\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
M\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe I can play better than her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words left my mouth echoing through the courtyard, reaching every corner, and every ear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air went still. Even the soft music and chatter from before died instantly. I could feel every gaze turn toward me, stunned, curious, some even offended by my audacity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even Alpha Rhydian\u2019s eyes widened slightly before his lips curved into a small, amused smirk. \u201cInteresting,\u201d he said, his tone calm, but there was a spark of intrigue there, like he wanted to see where this would go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could say anything else, a soft, delicate voice broke through the silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy deepest apologies, Alpha,\u201d my stepmother said, bowing her head slightly, her tone the perfect mix of regret and politeness. \u201cIt seems I did not train this girl properly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head slightly, my eyes narrowing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is lying to you,\u201d she continued smoothly. \u201cSelene has never even touched the instrument before. I doubt she even knows what it looks like. She\u2019s simply trying to gain attention. I know it\u2019s a crime to lie to an Alpha, but please forgive her. She always acts impulsively. I will make sure to discipline her properly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A perfect performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To everyone else, she sounded like a mother trying to protect her foolish child from punishment. But I could hear the venom beneath her words, the satisfaction in her tone. She didn\u2019t care if I got punished, she wanted me punished. She wanted to humiliate me publicly, to stain my name in front of everyone important.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And for a moment, the whispers around the courtyard picked up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow shameful\u2026 how can she lie to the Alpha?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRight? I heard she\u2019s an attention-seeking girl. I wasn\u2019t sure if it was true before, but seeing her now, it must be.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s so annoying. I\u2019ve heard her sister play, her sister\u2019s incredible. There\u2019s no way she\u2019s better than her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Rhydian wasn\u2019t easily fooled. His expression didn\u2019t change, he only leaned back slightly in his seat, smiling faintly. \u201cIs that true, Selene?\u201d he asked. \u201cYou\u2019ve never touched the instrument before??\u00a0<\/p>\n
I opened my mouth to answer, but another voice cut through the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Alpha,\u201d Sienna said quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her tone was laced with that humility she always wore like a mask. She stepped forward slightly, bowing her head. \u201cMy sister has never seen or played the harp before.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my head toward her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her face was the picture of innocence, her lips curved in a small, sisterly smile, her eyes full of concern. But beneath that sweetness, I saw mockery, gleaming behind her gaze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSelene,\u201d she said, voice soft. \u201cWhy are you telling lies to the Alpha? Please don\u2019t do that. You know you\u2019ve never touched the harp before, so how could you possibly play it? And better than me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She gave a small laugh. \u201cI\u2019ve been playing since I was a child. There\u2019s simply no way you could play better than me. Please be\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:49 Tue, Dec 23 MG\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40\u00a0<\/p>\n
honest. Don\u2019t embarrass yourself any further. I don\u2019t want the Alpha to get angry with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crowd murmured again, nodding to her words. To them, she sounded so kind, and reasonable, while I was the arrogant fool who dared to challenge her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled slowly, meeting her gaze, the corners of my lips curving upward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of jumping to the conclusion that I cannot play,\u201d I said, my voice calm but firm enough for everyone to hear, \u201cwhy don\u2019t we just find out?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The courtyard fell silent again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head slightly toward Sienna. \u201cThe both of us can play together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna blinked, her lips parting slightly. For a second, she looked as if she couldn\u2019t believe I had actually said that. Then she raised a perfectly shaped brow, masking her shock behind a smile that didn\u2019t quite reach her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPlay together?\u201d She repeated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned to the Alpha, giving a graceful bow of my head. \u201cWhat do you think, Alpha Rhydian? Can my sister and I play together? I\u2019m sure it will be quite entertaining for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Rhydian leaned back in his seat, studying me with a look that almost seemed intrigued. His lips curved into a knowing smile. \u201cSure, why not? We still have time before the full moon ceremony begins.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I may ask, Alpha,\u201d I said, lifting my gaze to meet his, \u201csince this will be almost like a competition, can the winner ask for something?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He paused mid-movement, one brow arching higher as he studied me again. \u201cAsk for something?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Alpha, can the winner ask for anything?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a murmur of surprise around us, people whispering, wondering what I was thinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before the Alpha could reply, my father\u2019s deep voice broke in. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t seem like a bad idea, Alpha,\u201d he said with a small smile. \u201cIt could be a fun game to pass the time before the ceremony.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course. He was already picturing Sienna\u2019s victory, imagining the family gaining the Alpha\u2019s favor through her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stepmother quickly chimed in. \u201cYes, it would be delightful, Alpha. It\u2019s just a harmless little competition.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even Sienna joined in, her eyes glimmering with confidence as she turned to me, smiling like a cat ready to play with her prey. \u201cIt sounds fun, Selene, let\u2019s do it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced between the three of them, my father, stepmother, and sister and for a moment, amusement rippled through me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A few minutes ago, they were all against the idea, trying to stop me from embarrassing the family name. But now that they were sure Sienna would win, they were eager,\u00a0<\/p>\n
They thought this would be their chance to humiliate me in front of everyone and gain favor from the Alpha at the same\u00a0<\/p>\n
time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How convenient.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned back to Alpha Rhydian, who was watching the exchange with that same unreadable smile. He seemed to understand exactly what was happening but didn\u2019t intervene. He was curious now, I could see it in his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside him, Adrian shifted slightly. His voice came low but firm, \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t, Father.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:49 Tue, Dec 23 @ MG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Rhydian only chuckled, ignoring his son\u2019s warning. His gaze returned to me, sharp and assessing, as if trying to read the thoughts behind my smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d he said finally. \u201cI will give the winner whatever they want.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gasps broke out across the courtyard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian groaned beside his father, rubbing a hand over his temple. \u201cYou\u2019re encouraging chaos,\u201d he muttered, but Alpha Rhydian didn\u2019t seem to care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna, meanwhile, looked radiant, her smile wide and full of certainty, as if the victory had already been handed to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled too because this was going exactly according to my plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u7530\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Tue, Dec 23<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 40 \u00a0 Chapter 40\u00a0 Chapter 40\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 M\u00a0 \u201cI believe I can play […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27834\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}