Chapter 269: Mrs. Samantha Was Sick

"North Paulo?" A gasp of surprise rippled through the room. "No way! You must be mistaken! Olive brought us here to find North Paulo?"

"Last year, Crystal danced with North's large cheer squad. It was amazing." Doubt lingered in the air.

Miss Jones then ushered Olive and the others into the studio. A graceful figure, bathed in the spotlight, instantly commanded their attention. It was North Paulo. Whispers erupted. "Oh my God!" Alicia and the others rubbed their eyes, disbelieving. It truly was North. Her exquisite features and uniquely fluid movements, praised by international media, were unmistakable.

With a click, the photographer captured the final shot. "Perfect," he declared, genuinely impressed. North possessed a remarkable presence before the camera; every expression captivated. She was undeniably beautiful, currently the industry's most celebrated woman. Her collaborations were lauded for her effortless coordination and natural beauty, minimizing post-production editing. She was a pose queen, flawless and poised.

Two assistants draped a beige coat over North's shoulders. Olive affectionately hugged her arm. "North, you've worked hard."

North tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, then tapped Olive's forehead playfully. "Using that sweet voice to ask for a favor?"

"Of course! I know nothing about cheerleading. It's entirely your area of expertise."

"Where are your girls? Did you bring them all?"

Olive quickly gestured towards Alicia and the others, hesitantly standing by the door. "Alicia, come on! What are you doing?"

Alicia and her friends stared, frozen. A gentle nudge propelled Alicia forward, and she decisively led the group towards North and Olive. "North, everyone's here. These are the cheerleaders."

North's observant eyes scanned each face. Alicia and the others nervously fidgeted. They'd seen North Paulo, the "Red Rose," on television, but in person, she was even more striking. Her effortless style made them feel self-conscious.

Chapter 259: Mrs. Samantha Was Sick

Alicia and the others felt like awkward ducklings.

North, withdrawing her gaze, said softly, "Their foundation is a bit weak, but I'll train them. I have a knack for working with beautiful women."

Olive smiled, confident in North's abilities. "North, what kind of dance are we doing this time? I should warn you, they don't know basic choreography," she admitted, slightly embarrassed. Alicia and the others blushed.

Miss Jones approached. "North, last year Bright Star's cheer team performed your fire dance. Those cheerleaders were skilled dancers. After we refused to collaborate with Crystal Robert, she immediately partnered with Lucy Moore."

Miss Jones, a shrewd agent, had already gathered the latest news.

"What? North, Crystal wants to collaborate with you?" Olive exclaimed, surprised.

North nodded. "Yes, she tried hard to convince me, but I refused."

Olive looked at North with concern. "North, that's the richest man's daughter. Aren't you worried about offending her?"

North glanced at Olive. "What's there to fear? If she bothers me, I'll tell Elvis Augustine to handle it."

"That's using someone else's hand to kill. Men are the best weapons for attracting other women. Olive, you need to learn that," North said, teaching Olive a lesson.

Olive and Alicia nodded thoughtfully. North returned to the main topic. "Lucy Moore is a professional, and everyone on Crystal's team is highly skilled. They have great chemistry and both are intensely competitive. This week, they'll be practicing hard and complex dances to prove themselves. We won't compete with that. We'll do a simpler, easily learned routine."

North's strategy was sound, and Olive agreed. North addressed Miss Jones. "Sis, I'll take their measurements and have custom outfits made. The royal team—hairstylist and makeup artist—are ready. I'll personally teach them dance. If you work hard, I guarantee you'll beat Crystal's Bright Star team at the basketball game. Are you confident?"

Enthusiasm surged through Alicia and the others. Personal instruction from North and the royal team's treatment felt surreal. Why wouldn't they work hard? Why wouldn't they be confident? Their faces glowed. "Yes!" they declared in unison.

Chapter 200: Mrs. Samantha Was Sick

Olive nodded, sensing their partial success. Five days flew by, filled with intense preparation across Imperial's colleges and universities. The boys honed their basketball skills, the girls their dance routines.

That day, North embraced Olive. "Olive, there's something I've been hesitant to tell you."

"What is it, North?"

"Olive, Mrs. Samantha is sick."

Olive's heart sank. "Why is Grandma sick? She's always been healthy! What's wrong? What can I do...?" She bombarded North with questions.

North interrupted, "Olive, calm down. I know this is upsetting. Though I don't like Elvis, I care about Mrs. Samantha. If something happened to her and I didn't tell you, you'd regret it forever."

"For three months, since returning to Imperial from Los Angeles, Mrs. Samantha has had no appetite and has been dizzy. She fainted a few days ago and was hospitalized. She's been home for a few days, but Elvis has taken her to his villa. The situation is still critical. She's stopped eating. The doctor told Elvis and the others to prepare for the worst."