Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

Chapter 184 Unmasking the Façade

As soon as the Chess Association president mentioned Violeta on stage, the audience erupted in applause.

However, the first-year performing arts students sitting on the left were confused and surprised.

"What's going on? Isn't Zelena part of the Chess Association? Why is it Violeta instead?"

"Didn't we hear that the Chess Association president had taken a photo with Zelena and that she was a chess prodigy?"

Many eyes turned to look at Zelena in the front row.

She was seething, her teeth clenched in anger.

It finally dawned on her that Violeta had been working with Nolan under the Chess Association's direction to prepare for the lecture. Violeta wasn't trying to seduce Nolan as Zelena had thought.

Now, all of Zelena's efforts had inadvertently given credit to Violeta in the eyes of the unaware Chess Association president.

The president's public acknowledgment of Violeta felt like a slap in the face. Violeta had stolen her glory!

This wretch!

Zelena turned her head, glaring darkly at Violeta from a distance.

Violeta happened to meet her gaze, her light-colored eyes reflecting the auditorium lights.

into a vengeful

expression, had taken Zelena's credit, and it was

the auditorium. Zelena and her friends

so many people showed up

brainstorming ways to get more

face turned pale

everyone a seafood feast if they attended the lecture. She even booked the East City seafood buffet restaurant for the weekend so the whole class could go. She had spent money, only

she thought about it, the angrier

help but laugh. "Lena, you really messed up this time. You didn't check the situation before acting. At the very least, you should have let Nolan know about your

poorly attended, it would have been Violeta's failure. But with so many people showing up, of course, the president

all along. When we went to the office, she deliberately showed me the computer screen! She's

had finally made a

back to when she went under the table to retrieve the ping-pong ball and how Violeta had subtly

made sense

...

the Chess Association first notified Toland University about the lecture, Violeta and Nolan

had brainstormed countless ideas, but chess was one of those things-those who liked it would come without persuasion, while those who didn't wouldn't be interested no matter what. Then one day, Violeta noticed

she

advantage of Zelena's actions would have

office every noon before Zelena, aiming to catch her attention and subtly push her

plan had succeeded, and the lecture

happily went out for a buffet with the student council

Zelena was too angry to eat after realizing