The supervisor hunched over, his attitude respectful and eager to please—pletely different from the dismissive impatience he had shown Anneliese earlier.


    Gianna took the number tag, nced at Anneliese, and asked, "She''s a senior I know. What''s going on?"


    The supervisor quickly exined that he couldn''t find her registration details, and Gianna frowned.


    "Can''t you make an exception?"


    "That''s absolutely not possible. Thepetition is about to start, and all thepetition devices are already set up. There''s no way to add anyonest minute, Ms. Malone, please don''t make things difficult for us..."


    Gianna turned to Anneliese, giving her a regretful look. "Anneliese, I really wish I could help you, but I''m sorry, there''s nothing I can do. This staff member is just following the rules. I know you want topete, but I don''t think you''d me the staff for a mistake on your end, right?"


    There was mockery and contempt in Gianna''s eyes. She''d had a rough couple of days, so picking on Anneliese made her feel much better.


    With thepetition about to start, even if Anneliese went toin to Jonathan now, there just wasn''t enough time to fix this. She was definitely going to miss her chance.


    Last time, Anneliese had been used of using her looks to get into a topb, but somehow she came out clean. This time, Gianna had already arranged for media coverage, ready to paint Anneliese as eye candy with no real skills-washed up after years out of the field, all talk and no talent. She''d be branded as a coward who ran away at thest minute.


    Once Gianna won the championship, Anneliese would be the perfect contrast and her stepping stone.


    "I didn''t know you werepeting too, Ms. Malone."


    Anneliese saw Gianna and knew right away where the problemy.


    Gianna had always had it out for her. With Adrian''spany being one of the event''s two main sponsors, it would be easy for her to get Anneliese''s entry revoked.


    Gianna smirked, "Unlike you, Anneliese, I''m always low-key. Prof. Clocke expects so much from you, but you even messed up your registration. He''ll be so disappointed."


    "Enough, Gianna, thepetition is about to start. Let''s go get ready," Pepper said, stepping forward.


    Gianna shrugged and tried to walk past, but Anneliese blocked her path and grabbed her wrist.


    Gianna tried to pull away and red at Anneliese in anger.


    "What are you doing? Let go!"


    Anneliese leaned in and said coldly in her ear, "Gianna, this was all your doing, right? You really think that


    canceling my registration mean


    you''re guaranteed to win? You''re too Scared topete against me, huh? Is that the best you can do?"


    "Don''t try to provoke me. I—"


    Gianna gritted her teeth, but Anneliese cut her off.


    "You''re so petty and low, no wonder Zane doesn''t want you! Madam Chalmont is amazing. There''s no way she could''ve given birth to someone like you."


    Every word hit Gianna right where it hurt, and she red at Anneliese, her voice cold.


    "So what if I stopped you frompeting? Anneliese, who do you think you are? You only get by because you seduce men... Ah!"


    Gianna didn''t expect Anneliese to p her hard in front of everyone before she could finish.


    Smack!


    The pping sound was crisp and sharp. Gianna was so stunned that she just stood there, holding her face.


    Pepper reacted fast and lunged at Anneliese, yelling, "You bitch!"


    Anneliese raised her hand, caught Pepper''s wrist, and shoved her away.


    Pepper stumbled back a couple of steps, crying out in shock.


    Themotion drew a crowd, including several reporters waiting nearby.


    The quicker ones already had their cameras trained on the scene.


    Gianna lowered her hand, showing off the p mark on her face, and stared at Anneliese with red eyes. "Anneliese, you couldn''tpete, now


    you''re stopping me too How could you do this?"


    Pepper frowned. "Ms. ude, you and Gianna are both in Prof.


    Clocke''sb. He favors you and rmends you for this challenge. Gianna had to work hard to get her spor. Now you missed your chance to register, and you''re just afraid Gianna will do better than you in theb. Still, that''s no excuse to hit someone in public."