38 So Much Money

“Don’t be nervous,” Lukas said.

He smiled and said again, “How is it going? There is still an hour before the show begins. Do you need my tips?”

“Not bad. I’m quite confident about it,” Isabella said while rubbing her nose.

Lukas nodded and said, “I know that you are a professional dancer. You are the best not just in the whole Richmond Arts University, but the whole Peace City. Cheer up!”

“Thank you. I will,” Isabella said.

Lukas smiled and patted Isabella on the shoulder, saying, “Then...”

“Since you have said what you want to say, you can leave now,” Jane urged.

Jane pulled Lukas’s hand away and said gruffly, “Didn’t you see how many people out there? If Isabella won later, someone would say that she wins the prize because of you! But we all know that she deserves it.”

Lukas was a little embarrassed after hearing Jane’s words. Then Isabella pulled Jane’s arm and explained to Lukas, “Lukas, Jane said it just for me. You’d better leave now. People will talk.”

.....

“I see. Then, goodbye,” Lukas said.

He smiled and left.

Jane kicked Isabella’s chair and said, “He is such a hypocrite. We should judge him harshly every time we see him! Why did you smile at him? You should save it for the Empire Entertainment Center, where at least you can earn some money!”

“What’s wrong with Lukas...” Isabella said.

Isabella lowered her head with a sigh and said, “He has his choice. I am not good enough for him. I am just experiencing unrequited love and I am content that he comes to see my contest.”

“You have done so much for him in the past half a year. What you have got is unrequited love!” Jane said.

She said grudgingly, “You are so smart. but why do you become so stubborn when you see Lukas? You fool!”

Isabella grimaced and said, “It’s all about the crush thing.”

“Guys! Big news! Big news!”

A student rushed into the dressing room from the outside and screamed in surprise, “Just now, the school announced that there is a guest of honor who sponsors the contest today. The prize money will be raised. That is to say, competitors who win the first, second, and third place will get 1 million, 500 thousand, and 100 thousand respectively!”

People were envious.

The dressing room was full of exclamations. Isabella goggled at Jane and said, “1 million... I can buy my own house!”

“I have to get another cup of coffee to keep my spirits up!” Isabella said.

Jane was so excited that she gave Isabella a massage. She said, “Isabella, you are so lucky. Who is the generous sponsor? The money is 100 times more than it was.”

Someone shouted, “Oh my dear! The news is explosive! The sponsor is the heir of the Wilson Consortium, who is also the boss of the Global Group, Joseph Wilson. The sexy guy, who was on the list of the richest bachelors, is the elder grandson of Charlie Wilson, the chairman of the Wilson Consortium.”

People were stunned.

As everyone was being surprised, Isabella spat out her coffee. She raised her skirt and rushed towards the outside, saying, “Jane, I need to use the bathroom!”

Isabella ran out and saw that Charlie Wilson and Joseph Wilson were surrounded by the leaders of the university. Then they went into the VIP break room.

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Although they tried not to bother others, Joseph, who followed behind Charlie, was so handsome that many students came to see him. The students thought that a superstar had come.

Isabella stayed beside the wall for about 10 minutes. She tried to slip in when she saw that the leaders and students had left.

Cool Gerry saw her and let her in.

“Grandpa!” Isabella called.

She hugged Charlie and knelt beside him. She said with her sweet voice, “Why are you here?”

Charlie softened when he saw Isabella, and said, “Good girl, are you happy to see me here?”

“Happy! I’m so happy!” Isabella answered.

She couldn’t help smiling and said, “Why didn’t you tell me that you will come? I am surprised!”

“That my purpose. Surprise!” Charlie said.

He rubbed Isabella’s hair with a smile and said gently, “I have let Joseph talk to the university. He also agreed to not tell you. We don’t want to add your stress.”

Isabella looked at Joseph. Joseph grinned and said, “You have to do your best today. Grandpa has done so much just to find an excuse to give you allowance.

“Allowance...” Isabella murmured.

She realized it and said, “Grandpa, you are so good to me!”

“So today, you have to do your best and show grandpa. Do you understand?” Joseph said.

Charlie touched Isabella’s nose and said, “The daughter-in-law of the Wilsons is the best!”

“Daughter-in-law?” Isabella nearly choked on the words.

She glanced at Joseph and found that he was looking at her, too. He blinked his eyes as if he was saying, “My dear, do your best. Understand?”

Isabella found him disgusting.

Charlie saw them and said, “You two don’t have to make eyes secretly. I know that you have so much to say today. I will leave you two alone.”

Charlie added, “I will go and talk to your principal, who is thinking about inviting me to give a speech on the Art Contest.”

Isabella was stunned.

Charlie left smartly, leaving poor Isabella here.

She had nothing to say with Joseph, let alone she had offended him last night. Once Charlie left, she...

Isabella cleared her throat.

She changed her expression and turned around to smile at Joseph, saying, “Mr. Joseph, since Charlie has left, I will not bother you anymore. There is only half an hour before the contest begins. You can have some rest because you are so busy. You have to take care of yourself.”

She was walking away as saying.

“Did I let you go?” Joseph said coldly.

Hearing his low voice, Isabella could tell how scary his face was even they were steps away.

Isabella knew that he would show his real self when Charlie left.

“Then I will stay here?” Isabella said. She had just come to flatter Charlie, but she had not expected that Joseph was there, too. She had to stay alone with him now, how miserable.

“Grandpa told us to talk. Didn’t you hear that?” Joseph said.

He was so scary. He then said again, “If you go out, you are telling grandpa that we have nothing to talk about.”

Isabella didn’t know what to say.

She turned around and sat as far as she could be from Joseph. She said, “Then, I can stay longer and leave.”

“You’re sitting so far away. If grandpa came back and saw this, how would I explain to him?” Joseph said coldly.

“Fine, I will sit closer to you!” Isabella said.

She was smiling and moved slowly to Joseph. She was also looking at him carefully as if she could see through him.