Behind The Spotlight Chapter 188
The French people were proud that one of their own had achieved success in the United States, especially in such a competitive and unforgiving industry. On top of that, her music was undeniably good. It appealed to a lot of people. They couldn't forget her songs, as if they were hypnotized by the catchy melodies and emotional lyrics. Her music kept playing in their heads even when the radio was turned off. That was how good Chantal Beaumont was, a phenomenal artist.
Naturally, some TV networks and reporters tracked down Chantal Beaumont's family and interviewed them, eager to dig into her background. They were curious about their opinions regarding their daughter's musical success and hoped for dramatic reactions.
Alice had no idea at the time that things would change so drastically. At first, her parents were shocked when they discovered that Chantal had become famous beyond anything they had ever imagined. The daughter they had kicked out of the house was now a pop star diva, admired by millions.
Of course, it was difficult to accept at first. Alice could see that her parents clearly regretted their decision, their faces often twisted with mixed emotions. But she could also see greed in their eyes.
As a child with no say in adult matters and no power to interfere, all Alice could do was stay quiet and listen from the sidelines.
One time, she overheard her parents arguing.
"Why didn't you stop me back then!?" Stufedia shouted, her voice sharp with anger.
"Why are you blaming me? I was the one who suggested we put Chantal in a music school for at least a year, and you said it was a lost cause, that spending money on music school wasn't worth it!" Alice heard her father say, his tone filled with resentment.
"That's exactly why I'm asking why you didn't stop me!" Stufedia retorted, pacing back and forth. She was furious that she hadn't been able to ride her daughter's fame.
Just yesterday, a reporter had asked them about Chantal's success, and the situation had been suffocating. She was forced to improvise lies on the spot, saying, "I'm happy that my daughter reached her dream. I've always believed in her."
Stufedia smiled the entire time, maintaining a perfect façade, though her emotions were clearly complicated. She even added, "Chantal, honey, if you see this, Mama wants you to know that she misses you." She wiped fake tears in front of the camera. The whole interview was unbearable for both parents.
"You're blaming me? You're the one who said we should put all our effort into Alice because she's academically better than Chantal! Look at what happened!" Alice's father, Simone Beaumont, finally exploded in frustration.
"So what? You agreed too!" Stufedia roared, refusing to take responsibility.
"You..." Simone clenched his fists.
Both parents were determined to support whichever child showed the most potential, treating their children like investments. Three years ago, it was undoubtedly Alice, the obedient and intelligent child. Her grades were high, and she consistently ranked in the top five of her grade. Naturally, Stufedia and Simone chose her without hesitation.
However, Chantal's rise from obscurity completely changed their perspective. They didn't even know how Chantal had made it to the United States or who had helped her. All contact had been severed.
They realized they had thrown away the most valuable asset, and the irony was painful. It hurt even more when they saw Chantal endorsing numerous products, earning more money than they ever had. They weren't insane, they didn't expect to take all of her money… but they did expect a substantial amount under the guise of family.
"Fuck you and your decision!" Stufedia snorted.
"So it's my fault now? If you hadn't convinced me that Chantal couldn't provide for us, none of this would've happened!" Simone argued.
Alice couldn't take it anymore and retreated to her room. She felt like the unwanted child this time. She studied relentlessly so her parents wouldn't abandon her too, living in constant fear.
In her eyes, both of her parents were wrong. They were looking for someone to take care of them in old age, investing in their children for selfish reasons. Both Alice and Chantal suffered because of it, just in different ways.
To their parents, children were nothing more than investments, not people to love. Alice wasn't even sure if her parents truly loved her, or if love had ever existed in their household.
Of course, Alice also harbored a grudge toward her older sister, a complicated and bitter feeling. She once cherished the stability of their lives, but everything changed when Chantal became famous. The emotional burden weighed heavily on her. She even started saving her school allowance, just in case her parents decided to kick her out as well.
"Are you guys ready?"
Alice snapped back to reality and quickly nodded at her father, who had just arrived.
"Good." Simone glanced at Alice, his eyes devoid of expectations, then looked at Stufedia, who was smiling as if everything were fine.
The family was at the airport, waiting for Chantal, no, Princess Chantal, to arrive.
The airport was packed with reporters and fans, forming a chaotic sea of people. The noise was overwhelming as everyone talked excitedly about Princess Chantal's arrival. Some fans held cardboard signs reading, "Princess Chantal, We Love You!", "I'm Your No. 1 Fan!", and "Slay, Girl, Diva~"
The family was stunned by the human tsunami. It became painfully clear that Princess Chantal had made it big, far beyond their expectations. The sheer number of people at the airport convinced them.
Suddenly, the fans erupted into screams as a group of bodyguards appeared, followed by Princess Chantal and her assistants. She walked with elegance, her wavy hair bouncing as she strutted forward, every step filled with confidence. She wore sunglasses to shield her eyes from the flashing cameras.
The fans screamed at the top of their lungs, going wild over her appearance. Reporters snapped photos relentlessly. She looked like a goddess, exuding the aura of a true diva, untouchable and radiant. What they didn't know was that Princess Chantal had practiced walking like a model for months. Her confidence was the result of hard work and discipline.
The bodyguards shielded Princess Chantal from the surging crowd, forming an impenetrable wall. Though she was nervous inside, the bodyguards, personally selected by Collin, didn't flinch despite the relentless pressure from fans and reporters.
"Excuse me! Excuse me! Can I get through? I want to see my sister!"
Alice couldn't push past the crowd. The rabid fans blocked her path completely. She realized her mother's plan had failed before it even began. Approaching Princess Chantal was impossible with dozens of bodyguards guarding her like a fortress.
She looked at her mother, who shook her head in disappointment. Alice bit her lip, holding back her tears.
Under the protection of her bodyguards, Princess Chantal safely entered her car. She signed a few autographs but didn't linger. Before the window closed, she waved at her fans and blew them a perfectly timed flying kiss.
"Muah~"
She struck the most sensual expression she could, captivating everyone.
"Oh my God!!!"
"I'm going crazy! She sent a kiss to me!"
"Bitch, you're crazy."
The fans were completely insane over Princess Chantal.
"I can't believe this is real… maybe I'm hallucinating. She just blow a kiss at me!? Oh I'm gonna goon to her tonight!"
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