Noelle's response was sharp and loaded with hostility.
The reporters were stunned by her bluntness. Lucas's face darkened—he hadn't expected her to dismiss his abilities so openly.
Before he could respond, Xenia quickly stepped in. "Noelle, how can you say that? The match hasn't even started yet.
"Our team has worked so hard to get here. Just because you're gifted doesn't mean you can look down on us."
Lucas's expression darkened further, his frustration palpable.
Noelle responded with a cold smile, "I was just joking. Don't take it so seriously."
Xenia pressed on, "Noelle, it's fine if you're sitting out, but do you really have to tear us down like this?"
"I'm only trying to help," Noelle replied indifferently. "Better to keep you grounded before the match than to let you get overconfident and blow it, right?"
She turned to the reporters with a smirk. "Lucas has a point—competitions aren't just about individual skills.
"Teamwork and synergy are key. Ms. Quigley and Lucas clearly have an amazing connection, so I believe they'll overcome every obstacle and crush the competition."
Lucas's expression turned even darker—he knew she was being sarcastic.
Xenia couldn't hold back her frustration. "Noelle, did you come here today just to make fun of us?"
"No," Noelle replied. "For the record, I'm here as a special guest. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered showing up."
Just then, a fan approached her with a gift. "Noelle, we're your fans—NellyBerries! We made this for you!"
Noelle was caught off guard by their enthusiasm. Momentarily flustered, she responded, "Thank you, everyone."
Before she knew it, she was surrounded by fans asking for photos, leaving Xenia standing awkwardly on the sidelines.
Frustrated, Xenia turned to Lucas. "Do something, Lucas! This is our match—we're supposed to be the stars of the show!"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)