He clicked his tongue.
"So, idiotic sister of mine, how are you?Fix your attitude or I'll cut the call."
Ava casually picked up her juice.
"If Mom asks, I'll just tell her you didn't call at all."
There was a brief silence.
Then footsteps sounded from Luis's end of the call.
His voice changed instantly.
"Are you okay, my dear sister?"
Ava's expression went blank.
"You got me so worried."
His voice became so sweet that it was almost nauseating.
"Which fool dared to hurt my sweet little sister? If only I could fly back right now…"
Ava's shoulders shuddered.
Goosebumps crawled over her arms.
She knew that voice.
That was Luis performing.
And the terrifying part was how believable he sounded.
His anger seemed genuine. His concern sounded heartfelt.
Even the disgust in his voice when he spoke about whoever had hurt her carried enough weight to make anyone listening believe he would genuinely abandon everything and rush back to her side.
If someone didn't know Luis, they would probably think he was the most loving brother in existence.
Ava knew better.
Someone said something in the background.
Luis immediately responded.
"I know the competition is still going on, but she's my sister."
Another voice spoke.
Then another.
It sounded like several teachers were trying to persuade him not to leave.
Luis argued back, clearly refusing to give up so easily.
"Then what am I supposed to do? Just continue competing while my sister is sitting here injured?"
Ava covered her mouth to hide her laugh.
The footsteps grew louder.
One of the teachers finally spoke more firmly, apparently suggesting that someone stay with Luis as his roommate so he wouldn't try to leave the competition.
There was a brief pause.
As the teacher called someone name
Then a cool voice spoke.
"Fine Let Luis finish his call."
The argument immediately seemed to settle.
A teacher responded, and soon the voices began moving away.
One by one, the footsteps disappeared.
Luis was left alone again.
"So cute."
Luis whispered it almost affectionately, like he was teasing a naughty puppy.
The moment the particular person he had been performing for was gone, however, his entire demeanor changed.
The sweetness disappeared.
So did the exaggerated concern.
He returned to his usual cool, calm voice, the faint amusement still lingering underneath it.
"If you wanted to at least benefit from getting hurt, did you really have to hurt yourself?"
Ava rolled her eyes.
"What pains your enemies most is when you hurt them and then still make them pay the damage fee."
His tone remained completely calm, as though he were discussing something perfectly ordinary.
Ava nodded thoughtfully.
"Got it."
She narrowed her eyes at the phone.
"So, who's that person making you act like a green tea? Let me pray for them."
Luis chuckled.
"I'm just having fun."
"Of course you are."
"It cures my boredom for now."
He paused.
"And it helps stop me from leaving halfway through the competition."
"You're ridiculous ""Fine Talk later."."Ava added
"I know Later."
The call ended.
Ava lowered her phone.
Matthew, who had been watching the entire exchange with an expression of detached amusement, finally spoke.
"It seems it's in your family's blood to act fake."
Ava turned toward him.
"We only do it when we see something interesting."
She leaned closer, her eyes gleaming mischievously.
"And when we want to test that person's boundaries."
She suddenly kissed his lips.
It was brief, playful and completely deliberate.
Ava pulled back just enough to whisper,
"But I don't need to act."
Her eyes met his.
"I'm already interested in you."
Matthew's lips twitched.
"But it seems you like testing my boundaries, don't you?"
Before Ava could answer, Matthew stood and scooped her up.
He threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and started walking toward the door.
"Hey!"
Ava immediately began struggling.
"Matthew! You damn guy! You have no gentleman spirit!"
Matthew continued walking.
"You don't have to treat me like this! If you told me to leave, I would have!"
"Like hell you would."
Matthew unlocked the door.
"Do you even hear your own excuse?"
He glanced at her over his shoulder.
"Do you actually believe it?"
"Yes!"
"No." Matthew replied
The door opened.
Ava suddenly grinned.
"Matthew, you have a cute ass."
Matthew froze.
Before he could react, Ava reached down and poked his backside, giving it a playful squeeze.
Matthew's ears immediately turned red.
He lowered her onto the hallway floor and stared at her with a glare that would have been intimidating if his ears weren't betraying him.
"You should really check your brain."
His jaw tightened.
"Something is missing."
Ava opened her mouth.
"Maybe—"
Bang!
Matthew slammed the door shut in her face.
Ava stared at the closed door.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then a wicked smile slowly spread across her face.
"He's cute when he's embarrassed."
The next morning, Matthew's apartment door opened.
A man stepped inside, closed the door quietly behind him, and walked into the living room.
