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. "Where's

idea. She ran

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

her computer late at night. She's doing

said earlier was pretty

the words sank in. "Harsh? What

had been Xenia's idea to join the team. Naturally, without the talent, she would have had

She had just made a big mistake. Lucas wondered if he couldn't call her out on it as the team

"Exactly! Xenia's worked so hard-sacrificing her schoolwork, no less-yet you still scold her, Lucas? Sure, you're only about to

and wondered why this was suddenly his fault. Xenia was the

about how good Noelle used to be to you, and look at what you did to her. You yelled at her, broke her heart, and drove her away. Is that

same thing! This was Xenia's fault-" Lucas

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

washed over Lucas. No matter what he said, Frank

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

you want to win this match, you'll have

immediately scoffed. "And why the hell should

unyielding. "Because I know how to win." Her tone was sharp, measured, and

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

a big game. Don't act like you're invincible just because you've got some talent. You haven't even been training lately, so what makes you

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

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

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

couldn't. Deep down, he knew that Frank was right. They didn't have any better options. Shortly after, the match

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 herself. The unexpected

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

the chaos? Yet look at her now-she's