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 spirit, ready to pounce on Violeta and tear

had taken Zelena's credit, and

started to leave the auditorium. Zelena and

that so many people showed up for the lecture

ago, we were brainstorming ways to get more attendees. We never expected

turned pale with

the lecture. She even booked the East City seafood buffet restaurant for the weekend so the whole class could go. She

she thought about it, the

heard about what happened and couldn't 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

lecture had been poorly attended, it would have been Violeta's failure. But

in, "It was probably Violeta's plan all along. When we went to the office, she deliberately showed me

made a

to retrieve the ping-pong ball and how Violeta had subtly

all made sense

...

Toland University about the lecture, Violeta and Nolan

didn't

that moment, she

Zelena's actions would have been a wasted

Zelena, aiming to catch her attention and subtly push her to

plan had succeeded, and the lecture was a

out for a buffet with the

to eat after