Chapter 120:

“I have no idea, Mom, but I saw it with my own eyes. She was teaching those rich women how to brew tea, and—ugh—she stole the entire show! She’s nothing like the Yelena we knew.” Sonya’s bewilderment mirrored her mother’s. It was as though Yelena had transformed into someone unrecognizable in a matter of months.

Tatiana’s expression hardened with determination. “If that’s true, we need to dig deeper. We can’t let this go unanswered. There’s clearly more to Yelena than meets the eye.”

“Exactly. We need to find out everything.” Sonya agreed, her frustration simmering beneath the surface.

Tatiana placed a reassuring hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Don’t you worry, sweetheart. I’ll handle it. You just focus on cementing your relationship with Roger. The sooner you’re married into the Ellis family, the better for all of us,” Tatiana reminded her daughter.

“I know, Mom,” Sonya replied, her confidence renewed. “Mrs. Ellis seems to like me, and I’ll make sure to stay in her good graces.”

Yet, what Sonya failed to realize was that Matilda’s initial approval had already started to wane. Sonya’s lackluster performance at the soiree had left a less-than-stellar impression. The future she envisioned was far less secure than she imagined.

As the holidays faded into memories, the countdown to final exams began. Yet, the campus atmosphere remained surprisingly laid-back, with students more focused on the latest buzz than their books. That day, the usual classroom chatter revolved around a hot topic.

“Did you hear? Colden is holding a concert here soon! Are YOU planning to go?” one student asked eagerly.

“Absolutely! I’m a huge fan. I’ve already set my alarm for when the tickets go on sale,” another chimed in.

Finish reading at ⲅ𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅⧼⩽𝗰𝗈𝗺

“Perfect! Let’s go together,” someone else suggested. “I don’t care if I have to buy from scalpers—I’m getting in.”

The room hummed with excitement. Madonna made her way over to Bella, her eyes sparkling. “Bella, are you going too?”

“Of course,” Bella replied confidently, a touch of smugness in her tone. “This is my chance to see my idol up close—I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She had already secured someone to snag her front-row tickets.

“Great! Let’s make it a plan, then!” Madonna said, her excitement bubbling over.

The group carried on, animatedly planning their concert outing. Erica, sitting quietly on the edge of the lively conversation, couldn’t hide the wistful look in her eyes. She longed to join in the excitement, but deep down, she knew it wasn’t an option. Her parents were firm and old-fashioned, the kind who believed spending money on concert tickets was an unnecessary indulgence.

Noticing her friend’s silence, Yelena glanced at Erica and gave her a warm smile. “Don’t worry,” she said gently. “I’ll get you a ticket.”

Colden had been adamant that Yelena attend the concert, going so far as to personally ensure her place in the front row. Yelena had agreed to Colden’s request, and she’d already decided to bring Erica along for the experience.

“Really? You can get me a ticket?” Erica’s face lit up with pure joy, her earlier envy instantly replaced by excitement.

Yelena nodded casually. “Yep. And if you’re up to it, I can even arrange for you to shake hands with that show-off.”

.

.

.