When They Beg, I Rise!

Lemira caught sight of Lucian and Alaric making their entrance, but her reaction was nothing out of the ordinary.

She calmly addressed Michel, "Let's schedule another time then."

Michel nodded and turned to face Alaric, "Come on, if I had a sister with talent like hers, I'd be treating her like gold, waiting on her hand and foot. And here you are, fussing over a newbie 'sister' while neglecting the real deal with actual talent. It's like missing the forest for the trees."

Alaric's face turned a shade of steel blue, "Shut up! You know nothing!"

He wasn't sidelining Lemira!

He wanted nothing more than for Lemira to stay with SkyBlaze and compete in the finals!

It's just a small tiff between him and his sister.

After Michel left, other eager coaches approached Lemira, handing out their business cards.

Alaric was left on the sidelines, silently watching Lemira being treated like a star.

He thought to himself: If Lemira ignores these people and doesn't join the Reapers.

He would swallow his pride and not hold it against her for playing him.

Eventually, Lemira collected a stack of business cards, more than she had anticipated.

"Lemmy, congrats," Lucian finally approached her after the crowd had dispersed, eyeing Lemira cautiously.

He noticed that Lemira had changed a lot.

Lemira glanced at Lucian, "Thanks."

Alaric couldn't help but step forward, "Lemira, you still haven't answered my question. Why keep it a secret from me? Was it fun?"

Lemira slightly lifted her eyelid, noticing the unease in Alaric's eyes.

Interesting, was Alaric feeling guilty?

Lemira's tone was cold, "I'm planning to tell you after the last exam, but do you remember what you said in my room that day? Do you need me to repeat it?"

Her voice was calm but it struck Alaric like a sharp knife, deeply wounding him.

Alaric remembered his harsh words that day and was immediately filled with regret.

The harder his words were then, the more embarrassing they felt now.

His eyes reddened, "Then why didn't you tell me at the time?"

"I had no obligation to."

"What do you mean, no obligation?"

Alaric stepped in front of Lemira, "I'm your brother. I thought the conflicts between us are just minor arguments, nothing more. I

misspoke that day, you could have just corrected me. Why didn't you?"

If Lemira had spoken up that day, none of this would have happened.

Maybe Lemira wouldn't have gone to PixelStage.

Without a word, Lemira stepped back, putting distance between them.

This cold and aloof gesture saddened Alaric.

Jessica, with a touch of sarcasm, chimed in, "Lemira has been wronged by Evelina for years. Now you're tasting the same bitterness. Just the beginning and you can't handle it? Imagine what Lemira has been through!"

Alaric defensively replied, "That's why I'm asking her, why didn't she speak up? If she had, none of this would have happened, right?" Raising her voice, Jessica said, "So, you're saying this is all Lemira's fault?"

"Isn't it?" Alaric replied reflexively,

then glanced guiltily at Lemira, "We're family. Couldn't we have resolved it by talking? By hiding your identity and making a splash a PixelStage, weren't you just showing off to me?"

Lemira lifted her eyelid, "If that's what you think, I can't help it."

She didn't go to PixelStage to show off!