The Queen They Buried

Aubree felt a little awkward the whole time they were eating.

For some reason–maybe because of the mix–up earlier–Bowen suddenly said that since they’d known each other for a while, calling him “Mr. Turner sounded way too formal. He told her she should just call him “Uncle Bowen” like Alvin did.

Aubree felt like he was messing with her, but thinking of the future investment, she played along and said, “Uncle Bowen.”

“This place is known for its beef pasta,” she added quickly. “Back then, I couldn’t afford them, and now, I can’t really eat spicy stuff, so go ahead and enjoy them for me, Uncle Bowen.”

She adjusted to the name pretty easily, since she was close with Alvin anyway.

But Bowen fett weirdly thrown off by it. Alvin called him “Uncle Bowen” all the time, and it meant nothing, but hearing it from Aubree hit differently. It

sounded nice.

The difference surprised Bowen himself a bit.

Meanwhile, Alvin–busy gaming at the team base–had no clue that just over one meal, Bowen had mentally criticized him from head to toe for no

reason.

Bowen asked the owner for a bowl of clean water, then used a fresh fork to rinse the beef, washing off the spicy sauce before setting it on Aubree’s plate. “If it’s that good, you should have some too.”

The steam from the pasta curled around his face like a soft fog, giving him a kind of dreamy look.

Aubree accidentally stared a second too long. When Bowen glanced over, she quickly looked down and started eating again.

Noticing her red ears, Bowen smiled to himself, suddenly thinking about the first time he saw her at the orphanage.

He was eighteen then–already out of school and running the company. He’d gone to the orphanage for a charity event.

Back then, Aubree wore two braids and sat quietly in the corner with a sketchpad, totally out of place in a room full of noisy, crying kids. She looked way too mature for her age.

Bowen had thought she was adorable. She reminded him of a little girl his older brother once rescued from traffickers five years earlier. If that girl had managed to escape, she’d be about Aubree’s age now.

After they finished eating, Bowen drove Aubree back to Ellis Heights. He didn’t stay long–just asked about the Autumn Finals and said he’d come watch before taking off.

As the Autumn Finals drew closer, the official announcement of the final lineups of both teams stirred up quite a storm on Twitter.

had made changes. Apex Squad replaced their midsolo with Killian, who used to play for God’s Fury. Carmen, who’d been listed as a sub, wasn’t shown on the poster,

shocked to see Killian show up on the other team, and even

God’s Fury poster made an

was a girl–absolutely gorgeous–in a silver and white uniform. If one didn’t know better, one’d think it was a promo for a TV show. But this was the esports finals. People

God’s Fury lost it? They dropped Killian and replaced him

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Chapter 32

beautiful–but what, were they planning to win by distracting the enemy with

this call?

This was pro gaming. And if they lost, even

fans had much worse

agreed–God’s Fury was done

few who recognized Phoenix as the same player who’d been turning heads in recent livestreams, but hardly

attention to that.

she was shocked at first–Phoenix was actually

read through the hateful comments, and a smile tugged at

would be playing alongside Alvin–practicing together every day–that smile faded fast, replaced by

tell me you joined Emery’s

herself together. “Daxton, I just wanted to see what it’s like

isn’t great. Why

said. “By the way, did you know Aubree’s in the tournament

When he realized Aubree was on the opposing team, his expression

just an ungrateful brat,” he said with pure disgust, as if everything Aubree did rubbed him the wrong

his arm and pouted. “Daxton, do you think she’s trying

held something more. Carmen didn’t get why Emery and Bryan had both changed their attitudes toward Aubree. She needed to find a way to turn them

new idea. He didn’t even know Aubree could play games. She always acted cold and distant, like she didn’t want anything to do with them. And now she was suddenly showing up

more of her sneaky

was quick to decide that Aubree had planned all of this. She was pretending to break ties with the family but still trying to worm her way in.

himself that Aubree was just playing hard to get, trying to

here. And I’ll be at the match

and let Carmen win, fine. But if she dared help

no clue what was going on online. With the finals right around the corner, even Aubree, who normally didn’t have to train, was spending her