?Chapter 229:


    She ended the call and tossed the phone onto her bed. She headed straight to the bathroom, not allowing herself to dwell on the issue. Haley always had a way of slithering out of trouble. But not this time. Ste wanted to see who Haley thought would rescue her now. And if no one came? Then Haley could enjoy her time behind bars.


    When Ste arrived at the working areater that morning, she greeted her colleagues like usual—but something felt off. The way they looked at her…


    Pity? Curiosity?


    She frowned, unsure of what was going on. It reminded her of the whispers and looks she got at Walsh Group—back when she was still Marc’s wife.


    Pushing the uneasy feeling aside, she headed straight for her team. The second she opened the door, all eyes turned to her. Sandra burst into tears the moment she saw her.


    “Sylvia…”


    Elbert’s expression was unusually grim. Even Jamir, who rarely showed emotion, looked shaken.


    Ste hurried over. “What’s going on? Why do you all look like someone died?”


    Elbert let out a long sigh but couldn’t seem to get the words out.


    Jamir stayed quiet.


    It was Sandra, still sniffling, who finally spoke. “Sylvia… we didn’t make the cut. Our team didn’t advance.”


    Ste’s heart skipped a beat. She looked between the two, disbelief in her eyes.


    “What do you mean? Didn’t they already announce the results? Weren’t we on the advancement list? How could that suddenly change?”


    Sandra, still choked up, couldn’t get a word out. Her face was streaked with tears.


    Elbert exined, his tone heavy, “What we saw that day wasn’t the actual advancement list—it was just a ranking of the top three teams. We didn’t realize there was more to it.”


    They had been so excited to spot their group’s name that they had overlooked the rest of the announcement.


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    The full list had included other contenders, and the final selection was made today from among those top three.


    Ste could hardly wrap her head around it. How could something so important not be made clear that same day? And yet, everyone had congratted them, genuinely believing they’d made it through.


    “Sylvia, I really thought we were in,” Sandra choked out through her tears. “But it was all just a misunderstanding…”


    Hearing Sandra cry like that made something in Ste’s chest tighten. The whole thing felt off. Too vague. Too convenient. And definitely not right.


    Just then, the door creaked open, and Cecelia walked in, dressed sharply in a fitted long dress.


    Her eyesnded on Ste, and that familiar sneer curled on her lips.


    “So, Sylvia, you heard the news?” she said, her arms folding as she leaned against the wall with exaggerated nonchnce. “Everyone thought we’d advance just because you were on the team. How’s that for a reality check?”


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