The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The world champion announced his retirement the moment he lifted the trophy, sending shock waves through the competitive gaming community.

Aaron’s retirement news hit the trending lists instantly, outshining even Hawk’s victory celebration in terms of online explosion.

Yet, the person who took it the hardest was Kenneth.

“Dammit, he wins, and then he quits? How is that any different from those jerks who ghost you after a one-night stand!” Kenneth raged.

Callum tried to reason. “Dude, that… Might not be the best analogy.”

Kenneth shot him a glare that could scorch the earth. “Well then, genius, you tell me how to put it!”

The room fell silent, fearing Kenneth’s wrath. Seething, Kenneth grabbed his phone and called Aaron, unleashing a tirade that lasted a solid ten minutes without repeating a single insult.

Aaron, however, said nothing, hanging up the phone as soon as Kenneth took a breath.

Kenneth stared at his phone, the tone droning in his ear, his face so dark that even the devil would steer clear.

Callum instinctively scooted back.

They all knew Kenneth was at his most terrifying, not when he was shouting but silent like this.

Kenneth’s grip on his phone whitened his knuckles.

Suddenly, with a loud crash, Kenneth slammed his phone to the ground and spun around, intent on confronting Aaron.

But standing behind him, more menacing than Hades himself, was Percival.

“Bro,” Kenneth immediately lowered his head, “I screwed up, punish me whatever way you want.”

Percival sat down, his long legs crossed, leaning back casually on the couch. He looked up and asked, “What did you do wrong?”

“I embarrassed you.”

Percival’s eyes flashed coldly. “You still don’t realize what you did wrong, and you have the nerve to settle scores with Aaron?”

Kenneth flinched as if struck.

knew Percival was

high ground, focused solely on beating Aaron, and ignored the rest. Have all

questions left Kenneth

he knew that they lost mainly

his temper get the best of him and disrupted the team’s synergy, allowing

was so provoked by Aaron that he lost sight

even if Hawk had won, it would not

into silence while the rest of Team Snake members tried to

wound up the

is wrong, there are no excuses!” Percival bellowed, smashing the marble side table with a slap

never seen Percival this angry before and had a feeling that it was

…

Meanwhile, on the rooftop.

medal around his neck, his face

Vivienne understood.

at the prime age for an E-sports player, the pinnacle

he chose this

reason for his retirement was not just because his old teammates were

the pressure from the Miller

he had missed out on a lot of professional training in his youth and now had to catch up quickly in order

“Regret it?” Vivienne asked.

my irreplaceable glory, my very own triumph. How could I not regret letting it

tear before

his head, “If you’ve made your choice, don’t regret it. Life’s full of crossroads, but the path is yours

firmly at

even if he continued in E-sports, there would come a day to retire.

doing it for money but for

not allow the Miller family to look down on him. For his

“Go say goodbye to the

you

her hand dismissively, “No, I’ve got a

retreating figure, the light in his

regretted it once. From now on, I won’t let myself regret again!” He declared

discreet black luxury car rolled out at the

in the