The gymnasium buzzed with anticipation as I entered flanked by Alaric and Eamon Greene. Heads turned, whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire. I could feel the weight of their stares—some curious, others hostile.
"There he is," someone murmured. "The troublemaker from the Sterling family."
"Isn't he the one who humiliated Julian Hawthorne?"
"I heard he's nothing without the Ashworth family backing him."
I ignored the chatter, my focus locked on the platform ahead where Marcus Valerius stood waiting. Before I could reach him, a figure stepped directly into my path. Nora Donovan's eyes blazed with contempt as she blocked my way.
"Well, if it isn't the traitor himself," she spat, loud enough for nearby spectators to hear.
I maintained my composure. "Excuse me, Miss Donovan. I have a match to attend."
