How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 555

The final results appeared on the screen.

Elodie's name stood out, her detailed scores displayed for all to see.

Sylvie's face instantly drained of color.

She stared at the numbers in disbelief.

Elodie was the top scorer...?

That outcome was completely unexpected. A chill of sweat prickled along Sylvie's spine.

She couldn't fathom how Elodie had managed to outperform everyone, but the data was right there-almost flawless.

Even most of the other contestants were stunned.

All eyes began searching the crowd for the girl herself.

"What level is this supposed to be?" Maurice muttered, unable to make sense of the specific figures, but it was clear-Elodie was ranked first, with Watts just

behind her. The gap between them was almost negligible.

Jarrod glanced at the two names, stacked at the top of the list.

"There's a huge drop-off after them," he observed calmly.

felt a rush of

the Elodie

brightest young talents from across the country-every contestant under thirty, every one of them a specialist in

Mercer, standing nearby, was speechless for a long moment before blurting out, "No way. How could she have a higher overall score than Sylvie? I saw her go talk to the judges before it started-there's got to

couldn't see

cool glance

the room, Esmeralda, caught

accusing the judges, too? Can't admit it

darkened. "Esmeralda, you don't know what you're talking about. Stay

"I may not know the technical side, but I sure know a sycophant when

Grady snapped, his face flushed with

him, turning on her heel

at Jarrod. But Jarrod seemed unmoved by Esmeralda's jab at Grady, Grady's motives didn't matter

then, Sylvie walked offstage

even paler than before, and she struggled to mask

she felt how absurd and unacceptable this was. Yesterday, maybe she could blame it on being carried by her team,

she might suddenly step into a void and plummet

approached, concern etched

almost instinctively, as if

slight frown, deftly sidestepped

Grady's hand froze midair.

respond to his question, her

Sylvie realized

nothing like she