporter darted past him, hurrying straight into the crowd around Selene.
From the sidelines, Clarissa gasped. “What’s going on? Did Selene really call in the press for backup?”
Meanwhile, Felicity had already posted the video of Daph lifting Damien effortlessly to the private group chat she shared with Harrison. She raised her phone again, camera pointed right at Selene and the swarm of reporters.
She recorded just a couple of seconds, then sent the clip to the Harrison.
up, tagging
*“Big trouble! Selene brought a mob of reporters. She’s throwing the wildest tantrum at the school gates!“*
Her brother, always quick to jump in, replied instantly:
*“This is insane! Once a country bumpkin, always a country bumpkin!“*
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Felicity–her username ‘Boss Thompson‘–tapped out another message
*“My sister’s completely lost it since the divorce! She’s even teaching her own daughter to hit her brother!“*
The group’s spoiled rich kids all piled on, joining the chorus of insults aimed at Selene.
Felicity kept her phone up, recording every second.
Just then, a man in a sharp blue suit stepped in front of Selene. Under the glare of all those cameras, he solemnly handed her a crimson envelope.
“I represent the ALI Math Competition Committee. Miss Thompson,
congratulations! You achieved first place in the preliminaries and have earned a ticket to the finals.”
Selene had expected maybe a single reporter to show up–this kind of turnout was overwhelming.
“You all came just for this?” she asked, a bit dazed, glancing at the crowd of journalists at least a dozen media outlets had shown up at Charteris Academy’s gate.
The man smiled. “Your story is remarkable. Not only did you beat out competitors from top schools, but you also took first place. Everyone wants the exclusive.”
He added, “Now that I’ve handed you this invitation, the ALI Group has officially announced the preliminary rankings online.”
Selene opened the envelope. Inside was her score and ranking, clear proof of her achievement.
Cameras zoomed in, all focused on the finals invitation in her hand.
“What are they talking about?” curious parents craned their necks, murmurs spreading through the crowd.,
“I heard something about the ALI Math Competition?”
“That’s a big deal–one of the most prestigious math contests, ‘d only once every three years!”
“What’s Selene got to do with a competition like that?”
“Didn’t you hear? She won first place!”
“First? Seriously?”
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“With this many reporters, Selene’s about to become famous!”
The crowd around Selene grew, more and more parents pushing forward for a better look.
Felicity’s hands dropped to her sides as she caught the whispers. Had she heard that right? Selene had entered a national math competition? And actually won first. place? That was impossible!
A reporter spoke up, “We’ve confirmed with Aldonia University of Science & Technology that Miss Thompson was admitted to their youth program at just fourteen. Miss Thompson, where did your career take you after graduating?”
Selene faced the wall of cameras, cheeks pink. “As it says on my resume, I’ve been a homemaker for seven years.”
Damien, watching the commotion, was utterly confused. “What’s going on?” he whispered.
A younger child ran up to him, breathless with excitement. “Your mom is amazing! She got first place in a national math contest!”
“My mom said your mom’s name is all over the internet now. She’s famous!”
“Wow, Damien, I wish my mom was like yours!”
The kids stared at him in awe, voices bubbling with excitement.
Damien’s face stiffened. He pouted, muttering under his breath, “What’s so great about that? My dad’s been on TV interviews, too.”
Was his mom trying to win him over with a stunt like this?
It was nothing but a public spectacle.
His grandmother always said women shouldn’t show off in public. Being filmed by so many cameras–Selene was making a fool of herself!
“She’s just a show–off! A terrible woman–fake and ridiculous!” Damien huffed, stomping his foot and bending over to shout at the crowd.
The reporters jumped, startled by his outburst.
“Whose child is that? Where are his manners?”
“Miss Thompson, do you know this boy?”
Selene just smiled and shook her head. “No, I don’t know him.”
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The cameras quickly turned away from the fuming boy, their attention shifting back
to Daph.
