Upon seeing Ashley, Jessica immediately ran up to her, her face etched with worry. “Ashley, what happenedst time was my


    fault. Please move back to the Ramos Vi. It’s not safe for a girl like you to live outside alone.”


    Jeremy sneered coldly, “Jessica, don’t bother with her! She’s the one who made a fuss about cutting ties with the Ramos family.


    Even if she dies out there, it’s a consequence of her own making!”


    Ashley darkened when she heard these words, her expression turning scornful. “I’m not dead, much to your disappointment.”


    his


    “You!” The fury within Jeremy red up, rage reaching new heights. She thought, ‘Ashley had changed. Where was the girl who


    used to bepliant and try to please us?


    “Now, she seemed to be covered in thorns, so aggressive!


    Jeremy nced at Frankie next to him and took a deep breath as if issuing an ultimatum. “Ashley, if you admit your mistakes


    now and crawl back, the Ramos family might still take you in. But if you insist on being stubborn...”


    “ld rather be stubborn.”


    Ashley interrupted coldly, no longer wanting to waste her energy arguing with him. She turned to leave.


    Jeremy immediately reached out to stop her, his eyes filled with rage. “Ashley! Watch your attitude! Do you have no respect for


    your brother at all?”


    She thought, ‘Brother?


    Jeremy never treated me like family, and now he demanded my respect.


    “How ridiculous.


    “Jeremy, I’ve already cut ties with the Ramos family. What right do you have to demand my respect now?”


    “Moreover.” Ashley nced at him, who reached out his arm, blocking her path, her voice icy. “Don’t stand in my way.”


    Jeremy’s face turned gloomy with anger, and just as he was about to


    explode, Frankie, who had been silent till now, suddenly spoke. “Ashley.”


    Ashley turned to look at him, meeting a pair of cold, disdainful eyes.


    If this had happened before, her heart would have sk ipped a beat. She would wonder if she had done something wrong again,


    and if there was something she hadn’t done well enough, always ming herself.


    But now, after repeated heartaches and despair, she was numb.


    Ashley looked at Frankie indifferently, her voice gentle. “Mr. Ramos, what do you want?”


    He thought, ‘Mr. Ramos...”


    This distant and formal address made Frankie frown slightly.


    Ashley used to follow him around, timid and careful, always calling him Frankie with respect.


    Back then, he only felt disgust, thinking, Why would someone like Ashley be my sister? Only Jessica could call me Frankie


    because she is my real sister.


    But now, hearing Ashley call him with this distant and cold “Mr. Ramos,” Frankie felt a twinge of difort.


    Suppressing this feeling, his face gloomy, he asked, “The day you left the Ramos Vi, was it the Kingsley family who came to


    pick you up?”


    Ashley couldn''t help butugh, thinking, ‘So that is what this is about.


    “Right, Frankie, as the current CEO of the Ramos Group, would do anything to establish ties with the Kingsley family.


    “So the first thing Frankie said to me wasn’t to ask why Isevered ties with the Ramos family but to pry into the Kingsley family’s


    affairs through


    me.


    “Jeremy was also behaving out of character just now, implying that if | admitted my mistakes and returned to the Ramos Vi, the


    Ramos family would still ept me.


    “It turns out they all just want to use me to get information about the Kingsley family.


    “That’s probably thest bit of use | have to the Ramos family!


    24


    Ashley looked at Frankie quietly, her beautiful eyes filled with coldness. “Mr. Ramos, that’s none of your concern.”


    She left after speaking, not wanting to say another word to these obnoxious people.


    Watching Ashley’s retreating figure, Jessica bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes. “Jeremy, Frankie, was Ashley so cold


    just now because she still holds a grudge about what happened before?”


    Jeremy felt a surge of distress. “Jessica, don’t be so submissive! Even if you framed Ashleyst time, she’s still a member of the


    Ramos family. She wasn’t really harmed. Why could not she endure a bit of injustice? Must she be so petty as to sever ties with


    the family? It’s all her fault in the end!”


    Frankie gently patted Jessica’s head, his cold expression turning gentle. “Alright, Jessica, don’t cry. | bought a brand new sports


    car yesterday as a gift to celebrate you taking first ce in today’s semifinal.”


    Jessica stopped crying and began tough. “Jeremy, Frankie, thank you. | will do my best to win first ce!”


    Jeremy said proudly, “Jessica, you are so talented in dancing. Winning a semifinal first ce is very easy for you. | bet the final


    first ce in Show Your Dance will also belong to you!”


    As the three talked, the four Show Your Dance judges approached.


    “Mr. Frankie Ramos, Mr. Jeremy Ramos, Ms. Ramos, hello!”


    Jessica greeted them with a warm smile. “Hello, judges.”


    Out of respect for the Ramos family, the judges ttered Jessica. “I could tell from the preliminaries, Ms. Ramos, you are very


    talented in dancing. | believe you will surely take first ce in the semifinals!”


    “Right, Ms. Ramos, your dance not only shows great flexibility, but your creative choreography is also impressive!”


    Jessica, feeling proud, maintained a modest demeanor. “Thank you for your kind words.”Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    At that time, a staff member from backstage ran over. “Judges, Ms. Megan Rice has arrived at the venue and is in the judges’


    lounge!”


    “Ms. Rice?” One of the judges eximed in surprise, “Wasn''t Ms. Rice


    supposed toe only for the final? Today is just the semifinal. Why is she here for the semifinal?”


    “Ms. Rice said she saw the contestant list and spotted a promising talent, so she couldn’t wait and came early.”


    “A promising talent?” The four judges exchanged looks and headed towards the lounge. “Anyway, let''s go meet Ms. Rice first.”


    Megan Rice was a highly respected authority in the dance world, a leader. in modern dance, and adored and respected by


    dancers.


    Moreover, the winner of Show Your Dance would be Megan’sst student and receive her personal training in modern


    dance.


    Jessica’s goal in participating in Show Your Dance was to win first ce and, more importantly, to be Megan’sst student.


    Frankie guessed and said, “Could this promising talent be Jessica?”


    Jeremy excitedly agreed, “Definitely! Jessica was the first in the first round. Who else could be the promising talent? Ms. Rice


    must havee for Jessica!”


    Hearing that, Jessica beamed with barely concealed delight.


    If Megan hade for her, then she was one step closer to bing Megan’sst student!