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.

around the

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

the team shifted uncomfortably before speaking up. "Lucas, Xenia was just really desperate to win. That's why she got so worked up. She didn't mean

trains on her computer late at night. She's doing her best," another chimed

Lucas. Honestly, what you said earlier was pretty

"Harsh? What do they mean, I was too

the talent, she would have had to work harder to

was that Xenia didn't have much talent. She had just made a big mistake. Lucas wondered if he couldn't

so hard-sacrificing her schoolwork, no less-yet you still scold her, Lucas? Sure, you're only about

behind this argument and wondered why this was suddenly

standing nearby, fixed Lucas with a disapproving look. "Lucas, you really need to work on your temper. Think about how good Noelle used to be to you, and look

same thing! This was Xenia's fault-"

one who led the team into that trap. As the

Lucas. No matter what he said, Frank refused to

the side, Noelle watched the scene unfold, her arms crossed and her expression coldly detached. "Finally, Lucas is getting 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

to win this match, you'll have to

the hell should we

and unyielding. "Because I know how to win." Her

the earlier part of the match, she had closely observed Team Luminark's gameplay. She understood their strengths and weaknesses

talent. You haven't even been training lately, so what makes you think you can

pressed into a thin line. "If you don't follow my lead,

derision. "Quit, then. You think you're

the argument could escalate further, Frank stepped in. "If no one else has a better plan, we should at least try listening to

he knew

This time, she wasn't here to win Lucas' approval. She was fighting for herself. The unexpected

the arena, Cedric stood by the window, his gaze fixed on Noelle as she sat, focused and

watch the chaos? Yet look at her now-she's stepping in to compete. No matter how unfairly her