Chapter 471

“Damn, the kid from the Marine Corps next door wants revenge for us crushing him last time. He’s recruiting people off the field,” someone said. “Guys, we can’t let this happen. We can sacrifice everything, but we can’t lose the boss’s favor. Charge!”

“Sure!”

Maeve’s team was also working hard. Gilbert, on her left, contacted his friends in his retirement group to help with voting. It was the power of social networking.

Byron, on Maeve’s right, took a simpler approach. He doubled the year-end bonus, incentivizing the entire company to vote. It was the power of money.

Maeve accidentally sent the voting link to a junior high school classmate and was promptly blocked. She was helpless.

Maeve rubbed her forehead. Her phone vibrated; a message appeared:

Julia Blunt: Wow, Maeve, you have kids! When did you get married? Who’s the man? Is he your old crush?

Maeve was stunned. After a moment, she remembered Julia—a high school roommate, but their friendship was unremarkable. Sensing Julia’s nosiness, Maeve responded vaguely.

“A crush?” Maeve mused. “Did I have a crush in my senior year? I can’t remember.”

She racked her brain but couldn’t recall anyone. “Julia must be mistaken,” she thought.

Suddenly, Byron whispered, “The rankings are up.”

Startled, Maeve grabbed her phone. “Okay… okay.”

“Strange,” she thought. “Why do I feel guilty?”

Byron’s dark eyes narrowed, a hint of danger in their depths. “A crush? Who was she crushing on?” he wondered.

The results were astonishing. In half an hour, the top two vote counts surpassed the third-place votes by nearly two hundred thousand. The sheer volume overwhelmed the Star of Children Talent Competition organizers. They suspected cheating but found no irregularities. Most IPs originated from the military district and the McDaniel Group.

Their initial doubts morphed into awe. They worried the trophy wasn’t grand enough. Theo and Will, the first and second place winners, were speechless.

Theo wondered, “What’s going on? Did my singing really impress everyone that much?”

Will thought, “Am I just here to fill out the lineup?”

Even Maeve was surprised. Theo had vowed to win the singing competition a month ago…

The family celebrated at a private restaurant. The quiet atmosphere, private courtyards separated by greenery, and gentle breeze created an elegant setting.

Laughter filled the meal; even the usually stoic Byron seemed softer. The only drawback was Theo and Will’s clumsy attempts at peeling prawns and crabs, much to their dismay.

Theo, channeling his frustration, cleared his throat and stood, seeking Maeve’s attention. “I know you haven’t heard enough. I’ll sing another song!” Will was speechless. No one had said that.

Maeve quickly stood. “Good boy, but I need to use the restroom.”

“Okay. I’ll sing when you get back, Mommy,” Theo said adoringly.

Maeve chuckled. “The trophy’s gone to his head. Good. Confidence is good for a child,” she thought.

The restroom was down a cobblestone path from their private room. As Maeve exited, a figure blocked her way.

“Maeve Reese? It’s me! I thought I was wrong!” The girl sounded surprised. “Are you here to eat? Who are you with?”

Maeve stared at the girl. “You are…?”

“I’ve changed, huh? You don’t recognize me?” The girl laughed. “I’m Julia Blunt. We were roommates senior year. My bed was opposite yours.”

Maeve instantly remembered the name from her recent text message.

“It’s you. I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you,” Maeve said.

“It’s been years,” Julia said. “I saw your kids won the singing competition. Congratulations.”

Maeve smiled faintly. “Thank you.”

Julia nudged Maeve, her expression gossipy. “When did you get married? You didn’t invite us! I even helped with that crush situation back then. We were close.”

Maeve and Byron’s relationship was complex—a divorce, two children, and a reconciliation—not easily explained.

Before Maeve could deflect, Julia’s next words caught her attention.

“A crush?” Maeve said, confused.

“Seriously? You chased him to Kleymond! You don’t remember?” Julia chuckled. “So you married someone else. High school love rarely lasts.”

Maeve was shocked. “Did I chase someone to Kleymond? Why don’t I remember?”

“It’s been so long,” Maeve said, probing. “Do you remember his name?”

Julia shrugged. “How would I know? I saw your diary. You should hide it well. Your husband wouldn’t like that, especially after the SAT.”

Maeve’s lips twitched. “What happened after the SAT? I don’t remember.”

She’d had a near-fatal high fever shortly after the SAT, requiring a long recovery.

Julia didn’t think Maeve had forgotten; rather, she assumed Maeve didn’t want to discuss it. Julia thrived on dredging up forgotten memories. She laughed. “I can’t forget! Your parents found out about your crush, and you were even beaten up at your doorstep!”