Chapter 24 Slanders
Chapter 24 Slanders
“By accident, I discovered esports and the game Glory League. It was love at first sight. Though my own playing skills are just average—not enough to go pro–I began to dive deep into game analysis. I studied team strategies and hero strengths each season, and even practiced drafting and ban–picks, all with the hope of someday coaching a team.”
Azalea smiled at this. “Well, you won’t have to wait much longer, because your chance has come!”
She gave Irene a reassuring pat on the shoulder and added with an carnest look in her eyes, “After school, come with me to the GOD base. Will you join me?”
Irene was momentarily confused by the sudden offer, but her response was quick.
Absolutely!
“What do you think?” Irene’s face lit up with excitement, her skin glowing. If Azalea’s offer was real, it might just be the break she had dreamed of!
William from the first experimental class was absent today.
Taking a leave of absence is usually not a big deal, but for William, the class‘ top student who had never missed school, taking leave right after being accused of cheating stirred up plenty of rumors.
At that moment, William was anxiously seated in an upscale cafe, nervously holding a coffee cup and watching the girl across from him.
“Sydney, do you need to tell me something?” he asked,
Across the table sat Sydney.
The thought of being invited out for coffee by the girl he had feelings for made William’s heart race.
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Sydney, meanwhile, was preoccupied with thoughts of how the Larks had arranged for a reliable and strict proxy to help her stay at Jubilee without being expelled.
She glanced down, troubled by her dependence on others and her growing resentment toward Azalea for not complying easily.
If only Azalea had just obeyed, I wouldn’t have to face such humiliation, she thought.
As she looked up at William, she managed a forced smile. “I just have some things on my mind and needed to talk to a friend.”
The word “friend” instantly caught William’s attention, prompting him to reach out and take Sydney’s hand. “Sydney, you can tell me anything. I’m here to help.”
Sydney smiled softly, gently pulling her hand away. “It’s nothing major. I’m just concerned about my sister Azalea leaving the family. Everyone’s worried about her being on her own, but somehow I feel like I’m the one who’s invisible.“..
Her eyes dimmed with a touch of sadness, eliciting sympathy from William.
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Chapter 24 Slanders
How could Sydney be so compassionate, even worrying about someone who wronged her?
Sydney had always been skilled at manipulating situations to her advantage, keeping her true intentions- hidden while making others feel they were acting independently.
Previously. William had also been manipulated into accusing Azalea of plagiarism.
“Azalea doesn’t deserve your concern!” William blurted out, surprising Sydney with his intensity. “The last time I was wrongly accused of plagiarism, someone tried to coerce me into slandering others, but I resisted.”
Unbeknownst to William, after he had been attacked and rendered unconscious, Hex had recovered the deleted messages between him and Sydney and handed them over to Hubert.
Sydney was taken aback, not expecting such revelations.
She felt a secret thrill–Azalea, after leaving the Larks, had apparently walked straight into another disaster.
Sydney looked concerned as she spoke, “How could this happen? Could my sister have been deceived by some man?”
Her words seemed to spark an idea in William’s mind.
Realizing a potential way to help Sydney, his expression brightened.
Catching on to his sudden insight, Sydney quickly added, “I need to go home and inform my parents that Azalea might be in danger.”
“Sydney, let me come with you! I’ll explain everything to your family,” William offered eagerly.
Together, they hurried back to the Larks‘ residence, where only Wesley was present at the time.
It was good enough.
Without wasting a moment, Sydney led William straight into the study, “Dad, there’s something urgent about Azalea I need to discuss.”
William, prompted by Sydney, started his tale, dramatically portraying himself as a victim of coercion. In his retelling, Azalea had allegedly fallen into the clutches of a dubious character who had then tried to intimidate him, all to tarnish Sydney’s reputation.
He deliberately left out the reason behind Azalea’s actions, allowing Wesley’s imagination to run wild with assumptions.
“Why else would she behave this way, if not to undermine Sydney and gain sympathy for herself?” Wesley surmised, boiling with rage.
Enraged by the narrative, Wesley smashed a valuable tea set on the table, the pieces scattering across the richly carpeted floor.
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