?Chapter 450:


    With a mocking gesture, she lifted her pinky finger and tilted her head, continuing, “Why are you making such a big deal? Guess you’re just a newbie.”


    “I’m a newbie?” Mnie’s anger shifted toughter. “You, from ss Three, have the nerve to question me?”


    “And why can’t I?” Marisa took a step forward, her voice steady. “Only the weak make excuses. The strong prove themselves.”


    Mnie lost her temper. Her entire life, people had worshipped her. No one had ever dared speak to her like this. She took a step forward, gritting her teeth. “I don’t waste my time like you. Anyone from this ss could wipe the floor with you, ss Three trash, at gaming!”


    “Anyone can talk tough,” Marisa sneered, crossing her arms. “Are you really worried about wasting time, or is it that you’re afraid that when you face realpetition, without your fancyst name, everyone will see what a joke you are?”


    “You!” Mnie was at a loss for words, her chest rising and falling with fury.


    Marisa had really gotten under Mnie’s skin. No one had ever insulted her like this, let alone twice.


    Mnie had always been the top student. How could she possibly lose to someone like Marisa in anything, especially gaming?


    “I’m not a newbie!” Mnie snapped. “Even when ites to games, I’m way better than you!”


    Marisa’s grin widened. “Oh really? Fine, let’s settle this. But I don’t waste time with weaklings. I’ll give you a week to practice. It only took me that long to crack the top ten on the leaderboard.”


    Mnie’s face grew even darker. “Quit pretending! Fine, what game? I’m going to beat you!”


    The students around them stared in shock, not believing that Mnie had fallen for it so easily.


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    But it looked like they were in for quite a show.


    Marisa seemed at ease. “Right on time. There’s a tournament for this game next week. If you make it to the finals, we can finally have our showdown.”


    She then added casually after a brief pause, “Oh, and the first prize is a hundred thousand dors. Thepetition’s fierce.”


    Ethan felt a jolt in his chest.


    A hundred thousand dors!?


    If he won that, it might be enough to ease some of the load on his sister.


    And Maia’s birthday was just around the corner.


    Ethan recalled Kathie mentioning that Maia and Rosanna had been born on the same day. That was how the baby swap had happened. With that money, he could get Maia the perfect birthday gift. Ethan quietly balled his fists.


    Mnie, however, dismissed the idea of prize money with augh. “A hundred grand? Who cares about that? I just want to defeat you!”


    Earlier, apologizing to Ethan hadpletely shattered Mnie’s reputation in ss. Mnie had been struggling to rebuild her image, and now Marisa had given her a chance to do just that. If she could beat Marisa, Mnie wouldn’t just fix her reputation; she’d be back on top of the socialdder.


    Mnie tilted her head with confidence. “If we’re going topete, let’s make it interesting. If I win, you’ll have to call me boss whenever you see me.”


    “Fine!” Marisa responded with a carefreeugh. “But if you lose…” Marisa paused, thinking it over. Having Mnie call her boss seemed too dull. Marisa didn’t even care about her enough for that.


    Then, Marisa spotted Ethan, and a devilish idea popped into her head. She grinned sweetly and said, “If you lose, you’ll have to apologize to Ethan and his sister Maia again — right in front of everyone — and promise that you won’t cross them again. How’s that?”


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