He placed a tablet on the table and stood there without saying a word.
He didn't move.
He didn't even look around.
He simply waited.
A few minutes later, footsteps sounded from the corridor.
Matthew appeared, still dressed in his nightwear.
His silver-black hair was slightly messy from sleep, but there was no trace of surprise on his face when he saw the man waiting in his living room.
He walked over to the couch and sat down.
Without saying anything, he picked up the tablet and began scrolling through the documents.
His expression remained calm.
"You found her?"
"Where is she?" Matthew asked.
"She is attending the number-one elite school, Young Master."
Matthew's finger continued scrolling.
"We also followed your instructions from last time. The family elders' spies still haven't found her. There haven't been any spies sent specifically to deal with her either."
The man paused.
"Instead, the family elders' spies were sent to follow you, Young Master."
Matthew said nothing His attention remained on the tablet.
His other hand rested against the couch, his index finger tapping lightly against the cushion.
"For now, don't drag her back There is a mole in the organization. If we send her back now, they'll go after her."He finally spoke.
"Should we have our men protect her?"
Matthew stopped scrolling.
He looked up.
"Why should we?"
His gaze moved lazily over the man.
"She wants to act brave, then she should protect herself."
His head tilted slightly.
"Am I wrong?"
The man remained silent.
"She needs to learn that the world isn't made of roses."Matthew's voice became quieter.
"She can suffer."
He placed the tablet down.
"Just don't let her die."
"Yes, Young Master."
The man picked up the tablet, turned around and left.
The door closed behind him.
For several seconds, the apartment was silent.
Then a dark figure suddenly appeared in the living room.
Matthew didn't even flinch.
"Boss."
The shadow's voice was low.
"Is it wise to use the family men?"
Matthew leaned back.
"If not, should I use mine?"
The shadow remained silent.
"Every child of the Carter family is given their own bodyguard. How much authority they receive and how many resources they can access depends on their growth and talent."
Matthew's lips curved faintly.
"I've already proven myself."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"So why wouldn't I use the resources I'm entitled to just because there's a mole?"
The shadow sighed.
"Boss, you're right. It's just that everyone's eyes are on you right now."
Matthew remained relaxed.
"You finally got the seal."
The shadow's voice carried growing irritation.
"The only thing left is the heir selection. Once that begins, you'll be able to enter the battle for the position of future head."
He paused.
"But she has to leave now."
Matthew's expression didn't change.
"Everyone is waiting for you to make a mistake. If they find one, they'll use it to take the seal from you."
The shadow's voice was filled with annoyance.
"You're already in a delicate position, Boss."
Matthew rested his head against his hand.
"And how are you so sure that becoming the future head would make things easier?"
The shadow fell silent.
"If I'm chosen as the future head, wouldn't I become even more of a target?"
Matthew's voice remained calm.
"Then there's the elders. The future of the clan. The family's enemies. The people waiting for an opportunity to challenge me."
A faint smile appeared on his lip.
"So many problems."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Enjoy this as a vacation instead of getting angry."
The shadow stared at him.
Matthew's eyes narrowed.
"And you should stop appearing like a ghost."
His tone remained completely serious.
"One day, I'll die of a heart attack before anyone manages to assassinate me."
The shadow's expression twitched.
Matthew waved his hand.
"Drop the food and go."
The shadow finally obeyed.
He placed the food on the table before disappearing as quietly as he had appeared.
Matthew was left alone in the living room once again.
His gaze drifted toward the closed door.
Then toward the untouched food.
He got up and walked to the kitchen to take a utensil .
The Crownside High Press Conference
That afternoon, before the evening post-competition ceremony and the introduction of the five Orenthal student representatives and their teachers who would be participating in Friday's competition—the very next day—Crownside High held a press conference.
The event was being hosted at the number-one event hall in Velmora City, a prestigious venue normally reserved for major conferences, award ceremonies, corporate celebrations, and high-profile public events.
The hall was large without feeling overwhelming.
Its walls were finished in warm ivory and soft stone-gray, broken by tall rectangular panels of dark wood that gave the room a polished, modern appearance.
Wide ceiling lights cast an even, warm glow over the space, while smaller recessed lights around the edges gave the hall a subtle evening-event atmosphere.
There was no excessive gold, no towering floral arrangements, and no unnecessary decorations.
Instead, the decorations were simple but carefully chosen.
Thin arrangements of white flowers mixed with muted green leaves sat in low glass vases along the walls.
