Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Zoe's words dropped like a bomb. Eunice, Herbert, and Jacob all froze. For a second, their faces twisted—not in shock, but in anger.
They couldn't believe a country girl like Zoe could be this arrogant. Even the big shots at Eminence Nexus always said there was always someone better out there. None of them would dare talk like this.
Herbert felt the heat rise in his chest. He couldn't believe Zoe, after spending thirteen years in a village, had come back this full of herself and this blind.
But before he could blow up, a loud voice came from outside the Evans residence. "Young lady, that's a big mouth you've got for someone your age. You said no one in Jelonsburg can teach you? What about me?"
The voice belonged to Zack Shelton—president of the Clusia Combat Association, and vice president of Highcrest University. He was a multiple-time world champion in international fighting tournaments and had even created a new style of combat all on his own. It shocked the entire nation.
In his field, Zack stood several levels above Lilian—the expert Eunice had bragged about earlier.
Hearing Zack's voice, Eunice, Herbert, and Jacob froze again.
They turned around and saw Zack walk into the Evans residence with his hands behind his back. He looked about forty, dressed in sportswear, with a square face, slicked-back hair, and a thick beard on his chin.
All three of them gasped at once. "Mr. Shelton?"
It wasn't just his fame that shocked them. Just two months ago, Zack had submitted his application to join Eminence Nexus. He was about to become one of them.
Joining Eminence Nexus was a dream most people would never reach, not even after a lifetime of training.
Zack, however, had earned that chance by the time he was forty. That alone showed how talented he was.
And now, this living legend was walking straight through the Evans family gate, footsteps firm and powerful.
He looked down at Zoe like an eagle staring at its prey. He wanted to see for himself what kind of girl could talk so big.
"It really is you, Mr. Shelton," Herbert said quickly. "This is my sister. She just came back from a village. She didn't go to school much and sometimes says stupid stuff. Sorry you had to hear that."
Herbert was a gun fanatic. Right now, he was training under a professional marksman, hoping to one day join Eminence Nexus too.
And the man standing in front of him—Zack—was already about to get in. Herbert knew he might need Zack's help for a recommendation someday.
So the moment he realized Zoe might've just insulted Zack, he panicked. He hurried forward, trying to smooth things over, scolding Zoe while speaking to Zack.
"Zoe!" he barked. "Get over here and apologize to Mr. Shelton—right now!"
Eunice never expected that after just three days back home, Zoe would ruin all the good impressions their mom and brothers had of her—and even leave such a bad image in front of the Zack Shelton.
She thought Zoe was a total idiot. She didn't even need to do anything—Zoe was digging her own grave. Sure, Zoe was pretty, but her brain wasn't even one percent as sharp as hers.
Eunice lifted her chin with pride. She didn't want the drama to die down, so she fanned the flames.
"Zoe," she said with fake sweetness, "even if you've never seen the real world and don't know what Eminence Nexus means, you've at least heard of the Ruler, right?
"That guy controls the world's economy. One stomp of his foot could shake the globe. And Mr. Shelton here? He met one of the Ruler's top three protectors—Medusa."
Medusa was one of the most elite mercenaries in the world. Eunice was sure Zoe had never even heard of her.
Just imagining the stunned, clueless look about to show on Zoe's face made Eunice secretly thrilled.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Zoe standing at the top of the stairs, her body turned slightly. Her shoulder even seemed to twitch a little.
Eunice thought Zoe was scared. She figured that even if Zoe had talked tough before, she'd have no choice but to back down in front of someone like Zack.
But just when Eunice was sure Zoe was about to bow her head and apologize... something totally unexpected happened.
Zoe turned around, shoved one hand into her pocket, let out a low chuckle, and started walking down the stairs like nothing had happened. She didn't look at Zack. Or Eunice. Or Herbert. Or Jacob. She just walked right past them, like they were invisible.
Like even Zack Shelton wasn't worth her time.
In that moment, the faces of Eunice, Herbert, and Jacob twisted into pure disbelief.
Zack, vice president of Highcrest University and a soon-to-be member of Eminence Nexus, had never been ignored like this. Especially not by some girl fresh out of a village.
"Stop right there!" he shouted furiously. His voice cracked through the hall like a drill sergeant barking at a rookie.
But even that didn't make Zoe flinch. She didn't even blink—like he was the one who should be begging her for attention.
Zack was completely enraged. Arrogant students like this were the ones he hated most. Full of themselves. Blindly confident. Losers like that never made it anywhere near Eminence Nexus.
Zack stormed after her. "This is outrageous! I'm going to be your teacher, like it or not! You think you can just walk away from me like that? Where are your manners?"
He couldn't believe it. He couldn't accept that he, Zack Shelton, couldn't even scare a brat from the backwoods. He decided she needed a lesson—now.
He moved in, ready to use the new combat technique he'd just learned at Eminence Nexus. He was going to make sure Zoe felt it—physically and mentally.
He reached for her.
The next second—Zoe's eyes flashed cold, deadly.
She didn't even look up. Her left hand shot out faster than his, grabbed his wrist with perfect aim, and—Snap. She bent it back sharply.
The sound of bones breaking rang through the big, empty hall. Zack screamed in pain.