Eight names appeared on the large screen, students from top universities around the world.
Everyone scanned the list anxiously for Natalie's name. Given her injury, even making it into the top ten would be enough to prove her ability. No one could be expected to get first place every time, but a top-ten finish would validate her preliminary round victory.
They searched and searched, but her name wasn't there.
“Natalie’s name isn’t there.”
“I don’t see it either. What a shame. Her name is missing.”
Marie sneered. “Of course her name isn’t there. She’s just a pathetic clown. Failing to even make the top ten is all the proof anyone needs that she faked her way through the preliminaries.”
Ken grew even more arrogant. “Natalie, you couldn’t even break the top ten. Are you still going to deny you cheated in the preliminary round?”
“Are your eyes bad or is your brain?” Lucas shot back. “There are still two spots left.”
He was right. They had only announced third through tenth place.
The champion and runner-up were still to be revealed.
“Natalie, you can’t possibly be dreaming of first or second place, can you? Do you think the rest of us are idiots?” Ken taunted.
“You can consider yourself an idiot if you lose, but don’t drag everyone else down with you,” Natalie replied, her voice calm but confident.
Her response was like an invisible slap across Ken’s face.
He turned green with rage. How could she still act so certain of victory at a time like this?
“Natalie, you still haven’t given up? You think you can win the championship? That’s a joke. I’m the champion, and the runner-up won’t be a housewife like you either.”
Nicholas and the others looked ready to intervene, but Natalie stopped them with a slight raise of her uninjured left hand.

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