I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 199: I’m Not Afraid Of A Little Competition

Chapter 199: I’m Not Afraid Of A Little Competition

Even after the came out of the shower, Levi was being very clingy. He insisted on helping apply lotion on her skin and by the time he was done, Lyse was panting with renewed excitement. With a final, playful shove, she managed to extricate herself from Levi’s amorous clutches. "I really have to go," she said, her voice a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "If I don’t leave now, I will be late."

Levi, still grinning mischievously, reluctantly released her. "Fine," he conceded, his eyes sparkling. "But you still owe me. Big time."

Lyse rolled her eyes, but her heart was light. She felt aglow, energized, ready to conquer the world. Even the thought of the upcoming competition, and the inevitable encounter with Brooke, could not dampen her spirits.

She quickly finished getting ready, her movements efficient and purposeful. She chose a simple but elegant dress, something comfortable yet stylish, and applied a light layer of makeup. She wanted to look professional, but also herself.

As she grabbed her bag and headed out the door, she couldn’t help but smile. Levi had been right. Starting the day with...pleasure...had been surprisingly invigorating. She felt confident, focused, and ready to take on whatever challenges the day might bring.

The drive to the competition venue was quick, but her excitement grew with each passing mile. She was almost late, but she made it. She was here, ready to compete, ready to showcase her talent.

As she entered the backstage area, she noticed that the place was not as rowdy as the previous day thanks to the contestants who had not passed the screening. Then her good mood plummeted when she saw Brooke, standing there along with her entourage as if she had been waiting, her face a picture of smug satisfaction even though Lyse could spot the disappointment in her eyes. She spotted Lyse and her smile widened, a predatory gleam in her eyes.

"Well, well," she drawled, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Look who finally decided to show up. I was beginning to think you had chickened out, Lyse. Got cold feet, perhaps?"

Lyse met Brooke’s gaze with a confident smile. "I would not miss this for the world, Brooke," she replied, her voice calm and even. "I’m not afraid of a little competition."

Brooke chuckled, a low, condescending sound. "Competition? Darling, this isn’t a competition. It’s a coronation. And I am the queen."

Lyse shrugged, refusing to be drawn into Brooke’s petty games. "We will see about that," she said, her voice light. "May the best woman win."

She walked away, leaving Brooke standing there, her smile faltering slightly. Brooke had expected Lyse to be flustered, intimidated, but she had been met with nothing but confidence and composure. It irritated her to no end.

Brooke watched Lyse as she moved through the backstage area, her head held high, her demeanor radiating confidence. She fumed inwardly. She had wanted to rattle Lyse, to make her doubt herself, but it had not worked. Lyse was still here, still competing, still a threat.

Brooke wished there was something she could do to stop Lyse, to eliminate her from the competition once and for all. But Levi had made sure that she was surrounded by security. There was no way to get to her, no way to sabotage her chances. She had to find another way.

She racked her brain, trying to come up with a new plan, a new strategy to get Lyse out of her way. She could not afford to let her win and if Lyse went on to compete, Brooke knew that her half sister would win without a doubt. The Golden Fleece was her ticket to success, her chance to solidify her position as the top designer in the city. And she would not let anyone, most especially Lyse, stand in her way.

She watched Lyse interact with her team, her face animated as she discussed last-minute details. She seemed so relaxed, so confident, so...happy. It infuriated Brooke. How dare she be so calm, so carefree, when Brooke was working so hard to undermine her?

She decided to try one more tactic. She walked over to Lyse, her smile carefully crafted, her voice dripping with false concern.

"Lyse," she said, her voice soft. "I have been thinking...about what happened yesterday. About the missing garment. About Cora."

Lyse turned to her, her expression neutral. "What about it, Brooke?"

"I just...I feel terrible," Brooke said, her voice laced with fake sincerity. "I didn’t realize how much it would affect you. I didn’t mean for things to go so far."

Lyse raised an eyebrow, her gaze skeptical. "Oh, really?" she said. "Because it seemed like you were enjoying it quite a bit, what with you planning it and all."

Brooke’s smile faltered. "I...I was just trying to win for once!" she stammered and raised hateful eyes at Lyse, her voice rising.

"I understand that you are willing to do anything to get what you want," Lyse replied, her voice firm. "Even if it means hurting someone else."

Brooke’s face flushed. "That is not true," she protested. "I would never intentionally hurt you, Lyse."

"Wouldn’t you?" Lyse said, her voice soft but pointed. "Because it certainly looked like you were trying to do just that and such "mistakes" have happened so many time before."

Brooke remained silent, her eyes darting away from Lyse’s gaze.

"Look, Brooke," Lyse continued, her voice gentler now. "I am not going to waste any more time on this. I have a competition to focus on. I suggest you do the same because petty tricks won’t help you."

She turned to walk away, but Brooke stopped her, her voice desperate.

"Please, Lyse," she begged. "Just...just let it go. Let’s forget about what happened. Let’s just move on."

Lyse looked at Brooke, her eyes filled with a mixture of pity and disappointment. "I can’t do that, Brooke," she said softly. "What you did was wrong. And you need to take responsibility for your actions."

She paused, then added, her voice firm, "But...I’m not going to let it ruin my day. I’m not going to let it distract me from my goals. I’m here to compete. I’m here to win. And nothing, not even you, is going to stop me. Your disgrace will be publicized for everyone to see."

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