?Chapter 1451:


    The dealer tossed the shreds high, and they exploded into the air like torn feathers, scattering across the stage in a chaotic dance.


    The instant Christina and Noah made their move, Brendon’s heart stuttered in his chest.


    The two shed in a blur of motion—sharp, fast, unrelenting. But it was obvious Christina was fighting to keep up; Noah was faster, sharper, almost too smooth.


    Brendon’s muscles locked up. His palms were slick with sweat, his heartbeat wild as panic began to w at his gut.


    She didn’t stand a chance against Noah’s precision, and Brendon knew it. If she lost here, the vultures online would tear her apart without mercy.


    The crowd sat frozen, barely breathing, too scared to even blink in case they missed something.


    Even when they squinted, it was impossible to tell what the hell the yers were grabbing.


    “What are they even fighting over? I can’t see a damn thing… Oh no, she’s falling behind. Is she really not cut out for this?” someone whispered.


    “They’re just snatching random scraps. Who even knows what those pieces are?” another muttered.


    “God, I’m getting dizzy just watching. This is nuts. Only Epic could win something like this… And of course, Epic’s MIA.”


    The audience buzzed with confusion, while the livestream chat exploded with disbelief and sarcasm.


    “What the heck! How are they supposed to grab the exact pieces to make a full card?” onement read.


    “If it were me, I’d end up with a pile of junk. She’s losing to Noah—he’s way faster,” another viewer typed.


    “They’re moving like lightning! They have to grab the scraps, build a full card before it hits the ground, and thenpare. This is insane!”


    While the chat kept spiraling, Dn sat calmly on a private jet en route to Kitaso.


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    He had the livestream ying too. When Christina started to stumble, he smiled faintly—relieved, oddly enough.


    Despite how it looked, Dn had no doubt—Christina was going to win.


    “Mr. Scott, why are you smiling? Aren’t you worried she might lose?” Edwin asked, clearly anxious.


    “She’s got this,” Dn said, calm and sure.


    “But sir… She’s falling behind. Noah’s ahead,” Edwin said, still not getting it.


    Edwin didn’t want to doubt Christina, but the way the match looked… it really seemed like she was getting pushed around by Noah.


    He watched with a knot in his gut. He clearly didn’t know Christina well enough to tell her skills.


    Dn did. Dn knew her better than anyone in that entire venue, and he understood exactly what Christina was capable of.


    Which was why, from the first exchange, he knew Noah was outmatched.


    So why had she let herself fall behind again and again?


    Because she wanted to. Because that was part of her setup. She was letting Noah taste just enough “victory” to rx his guard, cushioning him into that sweet spot of arrogance where people stopped thinking and started slipping.


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