?<strong>Chapter 787:</strong>


    An hour into their observation, they were only halfway through thepetition. Fighting off a yawn, Elyse remarked, “Of all the contestants making aeback, Geraldine is clearly the strongest. For her,peting here is effortless. She’s consistently outscoring everyone.”


    Irvingmented, “Let’s see how far Fiona can go. I’m curious to see how she measures up against these rather ordinary contestants.”


    Elyse paused, then added, “It’s hard to say, but given she was once Mr. Tucker’s student, her ranking shouldn’t be too dismal.”


    Irving pursed his lips. “Who knows?”


    As thepetition progressed, Fiona emerged as the winner of her group, earning a ce in the showdown to face Geraldine.


    Onstage, Geraldine epted challenges from two other contestants.


    As they moved forward with the matchups, Elyse yawned again. “Irving, do you reckon Fiona will take third ce or second?”


    Irving replied, disinterestedly, “Third. She doesn’t have the edge needed for second.”


    “Then I’ll bet on second, just to differ,” Elyse countered, her expression weary.


    Thirty minutester, the match concluded. Geraldine imed first ce, and to Irving’s surprise, Fiona secured second.


    However, Fiona didn’t advance to the final round.


    Elyse rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Fiona has potential. She just doesn’t apply herself enough to match those with real talent.”


    Irving shrugged. “No surprises there. That’s exactly her limit. She’s not cut out to be the best.”


    Leaving thepetition venue, Elyse had just reached her hotel when she was met with some unsettling news.


    Gavin called Elyse to ry the troubling news: a finalist had been struck by a car while dining out. Currently in the hospital and undergoing resuscitation, the contestant’s chances of participating in the finals were dwindling. If he didn’t recover in time, his spot would be filled by the runner-up from the Comeback Competition.


    Shocked by the update, Elyse gasped. “How could something like this happen at such a crucial time?”


    Remainingposed, Gavin advised, “From this point on, I’d stay away from Fiona if I were you. It’s best not to get too close.”


    “Gavin, are you suggesting…” Elyse replied, her voice tinged with disbelief.


    “The timing and circumstances are highly suspect. Fiona is under scrutiny, and for your safety, it’s wise to steer clear of her,” Gavin exined, then promptly ended the call.


    Reeling from the conversation, Elyse copsed onto her bed, her mind racing with the imusibility of it all.


    Just then, a knock at the door startled her. She opened it without a second thought, only to find Edward on her threshold, grinning widely and holding a bouquet of teddy bears.


    It was precisely what she had dreaded.


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