Abandoned Wife Rebirth To Slap Faces - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Georgia glanced dismissively at Noelle. "You should know better than anyone how I got this injury."
Noelle's eyes gleamed with triumph. She leaned in, whispering low enough only Georgia could hear, "I arranged it. So what? I'm Georgie now.
"On Traditional Medicine Acupuncture is mine, too. And you? You're just vermin everyone wants gone."
She waited, expecting Georgia's furious retaliation. But it never came. Seeing only clear, unruffled composure in Georgia's eyes ignited a furious humiliation in Noelle.
It felt like she'd fought tooth and nail for something her rival deemed utterly worthless. A stinging slap to her pride.
When the expected outburst didn't come, Noelle had an idea. She suddenly let her body go limp, collapsing sideways with a sharp cry. "Ah!"
People rushed over to find Noelle on the floor while Georgia stood calmly nearby. Noelle's simps immediately lashed out.
Janice snapped, "Georgia! How dare you hit someone in public?" Amidst the shouts directed at Georgia, others helped the seemingly weak Noelle up.
Noelle put on a wronged expression, smoothing her white coat, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up pitifully. "Georgia, I'm so grateful for your kindness in discovering my talent back then.
"But I can't let you keep going down this path. I-if you want to be Georgie. I'll try to terminate the contract with the publisher."
Someone said in shock, "What? Shame on you. Even now she covets Miss Faulkner's pen name? Utterly brazen!"
"Miss Faulkner, don't waste your breath on this viper!" Janice echoed.
Hearing the renewed barrage of insults against Georgia, Noelle felt a wave of vicious satisfaction.
"No, please," she sighed with saintly concern. "You don't know her. Her therapeutic skills are actually quite remarkable."
Watching Noelle's flawless performance as the virtuous victim, Georgia merely curved her lips into a faint, dangerous smile. Then—Crack!
A sharp slap echoed. Noelle reeled, crashing back to the floor in an undignified heap. She hadn't expected Georgia to actually strike her in front of everyone.
Staring down at Noelle clutching her rapidly swelling cheek, Georgia's laugh was icy. "See? That's called hitting someone. Remember this feeling and expression. Try to act more convincingly next time."
She paused, her gaze chilling. "Oh, wait. There won't be a next time for you with me." With that, Georgia turned and strode coolly into the competition hall.
Noelle scrambled up, face burning with rage and humiliation, supported by two fawning competitors.
Janice smirked, "Ugh! That bitch only knows how to spread her legs to men. What right does she have to be arrogant?"
"Exactly! Miss Faulkner, don't let her get to you. We'll watch you crush her with your skills soon," another echoed.
Noelle stared venomously at Georgia's back, seething inwardly, 'Of course I'll crush her. I'll outshine her completely and bury her in the mud once and for all.'
The group clustered around Noelle like planets around the sun as they entered the main hall. Flattery washed over her.
"Miss Faulkner! I saved you the best seat. Please, sit. We'll need your guidance in medicine later."
"Miss Faulkner, what incredible technique will you showcase for us in the finals today?"
Buoyed by the adoration, Noelle shed her earlier embarrassment, preening. "Today, I will represent the Flower-Twisting Needling Technique."
Gasps and murmurs of awe rippled through them.
"The Flower-Twisting Needlin? Technique Georgie's signature skill from 'On Traditional Medicine Acupuncture.' That's awesome."
"Well, that's it then! We've got no chance now, but seeing Georgie perform it live is prize enough."
"Zero suspense for the championship now. It has to be our Georgie, Miss Faulkner!"
"We're so envious, Miss Faulkner. They say Dr. Benneth came specifically for you. Soon you'll be Dr. Benneth's prized student."
"Exactly! Why else would Dr. Benneth come now? Clearly, to champion Miss Faulkner. We're just waiting to see Georgia publicly ashamed."
Noelle basked in the internal glow of triumph. 'After today, the bigger stage awaits me,' she thought, 'the grand blueprint is unfolding.'
"Alright, enough teasing," she demurred falsely. "We're all competitors here, equal and fair. No one is inherently superior. The competition is about to start."
As the event prepared to begin, the participant order was drawn electronically. When Noelle's phone buzzed, announcing she was contestant number two, she furrowed instantly.
Seizing a moment when no one was watching, she slipped out of the hall and called Gemma. Hearing Noelle was second and Georgia was last, Gemma immediately began concocting a scheme.
When Georgia saw her order of appearance, a trace of relief flickered in her calm heart—going last was the most advantageous for anyone.
The host, Liam Galler, was about to walk onto the stage with heavy steps when his phone suddenly rang. After answering it, the heaviness on his face seemed to disappear.
The audience seats were packed. Most had come for only two competitors tonight: Noelle and Georgia, though they might as well have been clouds and dirt.
Many in the crowd were medical professionals. Few genuinely cared about the champion; they craved the scene of Georgia's downfall, eager to witness her being ground to dust.
The event media, of course, chased only ratings. The higher they could lift Noelle, the harder they could stomp on Georgia—the greater the polarized drama, the better the numbers.
Stepping back onto the stage, Liam moved with newfound ease. The first contestant to perform had withdrawn because he was too nervous, so someone else took his place as the first to go on stage.