Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 226: Chapter 226
You are reading Their Mistake, Her Rise, Chapter 226: Chapter 226. Read more chapters of Their Mistake, Her Rise.
The smile on Samuel's face disappeared the instant he locked eyes with Zoe.
His voice cutting and cold, he skipped the pleasantries and said, "Zoe, I understand you're a big deal at Highcrest University. I'm eager to see how you measure up in this competition. Try not to crack under pressure and embarrass yourself."
"You've got nerve, trying to steal Sophia's man," Simon sneered, dripping with sarcasm. "But if you think you can actually win a competition like this, you're delusional. You'll just become a laughingstock, a complete joke."
Alex chimed in, "The three of us will be watching your every move. Can't wait to see you embarrass yourself."
Standing shoulder to shoulder, the three brothers openly displayed their hostility, launching a barrage of insults at Zoe in front of everyone. A visible ripple went through the crowd as their words landed, and expressions shifted on every face.
Joyce was particularly taken aback, as she never anticipated the White family displaying such blatant disrespect towards Zoe, whom she held in high regard; she was on the verge of intervening to defend her.
Before Eunice could react, Gerald stepped forward protectively, placing himself between her and the White brothers, and declared, "Just because you're from the White family doesn't give you the right to throw your weight around. I won't let you bully her.
"As her brother, I won't stand by." With unyielding resolve, he stepped forward, shielding Zoe, exuding the fierce authority of an elder brother.
Zoe was genuinely stunned by this gesture. Meeting Gerald for the first time, he was already defending her without a second thought, leaving Eunice even more astonished. No one knew Gerald better than she did; she'd grown up with him.
He was consistently aloof and reserved, rarely speaking unless it was essential; even when Eunice was being bullied, he would simply stand protectively in front of her, offering silent defense.
Unexpectedly, Gerald defended Zoe, even confronting the White brothers on her behalf. Eunice bit her lip, jealousy and frustration burning in her eyes. She thought, 'Even I never received treatment like that.'
Nevertheless, she remained certain of one thing: the White brothers were known to adore Sophia, and if they were present, they most certainly wouldn't let Zoe off so easily.
In this "All-Around Genius Competition," the White brothers will undoubtedly exploit their expertise to sabotage Zoe, perhaps even resorting to underhanded tactics behind the scenes.
Just as Eunice thought this, they scoffed dismissively; then, Samuel, the eldest, shot Gerald a cold glare before turning and walking away with a flick of his sleeve.
He challenged Zoe. "Let's see what you're really made of, and if Gerald can actually protect you. Let's go."
Once they were gone, Joyce sighed deeply, then turned to Zoe with the Jelonsburg bigwigs. She said firmly, "Don't worry, Zoe. We'll be keeping a close eye on the competition. No one will mess with you while we're watching."
The competition was officially underway. This wasn't a typical contest; it was a comprehensive challenge with three main events held at different venues. The initial stage focused on physical prowess, with contestants tackling ten on-site obstacle courses designed to assess their strength, stamina, and agility.
To succeed, participants had to complete all ten obstacles before time ran out; the fastest finisher would win, similar to obstacle course shows on television.
The second round featured a business debate that was far more challenging than the name suggests; success required impeccable logic and a strong understanding of business and investment principles.
The third round, an escape room challenge, tested contestants' abilities comprehensively, while all three rounds aimed to push them beyond their comfort zones and prepare them for unexpected situations.
To stand out, contestants had to summon every skill they possessed, and success would remain out of reach.
Following the introductions, the contestants proceeded to the first arena: the ice rink at the Jelonsburg International Sports Arena. The expansive space was already rigged with a variety of demanding obstacles, ready for the first daring participant to attempt them.
When Zoe arrived, she spotted a man at the starting line, flexing with obvious pride, and bellowing like a dragon, "I'll go first." He surged forward with lightning speed, charging directly toward the first obstacle, when something astonishing occurred.
