?Chapter 471:


    In the stands, Maia let out a quiet, relieved exhale.


    Despite her confidence in Ethan’s abilities — his prowess in the game was undeniable — her anxiety had quietly gnawed at her throughout the match.


    Competitive gaming demanded every ounce of a yer’s skill, strategic acumen, and psychological resilience, rivaling the intensity of traditional sports.


    Her primary concern was Ethan’s psychological well-being.


    His harsh childhood in the slums had shaped him into a profound introvert, and today marked his debut in apetition of such magnitude. Could he truly adapt, mentally and emotionally, to the pressure of performing before an expansive audience?


    A wave of hesitation rippled through Maia’s chest, tightening her heart with unease.


    Maia’s brow was furrowed with worry, a detail that Chris didn’t miss.


    With a raised eyebrow, he inquired, “Do you know that yer named Ethan Watson?”


    Snapping out of her daze, Maia wavered for a moment before murmuring a soft, nomittal, “Yeah…”


    Chris rubbed his chin and pretended to ponder carefully. “You two share ast name… and you look like you’re ready to run onto the stage for him. Are you family?”


    Maia was taken aback, her heart skipping a beat.


    She had deliberately kept the truth about Ethan and Kathie from Chris, aiming to dodge any unnecessaryplications, particrly with their marriage destined toe to an end when her task waspleted. Thest thing she needed was their sham marriage bing the talk of the town, tangled in endless exnations that she’d rather avoid.


    Yet, Chris’ astuteness had caught her off guard. His intuition had pieced together the puzzle she hadn’t intended toy out so soon. Cornered, with her secrets peeling away, Maia resigned herself to transparency.


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    With a steadying breath, she confirmed in a level voice, “Yes, he’s my younger brother.”


    Chris’ eyes widened slightly, a flicker of realization crossing his features. “So you do have a brother! That exins your enthusiasm today!” His tone mixed surprise with a yful usation.


    He had, in fact, been privy to this information before. Maxwell had once offhandedly mentioned that Maia’s brother, Ethan, was part of the elite preparatory program at Wront University. However, since Maia had never brought it up, Chris had filed it away without further inquiry.


    Now, seeing Ethan in person for the first time — a young man whose striking resemnce to Maia was unmistakable — Chris couldn’t help but feel a bit unprepared.


    “I wish I’d known earlier; I would have brought a banner or something to cheer him on!” he joked, his smile faltering into a concerned frown. “Meeting him for the first time and Ie empty-handed. What should I do?”


    Maia quickly waved off his worry. “Really, it’s fine…”


    She was about to delve into the messy details — that Ethan was still unaware of their marriage — but the words tangled in her throat. It just seemed tooplex to unpack right then.


    Chris narrowed his piercing gaze at Maia, a mix of concern and determination flickering across his face. “That’s not right, Maia. He’s your brother, after all. It’s crucial that I make a good impression.”


    Maia remained silent, her fingers tensing ever so slightly, an unspoken storm brewing behind her calm exterior.


    Meanwhile, on the other side, Mnie’s expression morphed into one of sheer astonishment as she watched Ethan unexpectedly progress to the next round. “He actually won?” she murmured, disbelief tinging her voice.


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