22:39 Chapter 20 Orion swiftly locked his phone screen . Thaddeus raised an eyebrow , Judging by the profile pic , looks like its a girl . Wouldnt happen to be that girl you helped the other day , whats her name ? Your yapping is getting on my nerves . You just wont admit it . Youve been holed up in the infirmary last week , and now suddenly youre MIA , looking so gloomy these days . Got into a spat with her ? Orion turned away , his gaze sharp , Keep your nose out of my business . Weve been thick as thieves since we were in diapers , what dont I know about you ? Cut the act ! Orion , phone in hand , stepped out to the balcony , glancing briefly at their chat . So , she thinks of the health office as some kind of secret base ? thought he . He chuckled to himself unwittingly and opened her Facebook . Her posts were pretty much everyday stuff , very teen girl esque . He scrolled through her page , suddenly realizing hed spent too much time thinking about her . It felt unsettlingly out of control . Orion quickly exited the messaging app and turned back to the living room . Lemira waited all day but didnt get a response . Was he mad at her ? But she didnt dare to keep messaging him , deciding to wait until the test results were out on Monday . The entire weekend , Lemira was cooped up at home , hitting the books hard . Evelina and the brothers didnt come home either , staying at the training camp instead . Monday morning . Lemira went downstairs and finally saw Evelina and her brothers , their bond seemingly stronger than before . Lemira didnt say a word and headed straight to the dining hall for breakfast . Alarics voice dripped with sarcasm , Test results out today , huh ? Lemira nodded , Yeah . I told you before , you shouldve joined the team . With your grades , you wont get into any decent college . Instead of wasting time on studies , youd be better off training to go pro . With the resources we can provide , fame was just a matter of time for you . Too bad , you didnt seize the opportunity . Its all Eves now . Lemira remembered the humiliation of being replaced in her past life . She calmly replied , Im not bothered , really . After grabbing breakfast , Lemira turned and left the dining hall . Alaric , seeing Lemiras indifferent attitude , was infuriated , I cant wait to see her great achievements , hmph ! Evelina was relieved to see Lemira hadnt agreed to join the team . She knew Lemira had a knack for gaming , and if Lemira joined , shed lose her spot . Still , she maintained a smiling face , Ari , dont be mad . Lemmys just being stubborn . Once she agrees to join the team , Ill gladly give up my spot for her . Alaric nodded , pleased , You always know best ! Evelinas smile stiffened momentarily , her heart filled with resentment . She had been practicing relentlessly , all to gain Alarics approval . Unfortunately , Alaric still tended to think Lemira was better . Evelina was determined to prove herself in gaming , to extinguish any thoughts Alaric had of inviting Lemira to the team . Alaric looked worried , the revival match was crucial , and losing meant no second chances . Though Evelina was putting in the effort , her innate gaming talent was lacking . With only a month left until the match , Evelina wasnt up to par . Beating that kid from the Everhart family would require real skill ! At this point , Lemira was the only choice . Yet , he couldnt swallow his pride to ask her ; he was used to Lemira pandering to him , her timid attempts at pleasing him . He had grown accustomed to their sibling dynamic and couldnt adjust on the fly . How long was Lemira going to keep up this charade ? Was she really going to force him to humble himself ? 1/1 In "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" by CrushReel, Zoe Hale takes a daring step by marrying Ashton Cross, a man under suspicion for her sister's mysterious demise. As their relationship evolves, hidden truths unravel, intertwining love and suspense in this captivating romance novel. Exploring the complexities of loyalty and deception, the story delves deep into Zoe's quest for justice while navigating the unexpected twists of her heart. The enigmatic bond between Zoe and Ashton unfolds against a backdrop of secrets and revelations, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each turn of the page. Set in a blend of romance and drama, "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" stands out for its intricate character dynamics and the seamless fusion of passion and intrigue. With every chapter, CrushReel skillfully crafts a narrative that immerses readers in a world where love confronts darkness, leaving them yearning for more. Discover the enthralling saga of Zoe and Ashton, available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in this unique tale that defies conventions and promises an unforgettable literary experience.