Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 538: Chapter 538

Now Zoe and Shawn were even more certain who was behind the attacks against them. Luckily for Sophia, she had already left the scene. Otherwise, if Zoe and Shawn had caught her, she would have suffered dearly.
Aileen seethed with rage as she saw people preparing for Zoe and Shawn's award ceremony. 'I can't stand the thought of Zoe walking away with all the glory,' Aileen fumed inwardly.
"Just wait!" Aileen spat, immediately pulling out her phone to call for backup.
As the competition's biggest investor, she knew that with just a bit of pressure on the organizers, she could easily strip Zoe of that undeserved first-place win. She figured this would at least take the wind out of her sails.
Fuming, Aileen whipped out her phone and dialed one of the tournament organizers directly. "I've poured a fortune into this project! If you don't do exactly as I say this time, I'll make sure this project never finds another investor ever!"
Faced with Aileen's threats, the organizers had no choice but to yield. "Ms. Carleton, what would you like us to address? We're happy to discuss it with you."
Seeing the organizers back down, Aileen sneered, "It's simple. Just strip her of first place. What has she done to deserve sharing first place with Shawn, the legendary warrior of Clusia?"
"Well. But she delivered outstanding performances in the first two rounds. While her showing in the final challenge was less than stellar, the crucial rule was simply surviving to the finish line which she accomplished.
"She and Shawn crossed the electric fence together, so it's only fair they share first place," the organizer explained. 'If anything, taking away her first place would only make people feel it's unfair,' the organizer thought.
"I don't give a damn! She's not getting first place, period!" Aileen was hell-bent on making life difficult for the organizers.
Left with no options, the organizers had to consult others. Just then, someone suddenly shouted, "You! It's you! Oh my god, I can't believe I'm seeing you again, Vivian!" One of the organizers rushed over to Zoe; his face alighted with excitement.
Zoe knew he had recognized her. Feigning ignorance, she asked, "Who are you? And who's this Vivian you're talking about?"
One of the onlookers exclaimed in disbelief, "She doesn't even know who Vivian is. She's the undefeated goddess of our hunter training!
"With astonishing feats, she fought her way through fierce competition to claim the championship—rightfully earning the well-deserved title of War Goddess."
Zoe shrugged dismissively and said, "No, you're mistaken. There's no way I could be someone that extraordinary." But at that moment, Shawn turned his gaze to Zoe, as if waiting for her to confirm the truth.
Just then, Aileen stormed over. Aileen scoffed. "Vivian? She's just a small-town nobody. How could she be the 'War Goddess'?
"That was such a pathetic performance. She doesn't deserve first place! Disqualify her now!" Aileen challenged the decision, and with one organizer siding with her, the others were visibly displeased.
'What's that supposed to mean? Who does this outsider think she is, interfering with the first place we all chose together?' one of the organizers wondered.
But suddenly, the tables turned. "It's you, Vivian!" someone exclaimed, his voice full of surprise. "It's definitely you!" He immediately pulled out his phone and showed a photo of himself with Vivian years ago.
It was supposed to be a photo of the two of them, but in reality, it was just a sneaky shot, only half the girl's face made it into the frame. "Vivian, there's absolutely no mistake. You are the War Goddess!"
"You totally deserve first place, Vivian! You were already a legend years ago!" someone exclaimed in awe.
With several people stepping forward to confirm that Zoe was indeed Vivian, Aileen's protests suddenly rang hollow. The bribed organizer was now caught in a dilemma. "Ms. Carleton, perhaps we should just drop this!"
Aileen, still fuming from being publicly humiliated, opened her mouth to argue, but before she could get another word out, a couple of staff members stepped in and escorted her away.
Not wanting to explain herself any further, Zoe simply pretended to faint from her injuries, using it as an excuse to avoid all the trouble.
Shawn was disappointed that Zoe still refused to reveal her identity, but the moment she fainted, all his frustration was replaced by worry. No one was more anxious than he was.
Without a second delay, Shawn dashed all the way to the ambulance with Zoe in his arms, rushing her to the hospital for emergency treatment.