No sooner had he mounted the first obstacle, the Pendulum Gauntlet, than his lack of explosive power became evident; his slow scramble across the platforms left him vulnerable, and a massive swinging pendulum sent him crashing down.
All that posturing, and the first challenger faltered on the very first obstacle, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.
This all-around competition for Highcrest University students was far more challenging than any typical obstacle course game show; the obstacles were significantly more difficult and faster-paced. Someone attempting this without expertise would likely fare even worse, probably falling off the platform almost immediately.
Someone in the crowd grumbled, "Is this difficulty level insane? If the first round is this brutal, what's even the point of continuing?"
Complaining was easy, but objecting, impossible; one by one, even Highcrest University students volunteered, only to be swiftly defeated at every turn.
Eunice was up next, but just before her turn, she turned to Zoe and said pointedly, "Why don't you go ahead, Zoe?" Zoe didn't even bother to reply.
Eunice continued to mutter to herself, feigning distress. "Zoe, did I inadvertently offend you again? I truly believed you were a shoo-in for this round. Wouldn't it have been amazing if you'd been the first to make it through?"
Just as Eunice plotted to sabotage Zoe and make her uncomfortable, Philip, the campus heartthrob from Highcrest University, had already taken Zoe's place at the starting line.
Emerging, he gave Zoe a quick, knowing smile and nod before blazing through all ten stages in a single run, setting a new record and sending the crowd into a frenzy of cheers.
Seeing this, Eunice's expression immediately shifted, especially since she'd unmistakably noticed Philip's smile and nod directed at Zoe. Jealousy twisted Eunice's face as she leaned in and said to Zoe, dripping with sarcasm, "Zoe, you've really got a way with men."
She added, "One minute you're all over Shawn, the next you're flirting with Philip. How do you manage to juggle them all without anyone getting jealous, and still have them tripping over themselves to please you?"
The implication of her words was clear. She portrayed Zoe as someone who slept around. Immediately after, everyone turned to Zoe with disdainful looks.
His voice cutting and cold, he skipped the pleasantries and said, "Zoe, I understand you're a big deal at Highcrest University. I'm eager to see how you measure up in this competition. Try not to crack under pressure and embarrass yourself."
"You've got nerve, trying to steal Sophia's man," Simon sneered, dripping with sarcasm. "But if you think you can actually win a competition like this, you're delusional. You'll just become a laughingstock, a complete joke."
Alex chimed in, "The three of us will be watching your every move. Can't wait to see you embarrass yourself."
Standing shoulder to shoulder, the three brothers openly displayed their hostility, launching a barrage of insults at Zoe in front of everyone. A visible ripple went through the crowd as their words landed, and expressions shifted on every face.
Joyce was particularly taken aback, as she never anticipated the White family displaying such blatant disrespect towards Zoe, whom she held in high regard; she was on the verge of intervening to defend her.
Before Eunice could react, Gerald stepped forward protectively, placing himself between her and the White brothers, and declared, "Just because you're from the White family doesn't give you the right to throw your weight around. I won't let you bully her.
"As her brother, I won't stand by." With unyielding resolve, he stepped forward, shielding Zoe, exuding the fierce authority of an elder brother.
Zoe was genuinely stunned by this gesture. Meeting Gerald for the first time, he was already defending her without a second thought, leaving Eunice even more astonished. No one knew Gerald better than she did; she'd grown up with him.
He was consistently aloof and reserved, rarely speaking unless it was essential; even when Eunice was being bullied, he would simply stand protectively in front of her, offering silent defense.
Unexpectedly, Gerald defended Zoe, even confronting the White brothers on her behalf. Eunice bit her lip, jealousy and frustration burning in her eyes. She thought, 'Even I never received treatment like that.'
Nevertheless, she remained certain of one thing: the White brothers were known to adore Sophia, and if they were present, they most certainly wouldn't let Zoe off so easily.
