Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess novel Chapter 246

It was all turning out to be a big nothing.

In the subsequent rounds, Lena wasn't exactly hitting it out of the park.

Josefina, who had been watching closely, knew just how much talent Lena actually had.

...

When the final whistle blew, Lena was visibly ruffled. Her two friends who had been singing her praises just moments ago now wore strained expressions. After exchanging a glance, they still opted to bolster her spirits.

"Lena, you did great out there. Ellory thinks the world of you, doesn't he? So what if you didn't snag the top spot? You'll still be part of the hospital team."

"And hey, Pearl might have been a rock star today, but she doesn't have the connections you do. These days, it's not just what you know, it's who you know, right?"

"With your heavyweight backers, should it really matter if you're first or not?"

Their flattery worked wonders, and Lena quickly decided that perhaps being number one wasn't all that important after all. She assumed an air of arrogance, her confidence written all over her face.

"You're absolutely right," she said with a smug smile. "I don't need to be the top dog to stay at the hospital. I can do anything I set my mind to."

Sitting back, Lena watched Pearl quietly, brimming with self-assurance. Just as she was basking in her own glory, Deputy Dean glanced at his phone, receiving a message that seemed to make things crystal clear for him.

Gathering everyone around, he made the big announcement. "The candidates who will remain with us at the hospital are Pearl..." he listed off six names, but Lena's was conspicuously absent, as were those of her two sidekicks.

The two girls, sticking close to Lena, whispered urgently, "Lena, you've got to help us out here, make sure we stay too."