No longer a pushover

Chapter 17

Noelle stood in the hallway, her gaze locking on Lucas.

Lucas, clearly embarrassed and on edge, was the first to break the silence. "You came to enjoy the show, didn't you? Having fun? Does it feel good to watch people mock our family's team? Bet you're loving this!" Noelle's expression remained cold and unyielding. "You're just not good enough."

Before Lucas could snap back, Team Trailblaze entered the backstage area.

Noelle's sharp gaze shifted toward their captain, Marty Gildon. He had been the one to spew insults before. "Let me ask you. Are you an orphan? Do you have any parents?" Marty's face darkened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's literal. Your mouth is so disgusting. I figured that your parents might have passed away early and never had the chance to teach you any manners," Noelle said smoothly. Marty's fury ignited instantly. "You brat! Say that again, I dare you!"

Noelle's icy demeanor didn't crack for a second. "Here's the deal. If you lose this match, you'll publicly apologize to my parents in front of the press for the garbage you've just said." "Lose? Us? You're out of your mind!" Marty sneered.

"What's wrong? Too scared to agree?"

Marty took the bait without hesitation. "Fine! But if you lose, your captain has to publicly apologize for what you just said, too!"

With that, Team Trailblaze stormed off, their aggression practically radiating off of them.

Noelle remained calm. Deep down, though, she already knew how this would end.

Team Luminark was enveloped in a tense atmosphere.

Lucas scowled, his frustration boiling over. "If we lose, you're the one apologizing. Don't act like you're a part of this team, Noelle. You have no right to make decisions for us!"

"I'm only doing this to make him apologize for insulting my parents. Nothing more." Noelle's tone remained steady as she spoke.

Before Lucas could argue further, Frank came rushing into the room. "Noelle! Seeing you here makes me so happy. Finally, our family is back together."

Noelle pressed her lips into a thin line, offering no response.

the room.

hardened, his jaw tightening. "No idea. She ran off after

"Lucas, Xenia was just really desperate to win. That's why she got so worked

on her computer late

Honestly, what you said earlier was pretty harsh," added a

in. "Harsh? What do they

team. Naturally, without the talent, she would have

a big mistake. Lucas wondered if he couldn't call her out on it as the

so hard-sacrificing her schoolwork, no less-yet you still scold

his chest tighten with frustration. He questioned the reasoning behind this argument and wondered why this was suddenly his fault. Xenia was the one who didn't know what she was

to you, and look at what you did to

thing! This was

obvious. You're the one who led the team into that trap. As the captain, you're responsible for the team's performance. Xenia

of helplessness washed over Lucas. No matter what he said, Frank refused to

a taste of his own medicine. How does it feel to be blamed? Misunderstood? To have no way to defend yourself?" she thought. Meanwhile, Frank pulled out his phone and tried calling Xenia, but the line went unanswered. "Forget about her

silence. "If you want to win this match, you'll have to follow my lead for

"And why the hell should

dark eyes locked onto his, steady and unyielding. "Because I know how to win."

observed Team Luminark's gameplay. She understood their strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. After all, they used to

like you're invincible just because you've got some talent. You haven't even been training lately,

lips pressed into a thin line. "If you don't follow my lead, I'll quit the

derision.

could escalate further, Frank stepped in. "If no one else has a better plan, we

but found that he couldn't. Deep down, he knew that Frank was right.

took Xenia's seat. In her previous life, this seat had been hers. As she slipped on the headset, her eyes sharpened with determination. This time, she wasn't here to win Lucas' approval. She was fighting for

floor of the arena, Cedric stood by the window, his gaze fixed on Noelle

she was just here to watch the chaos? Yet look at her now-she's stepping in to compete. No matter how unfairly her family treats her,