Delete My Love for You novel Chapter 37

Charlotte’s eyes darkened.

On stage, Xena blew Noah an exuberant air kiss, making the crowd titter.

Nearby, two contestants whispered, unable to hide their curiosity. “I heard Noah Harrington is Mr. Harrington’s son from his first marriage. But look at how close he is to Ms. Lancaster—it’s like they’re real mother and son.”

“Can you blame him? Mr. Harrington’s ex-wife was a total washout. Even her own kid didn’t want her. He chose his stepmom instead. Imagine being that much of a failure.”

“Guess it’s just as well the former Mrs. Harrington is out of the picture. One less person, the whole family’s happier.”

Beneath her fencing mask, Charlotte’s gaze narrowed again.

The match was about to begin.

As everyone expected, the early rounds quickly turned into the Xena Show.

Whether her opponents were seasoned veterans or wide-eyed rookies, the moment they faced Xena on the strip, their confidence seemed to evaporate.

The lure of money—and the subtle pressure from the Harrington family—hung over the competition like invisible shackles, sapping any will to fight.

“En garde!”

The referee’s call had barely faded when Xena launched forward—her movements stylish, but riddled with flaws. Not that it mattered; her opponent pretended not to notice, attacks halfhearted, defense practically nonexistent.

A beep sounded.

The scoreboard lit up. Point to Xena.

Her opponent played the part, stomping in mock frustration, but as soon as she left the stage, she was grinning at her phone, already checking her newly fattened bank balance.

“Point! Winner: Contestant One!”

“Point! Yet again, Contestant One wins!”

The announcer’s voice rang out again and again, each time met by applause from the audience and wild cheers from the VIP section, where Noah’s shouts of “Xena’s the best!” grew louder with every round.

The host’s voice crackled with excitement: “Today’s exclusive sponsor, Mr. Harrington of the Harrington Group, has announced an extra prize for the champion—a rare emerald bracelet valued at over a million dollars!”

The crowd exploded. In the seats below, everyone was buzzing:

“Ready!”

The referee, bored and disinterested, raised his hand.

Xena struck a textbook, theatrical starting pose, foil angled dramatically toward Charlotte.

“Begin!”

The word had barely left the referee’s mouth—

Xena started to follow her “script,” loading up a flashy, meaningless feint.

But the opponent—Contestant Eight—moved.

Charlotte didn’t hesitate for a second. Her opening burst was shockingly fast, closing the distance between her and Xena in a flash.

Her foil became a streak of icy silver lightning, thrusting straight for Xena’s weakest spot—her left shoulder. The blade landed with surgical precision, scoring a clean, undeniable hit.