Chapter 455

The clash of blades rang sharply, filling the hall with harsh echoes.

Hannah appeared trapped in pure defense, unable to muster any strike of her own.

Across the fencing piste, Lindsay dominated the exchange with ease.

Elvin exhaled with satisfaction. "Mr. MacLeod, I know envy burns in you, but reckless words should be avoided, yes? My daughter's victory is plain."

Elvin shifted his gaze to Claude with smug amusement. "Claude, recognize Lindsay's brilliance,and perhaps stop having your sight only on your acquaintance a little."

Claude grasped the hidden barb within Elvin's speech. His hands curled into fists, though he kept his expression steady, answering, "Mr. Cortez,you're right."

Claude's chest grew heavy as he observed Hannah constantly giving ground, his spirit sinking deeper each time she stepped back. It seemed inevitable that Hannah would lose the game. Lindsay looked certain to secure triumph. Irritation pushed him to massage his temples.

Nikolas resisted arguing with Elvin, instead whispering to Aylin, "Are you certain Hannah will prevail?"

Aylin answered, "From what I see, it looks that way.Ms. Scott hasn't released her true force; she's only assessing for now."

Nikolas kept his eyes fixed on the duel. "Elvin's arrogance is unbearable. I pray Hannah wins.Hopefully, your reading is accurate."

Vincent also watched intently, unaffected by Hannah's apparent disadvantage. Instead, a confident smile surfaced, filled with quiet admiration. Vincent had seen through it. Though Hannah appeared at a disadvantage, every backward step,each deflecting motion, and every dodge struck with exact calculation. She was holding back deliberately.She was merely tiring Lindsay out, while observing and gathering her strength.

She deliberately allowed Lindsay to dominate,coaxing the latter into a false sense of sure victory and lowering her guard, and thus exposing more weaknesses.

Vincent chuckled. Hannah's strike was imminent.

On the fencing piste, Lindsay brimmed with arrogance, slashing while sneering, "Hah, that's all you've got? You're hopeless against me! Just give in!"

Underneath her helmet, Hannah's lips curled into a cold smile. Her voice was calm as she replied,"That's not true."

Before the final syllable left her lips, Hannah's presence shifted explosively. Her movements grew nimble, no longer ceding ground but pressing forward in fierce pursuit.

With a lightning lunge, Hannah pierced at the flaw Lindsay unknowingly revealed on her lower right side.

Lindsay yanked her foil back to defend, already too late. She cursed inwardly that she would only permit this one strike.

But this was merely the opening. Hannah's charge grew fiercer, her foil flashing relentlessly, sending Lindsay backward in haste.

Where moments ago Lindsay had carried overwhelming force, now she staggered helplessly-gaps erupting constantly in her guard.

Hannah drove her momentum higher, alternating bursts of speed and measured shifts-until Lindsay's rhythm broke entirely.

In stunned silence, Hannah erased the deficit and then surged ahead in mere heartbeats. Point after point fell to her. "No... Impossible!" Lindsay shrieked, panic warping her attacks into wild chaos.

In the final moments, Hannah struck clean against Lindsay's chest protector with surgical accuracy.

The scoring lamp flashed instantly.

"Match finished! Victor-Hannah Scott!" the referee's voice thundered through the venue.

Claude blinked hard. Hannah actually triumphed?And so resoundingly, so flawlessly? An ecstatic rush overwhelmed him, forcing a cheer from his lips."Amazing, Hannah! Truly brilliant!"

Vincent remained seated, wearing a knowing grin, his eyes glowing with both admiration and pride. He had always believed she would emerge victorious.

Year back, during Hannah's pursuit of Vincent, she'd insisted he teach her fencing, pestering him until he'd ultimately relented. He had taken her along to the club, letting her train whenever possible.

Their bond had ignited swiftly during those sessions. It was during one of those times she had first brushed a kiss against his cheek. But once wed,they never crossed foils together again.

Vincent gathered his thoughts. He had always sensed Hannah's innate gift in fencing. Her triumph came as no surprise to him.

Nikolas regarded Lindsay's defeated demeanor and then glanced at Elvin's furious face, bursting into laughter."Well now! Mr. Cortez, how unbelievable that your daughter lost despite her skills honed through multiple training sessions! And lost so thoroughly. Ha-ha! Seems your earlier confidence was misplaced after all!"

Elvin's complexion turned crimson with rage. His glare bore into Hannah as she calmly lowered her foil,his eyes seething with disbelief, fury, and humiliation.His carefully laid scheme for the prized Jones Group shares had collapsed entirely. The surge of fury made him dizzy, nearly toppling.

Lindsay,broken, removed her mask, her skin ghostly,voice quivering with denial. "No... Impossible! How did you defeat me? There's no way you could have beaten me fairly! You must have cheated!"