When I told them I had made it into the finals, none of them believed me.
In fact, they laughed.
"What are you talking about?" Lincy said, lips curled in amusement. "That's a joke, right? Look your name isn't even on the list." She pointed confidently at the large display board.
This was a private competition. No rigid rules. No identity checks. Most people especially those hungry for recognition used their real names. That was why Camilla had entered openly instead of hiding behind an alias.
No one had mentioned my name once during the buildup.
So to them, I was bluffing.
Monica Ashbourne let out a soft laugh, covering her mouth like she was being polite instead of cruel.
"Riley," she said sweetly, "you've always tried to compete with Lincy. But without real talent, effort won't get you far. You should focus on being a good mate now. There's no need to embarrass yourself or worse, stain the Hale name."
Before I could speak, Lewis's voice cut through the air.
