Chapter 859:

“An ambitious young lady. And you, what do you think?” the host asked Edward.

Edward cleared his throat. “First place is mine,” he replied.

The host chuckled. “You both have great confidence, but only one can be in first place. The difference between you two is just 0.1 points.”

Elyse’s expression grew concerned. Just 0.1 points? Their scores were nearly identical.

Impatient, Edward urged, “So, who is in first place?”

The host playfully prolonged the suspense. “I know you’re eager, but hold on. I’m about to reveal the results…”

He picked up the microphone. “The contestant who battled through and claimed first place is…” His gaze shifted toward Edward, who was brimming with anticipation.

As Edward met his gaze, his expression brightened. He was sure first place was his.

“Let’s give a round of applause to Elyse! With just a 0.1-point difference, she triumphed as the first-place winner!” the announcement rang out.

Edward’s expression soured instantly. He wondered why the host had misled him.

Darren was the first to react with joy. He cheered and hugged the bewildered Elyse. “You’re the winner! You’re the champion of the Swan Cup!”

Geraldine approached, placing her hand on Elyse’s shoulder with a forced smile. “Even though I didn’t win, I genuinely congratulate you on taking first place.”

Elyse was still processing. “Am I really first? Did I secure first place?” she asked hesitantly.

Seeing her disbelief, Darren chuckled. “You don’t think the host was kidding, do you? You’re the champion! You defeated competitors from across the globe!”

The host added softly, “You’ve always been a strong contender for first place in this year’s Swan Cup. You have a lot of supporters.”

Gradually, Elyse embraced the truth. A smile emerged. “I actually won first place. I’m the champion!”

Nearby, Edward clenched his teeth. Tears welling up, he murmured, “No wonder you caught my eye. Congratulations on outperforming me and clinching first place.”

Elyse, visibly annoyed, retorted, “Your face says you’re not really happy for me. You don’t sound sincere.”

Edward retorted, “I only lost by 0.1 points. How could I be content? You’re expecting too much.”

Elyse frowned. “What I’m saying is, if you can’t be genuine, then it’s better not to say anything at all. Don’t force it.”

Edward sighed, choosing not to respond.

Darren teased, “Don’t mind him. He’s always so full of himself, bragging about being the best. Now that you’ve beaten him by just 0.1 points, of course he’s upset.”

Geraldine crossed her arms and nodded. “Exactly. He needs a reality check, or he’ll never stop being unbearably arrogant.”

. . .