Chapter 108
Shane gripped the table for balance and, with a grimace, stood and exited the room, leaving his stunned opponent and a murmuring crowd behind. Wendy, alamed, called out, “Shane“” and quickly followed him
Willow frowned, watching them leave. Her eyes darted in Eliana, who was still seated, focused, and utterly unaffected. A terrible suspicion crept into her mind Willow thought, ‘Could Wendy have accidentally used the teapot I tampered with”
The club director announced. The player has forfeited. The winner of table 16 is decided.” Clasps rippled through the room–barely minutes into the tournament, the first victor had been declared
Unbothered by the commotion, Elana calmly a chuckled and resumed the game.
addressed her opponent. “Let’s continue, sir,” she said, gesturing to the board. The older man
Shane’s sudden exit left a poor impression on Bryson, one of the tournament’s official witnesses. Wendy’s hopes of creating a favorable impression for Shane were dashed. Meanwhile, Willow’s frustrationbubbled under the surface, but she forced herself to focus on her match
An hour later, the winners of the first round were finalized. Eliana advanced smoothly, her skill leaving a positive impression on Bryson. “I didn’t expert Elana to be good at chess,” Bryson mused aloud.
Roman, seated nearby, laughed. “She’s not just skilled at chess–she’s got a sharp tongue to match
Bryson raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? What did she say?”
Roman repeated her earlier boast: “She said we’re all worthless, myself included”
Bryson paused, then burst into laughter. “She’s got a sharp tongue, but I like it Young people with that kind of energy are rare these days”
Bryson had grown tired of all the empty compliments and shallow gestures. Eliana’s unfiltered confidence was refreshing, and he was curious about her “With such bold claims, I’m eager to see if she can truly back them up
Roman nodded. “She’s got something special. I believe she’s going to win.”
“You’ve seen her play before?” Bryson asked
“Not chess, Roman admitted. “But she’s got this magnetic confidence. It’s hard not to believe she’ll succeed.” He recalled a tennis match where Eliana had been the center of attention, her energy commanding the court.
Willow advanced to the second round, but her frustration grew when she realized Eliana showed no signs of discomfort. It didn’t take long for Willow to conclude that Shane must have been the one who drank the tampered tea, allowing Eliana to escape unscathed.
What truly unsealed her, however, was the revelation that Eliana could play chess. When had she learned? Willow had always believed she knew nothing about the game.
This realization gnawed at Willow, especially after the effort she had put into preparing for this moment. She had spent countless hours studying tutorials and practicing, all to ensure she could outshine Eliana. And now, here was Elina, not only playing but advancing effortlessly through the
Tournament
Willow clenched her fists and thought, ‘Did she secretly start practicing behind my back? This woman is full of tricks. I can’t afford to underestimate her ever again.”
The second round began. Eliana was assigned to table 2 and Willow to table 7. This time, the competition was stiffer, with only the winners from the first round remaining Bryson monitored the players on his tablet, focusing on Eliana’s match.
Eliana’s age didn’t give away her
r sharp chess skills. She made each move with absolute certainty as if she had already mapped out the entire game.
“Roman, look at how she plays,” Bryson said, gesturing toward the board
Roman leaned in, watching closely. “She makes her moves decisively, without hesitation, Bryson observed. “She plays like someone who’s been through countless games.”
Roman nodded in agreement. “Its impressive!
Bryson continued watching, captivated by y her skill. Kliana’s opponent struggled to defend as she closed in with relentless precision. With no way to counter her, he finally conceded defeat
She quickly advanced to the next round.
1/2
1:08 PM
Chapter 108
1 didn’t expect someone so young to be so skilled her opponent said, shaking his head in admiration.
Elana gathered the pieces with a smile. “Thank you, I guess I was just lucky“.
Her opponent Laughed. “That wasn’t lack. Only someone with real skill can win in a game like this”
Khana left table 2 and glanced toward table 7 just as Willow finished her match. Their eyes met across the room, and Willow’s expression was brimming with hostility. Eliana returned a calm, unreadable gare before resting on a nearby sofa.
Elana knew how this tournament would end. In the Lost life, Willow had been the champion. If not for her interference, history would likely repeat itself. But this time, things would be different. She’d seen this coming–the final match would be between her and Willow.
And Eliana couldn’t wait to see how Willow would fare against her.
As the rounds progressed, the pool of competitors narrowed. Eliana and Willow continued to win march after match, ultimately meeting each
other in the finals.
Roman was surprised to see Willow make it to the finals.
Bryson looked at Willow with a flicker of recognition. “This player–haven’t I seen her before at Isonstead University?” he asked.
Roman nodded. “Yes, Mr. Thompson. She’s in the acting department, in the same class as Eliana. You met her once in the cafeteria with Wendy
Bryson recalled the meeting. “Ah, yes. She’s friends with Wendy. I remember now.” He smiled faintly. “It’s rare to see young people so interested in chess. She’s not bad at all
Willow overheard their conversation and felt a surge of satisfaction. She had achieved what she wanted–to leave a lasting impression on Bryson. Winning this competition would solidify her reputation and open doors to endless opportunities. Most importantly, it would prove that she, not Eliana, was the rightful choice for the lead role in Moonlight City.
The club director announced. “Let the final match begin!”
Eliana and Willow faced each other across the chessboard. Eliana’s calm gaze met Willow’s sharp, confident smile. “Good luck, Eliana,” Willow said sweetly.
Elana’s
is tone remained steady. “Don’t flatter yourself. You still wouldn’t have beaten me whether I let you
Willow’s smile stiffened. “You’re that confident, huh?”
Eliana picked up her first piece, placing it firmly on the board. Her voice was soft but cutting “I can’t speak for others, but dealing with you! Not much of a challenge.
Willow’s nails pressed sharply into her palms as frustration bubbled inside her. She thought, Eliana is unbearably arrogant. I’ll defeat her and wipe that smug look off her face.
She picked up her piece and made her move. The battle had begun.
