A Fake Heiress’s Guide to Love and Power novel Chapter 399

The sports day kicked off before anyone knew it, but as with every school, every grade, the event couldn’t begin without slogging through an endless and tedious opening speech. Only after the speakers had had

their say did things finally get underway.

The competition itself was organized into multiple rounds. Thankfully, the school was big enough: first through third graders gathered at the east field, while fourth through sixth graders assembled at the west field. This way, no one was crammed together, time wasn’t wasted, and as many students as possible could join in the fun.

Normally, students who weren’t competing would sit with their class at the assigned spot, while those representing the school made their way to the field to prepare. As soon as their event ended, they supposed to return to their class and weren’t allowed to wander off.

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The first event was the relay race–a classic display of teamwork, and the unofficial opening to the inter–grade competitions. Surprisingly, Ivan was

one of the relay runners.

Even Alessia couldn’t hide her astonishment.

Ivan’s personality wasn’t the kind that changed overnight. He had always gone his own way, never asking for help if he could do something on his own. Group events like the relay? In the past, he would never have signed

1. up.

Taking part in the relay meant sacrificing time every day to practice with the team, learning to build trust and coordination. Ivan, quiet and reserved, wasn’t exactly known for his social skills. For him, group events could easily feel like torture.

Yet there he was, with Zane slinging an arm around his shoulders, grinning from ear to ear, saying something that made Ivan crack a rare smile.

York nudged Zane–nothing too forceful–and Zane, ever the live wire,

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Chapter 399

bumped him right back with his shoulder, refusing to be outdone. The two jostled, neither giving ground.

Ivan just slipped quietly between the two, clearly used to their antics.

The wrestling stopped, but their mouths kept going, still bickering over something or other. Ivan’s lips curled into a faint smile; he looked relaxed, the edge of nervousness from earlier completely gone.

Alessia observed their playful interactions with a knowing smile, then reached for the camera Cole had been carrying and began snapping photos of the trio.

She’d done her homework on Zane’s family–nothing suspicious there. His parents were straightforward, easygoing folks. Recently, they’d even started a food processing partnership with the Mortons. Honest,

hardworking people, and careful about food safety–after all, they had kids of their own.

It made sense that a family like Zane’s could raise such a cheerful,

carefree kid.

Ivan was sensitive and thoughtful, but having Zane and York–both easygoing, carefree boys–around him was probably the best thing that could have happened.

Their personalities balanced each other out perfectly: Ivan, quiet and steady; Zane, optimistic and open–hearted; York, sharp and quick–witted. Together, they brought out the best in each other–an ideal trio.

They joined the other contestants at the edge of the track to warm up. Another boy, their relay’s fourth and final member, joined them. After a brief round of introductions, he followed the teacher’s directions to his place.

The starting gun cracked through the air. Their lead runner shot off the line, quickly pulling ahead of the pack.

He ran with a professional grace–no surprise, given his parents were athletes and had groomed him for track since he was little. The kid had

real talent.

Chapter 399

Zane took the second leg. He was a bit bulkier than the others and the baton handoff was a little shaky, but thanks to the huge lead their first runner had managed, Zane kept them comfortably in first place and got the baton to York without losing ground.