Chapter 16

“With so much time left, I’ll give it my all.”

Orion’s gaze settled on her, eventually lowering as he said coolly, “Don’t ask such simplistic questions in the future.”

Lemira chuckled. Was that his way of saying she could keep asking?

For the following days, Lemira lingered in the infirmary after school, not leaving until her homework was finished. Evelina, however, began losing focus in class due to her esports training, even falling asleep during lessons. Naturally, being a teacher’s pet, Evelina merely had to mention feeling unwell, and the teacher overlooked it.

Lemira saw Evelina bragging about the training camp on Facebook, posting photos and videos of herself battling alongside her brothers in the game, all under a unified team tag. That name was the same as in her past life, though Lemira hadn’t been a part of it.

“Too busy gaming to do your homework?” Orion approached, noticing the gaming video on her phone.

Lemira shook her head. “No, just browsing. Studying’s my top priority right now.”

“With the midterm exam next week, if you make it into the top hundred, you can play the game.”

Lemira looked up, smiling. “Then, will you be my lead?” She knew Orion played the game, too.

Orion, with a half-lowered gaze, remained effortlessly cool. He replied, “Haven’t played in a while. Let’s see how you do in the exam.”

“It’s a promise, then.”

Watching Orion leave, Lemira was determined to rank in the top hundred. After all, Orion seemed quite confident in his skills. In her previous life, she had been a skilled gamer herself. Perhaps she could surprise Orion and reclaim some of her pride.

Suddenly, Lemira looked forward to it.

After finishing her homework, she headed home, only to find Lucian sitting on the couch as she entered the living room. Her heart skipped a beat. Why was he home early? Weren't her brothers at the training camp, usually returning late?

Lucian looked up, his tone stern. “Where have you been? It’s late!”

Lemira’s heart raced, hoping he hadn’t discovered her after-school visits to the infirmary. She didn’t want to lose that last bit of solitude.

Looking down, she replied, “I was at the public library. It’s quiet there, it helps me focus.”

“Let me see your backpack.”

Handing it over, Lemira watched as Lucian flipped through her notebooks, filled with notes and practice tests. After a thorough inspection, Lucian looked puzzled. The butler had reported that Lemira hadn’t been coming home on time, and they didn’t know where she was. It turned out she had been studying.

Lucian set the backpack down. “Lemon, we need to talk.”

“Lucian, what about?”

Seeing the quiet Lemira before him, Lucian felt she had changed significantly, though he couldn’t quite place how. Previously, Lemira would have been tearfully protesting or even tattling. But now, she remained silent. It seemed Lemira was slipping from their control.

Lucian began, “Eve’s been improving rapidly. If you joined the training, you could progress together. You have the talent. Taking some time for the training camp won’t hinder your studies. Wouldn’t it be nice for us to be united as a family? Asher would be so pleased to see us all getting along.”

Lemira looked down, her gaze faintly mocking. She firmly responded, “I don’t want to join the team.”

“Lemira, Evelina is part of our family, and so are you. We should move forward together, not alienate her as you are. After all, her father saved your life!”

Lucian couldn’t understand. He had given her so many opportunities; why couldn’t Lemira see that? Their kindness to Evelina was intended to repay her father’s debt.

The living room fell into an uncomfortable silence, the tense atmosphere almost suffocating Lemira. Clutching her fists, she was at her breaking point. To hell with it!

Lemira retorted sarcastically, “Lucian, would you be satisfied if I just handed my life over to Evelina?”