Chapter 197


    Summer tapped on the Messenger app with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Her screen lit up with


    a barrage of congrattory messages that should’ve warmed her heart, but today, they felt like just


    another reminder of the facade she had to maintain.


    Craig: [Congrats, Summer! National finals? You’re not just a Parkside High School Prodigy ss


    student. You’re a star.]


    Allison: [Hats off to Queen Summer for making it through to the next round.]


    Jenny: [I’ve got champagne on ice. Let’s celebrate your victory tonight.]


    Lily: [I’ll swing by and pick you up.]


    As she scrolled through the well–wishes, Summer’s grip on her phone tightened. Inhaling. deeply, she


    began replying to each message, her fingers dancing over the touchscreen with practiced ease. No


    matter what, she had to keep up her image at thepany.


    After responding to her squad sisters, she finally shot a message back to her manager Craig.


    Summer’s manager had always had high hopes for her. As soon as herpetition results. were out,


    he’d been on the ball, lining up PR moves to hype her up online.


    [Craig): Oh, and post a Tweetter with a screenshot of your nationalpetition ranking. I’ve got the


    PR ounts ready to give you a boost.


    Summer got the drift immediately and shot back a quick ‘OK.‘


    [Craig]: I’m in talks with a reality show director about a spot on ‘Country Comfort.‘ It’s


    broadcast live. If you get on it, your poprity could skyrocket.


    Summer’s eyes widened, a flicker of excitement betraying her cool exterior. [The one produced by


    Walker?]


    [Craig]: How’d you know? It’s still in the nning stages. Even I only heard about it because I know


    someone who knows Walker.


    With fingers flying, Summer replied, [My brother mentioned it to me.]


    [Craig]: The one who sings?


    [Summer]: Yeah.


    Craig stroked his chin thoughtfully. If her brother was in the music scene, that could exin it. [Well, if I


    can’t snag this opportunity for you, see if your bro can get you on the show.]


    Walker was a titan in the reality show world, a Midas touch for talent, and a notorious perfectionist.


    Craig knew about Walker’s new project but didn’t have much hope of swaying the producer to pick


    Summer. So, he had been leveraging herpetition sess to solidify her public persona, hoping to


    increase her chances with a little heat and poprity.


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    Chapter 197


    Meanwhile, Summer’s thoughts turned to Leo, and her expression clouded withplexity. Leo was


    notoriously aloof, even to his closest friends, and they weren’t exactly tight–especially since she had


    managed to rub him the wrong way in the past.


    ountry Comfort‘ was bound to be a hit, and Summer knew she had to be a part of it, no matter


    what.


    Quickly, she messaged Craig back with a decisive. (I understand.)


    After ending the chat, Summer felt a sense of calm washing over her. She nced at herpetition


    scores on her phone, and a self–deprecating smile curled her lips. It was just a small contest, yet it had


    her all worked up. She really shouldn’t be so easily flustered.