Small arrangements of the Crownside High colors were placed at several points around the room, while a larger display of Crownside's emblem stood behind the stage.
At the back of the hall, a wide digital screen displayed:
CROWNSIDE HIGH — UNITY DAY INTERNATIONAL TALENT COMPETITION
Beneath it was the competition emblem, surrounded by a simple arrangement of silver and white lighting.
The atmosphere was somewhere between a professional press conference and a small celebration.
Six round tables had been arranged across the center of the hall, leaving wide walking spaces between them.
Each table had five chairs, meaning the room was far from packed.
The tables were covered with crisp ivory tablecloths, with narrow dark-green runners placed through the center.
Small glass vases holding white flowers sat in the middle of each table beside neatly arranged bottles of water, glasses, notepads, pens, and small identification cards.
The chairs were simple but elegant, upholstered in dark fabric with slim metallic frames.
Journalists, reporters, photographers, and paparazzi were already seated around the tables.
Some were whispering among themselves.
Others were checking notes on tablets and phones.
Several reporters had their cameras ready, while photographers adjusted their lenses toward the stage.
A few television crews stood along the sides of the room beside their equipment, their cameras already positioned toward the long table.
The atmosphere was expectant.
Everyone knew Crownside High had won the competition.
Everyone also knew what had happened during the final challenge.
And everyone knew that some of the Averis representatives had been invited to attend.
Their presence was deliberate.
Neither side wanted the public to believe that Crownside High and Averis had completely fallen out after the incident.
The arrangement allowed both sides to speak publicly about what had happened while maintaining the appearance of cooperation between the two institutions.
At the front of the hall stood a slightly raised stage.
A long rectangular table stretched across it, covered in an ivory cloth with a dark-green runner running neatly along its center.
Thirteen chairs stood behind the table.
Every seat had a small nameplate placed in front of it.
At the center sat the Vice President of Averis's capital country.
His expression was composed, though the faint tension around his eyes suggested that the afternoon would not be entirely comfortable.
Immediately beside him sat the Head of Student Affairs, followed by the Dean of Affairs.
The next chair was empty.
Its nameplate remained untouched.
Beside the empty seat sat two Crownside High teachers, both representing the school's administration.
At the other end of the table sat two Crownside students, selected from the ten students who had represented the school during the competition.
The remaining seats were occupied by the two Averis teachers and the two Averis girls involved in the controversy.
The two girls sat together.
Their posture was noticeably different from the confident attitude they had displayed before the incident.
One kept her hands folded tightly in her lap.
The other repeatedly glanced toward the audience, then quickly looked away whenever a camera pointed in her direction.
They had already been instructed to apologize publicly for what had happened during the competition.
But after their previous attempts to manipulate the situation and shift blame toward Crownside, nobody on the stage was willing to take their words at face value anymore.
The cameras continued recording.
The journalists waited.
The photographers occasionally raised their cameras, capturing the expressions of everyone seated at the long table.
At the center of the stage, the microphone lights switched on.
The room gradually fell silent.
The press conference was about to begin.
The moment the footsteps approached from backstage, the low murmur of the hall began to fade.
They were steady and unhurried.
Then Ava appeared.
She stepped through the backstage entrance wearing an ivory ruffled halter crop top with a plunging V-neckline, delicate ruching beneath the bust, and backless tie-up straps.
The matching ivory tiered maxi skirt fell lightly around her legs, its soft ruffles layered over one another, while small black bow ribbons were arranged down the front, adding a playful contrast to the pale outfit.
A woven straw market tote hung from one hand, its structured braided handles resting neatly against her fingers.
Gold-plated linear drop earrings brushed lightly against her neck, each finished with tiny dangling pearls.
Around her wrist was a classic slim gold-tone chain-link watch.
The outfit did nothing to hide her slim, slightly athletic curves. Instead, the ivory fabric seemed to make her complexion stand out even more.
Her skin was pale and luminous, almost milky beneath the warm lights, with a glossy smoothness that made it look as though light itself rested across it.
Her face was just as striking.
Soft, heart-shaped features gave her an almost delicate appearance, while her hazel-blue siren eyes carried an unusual contradiction—dark enough to appear mysterious, yet innocent enough to make her expression seem harmless at first glance.
A tiny beauty mark rested near the outer corner of one eye.
Her nose was small, straight, and delicate.
Her soft pink lips were coated with a subtle glossy sheen.
Her long red hair had been straightened until the naturally soft waves barely remained, falling smoothly down her back.
Every feature seemed carefully balanced with the next. Nothing competed with the other.