In this "All-Around Genius Competition," the White brothers will undoubtedly exploit their expertise to sabotage Zoe, perhaps even resorting to underhanded tactics behind the scenes.
Just as Eunice thought this, they scoffed dismissively; then, Samuel, the eldest, shot Gerald a cold glare before turning and walking away with a flick of his sleeve.
He challenged Zoe. "Let's see what you're really made of, and if Gerald can actually protect you. Let's go."
Once they were gone, Joyce sighed deeply, then turned to Zoe with the Jelonsburg bigwigs. She said firmly, "Don't worry, Zoe. We'll be keeping a close eye on the competition. No one will mess with you while we're watching."
The competition was officially underway. This wasn't a typical contest; it was a comprehensive challenge with three main events held at different venues. The initial stage focused on physical prowess, with contestants tackling ten on-site obstacle courses designed to assess their strength, stamina, and agility.
To succeed, participants had to complete all ten obstacles before time ran out; the fastest finisher would win, similar to obstacle course shows on television.
The second round featured a business debate that was far more challenging than the name suggests; success required impeccable logic and a strong understanding of business and investment principles.
The third round, an escape room challenge, tested contestants' abilities comprehensively, while all three rounds aimed to push them beyond their comfort zones and prepare them for unexpected situations.
To stand out, contestants had to summon every skill they possessed, and success would remain out of reach.
Following the introductions, the contestants proceeded to the first arena: the ice rink at the Jelonsburg International Sports Arena. The expansive space was already rigged with a variety of demanding obstacles, ready for the first daring participant to attempt them.
When Zoe arrived, she spotted a man at the starting line, flexing with obvious pride, and bellowing like a dragon, "I'll go first." He surged forward with lightning speed, charging directly toward the first obstacle, when something astonishing occurred.
No sooner had he mounted the first obstacle, the Pendulum Gauntlet, than his lack of explosive power became evident; his slow scramble across the platforms left him vulnerable, and a massive swinging pendulum sent him crashing down.
All that posturing, and the first challenger faltered on the very first obstacle, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.
This all-around competition for Highcrest University students was far more challenging than any typical obstacle course game show; the obstacles were significantly more difficult and faster-paced. Someone attempting this without expertise would likely fare even worse, probably falling off the platform almost immediately.
Someone in the crowd grumbled, "Is this difficulty level insane? If the first round is this brutal, what's even the point of continuing?"
Complaining was easy, but objecting, impossible; one by one, even Highcrest University students volunteered, only to be swiftly defeated at every turn.
Eunice was up next, but just before her turn, she turned to Zoe and said pointedly, "Why don't you go ahead, Zoe?" Zoe didn't even bother to reply.
Eunice continued to mutter to herself, feigning distress. "Zoe, did I inadvertently offend you again? I truly believed you were a shoo-in for this round. Wouldn't it have been amazing if you'd been the first to make it through?"
Just as Eunice plotted to sabotage Zoe and make her uncomfortable, Philip, the campus heartthrob from Highcrest University, had already taken Zoe's place at the starting line.
Emerging, he gave Zoe a quick, knowing smile and nod before blazing through all ten stages in a single run, setting a new record and sending the crowd into a frenzy of cheers.
Seeing this, Eunice's expression immediately shifted, especially since she'd unmistakably noticed Philip's smile and nod directed at Zoe. Jealousy twisted Eunice's face as she leaned in and said to Zoe, dripping with sarcasm, "Zoe, you've really got a way with men."
She added, "One minute you're all over Shawn, the next you're flirting with Philip. How do you manage to juggle them all without anyone getting jealous, and still have them tripping over themselves to please you?"
The implication of her words was clear. She portrayed Zoe as someone who slept around. Immediately after, everyone turned to Zoe with disdainful looks.
End of Their Mistake, Her Rise Chapter 226. Continue reading Chapter 227 or return to Their Mistake, Her Rise book page.