Sparkling Girl Chapter 18 A Difficult Opponent 1 A bunch of burly guys stepped out of the black sedan , exchanging glances as they eyed the narrow gap between the white car and their own . The leader frowned , Watch out , this might be a tough one . No regular person would park like that . A few inches off , and itd be crash . The white car looked like a cheap knockoff , and if it hit their souped up ride , itd be toast , The door of the white car swung open , and out stepped Zoey . She leaned casually against the door , sizing up the men in front of her . Nice build , pretty strong . But they take a hit ? she mused . Hey , who sent you guys ? she asked , all casual like . The leader wasnt in the mood to chat , Were here to take Miss King with us . Well let you go after noon tomorrow . Play nice , and you wont get hurt . Noon ? Zoey raised an eyebrow , Whats so special about noon ? The guy stayed stone faced . Zoey thought for a sec , Ah , the engagement party , right ? The leaders poker face slipped just a bit , confirming her guess . Maya sent you . Miss King , just cooperate , he said , clearly done with the small talk This is chick wi much was sharp , and he didnt want her figuring out too Alright , lets get this over with . Ill take you all down and get my answers . Such arrogance ! The other guys couldnt handle the taunt . Fine , Til take you on , the leader said . No need , all of you come at me , Zoey shot back . One of the guys , who had rolled up his sleeves , laughed at her . It had been a while since someone had been this cocky , and he was ready to teach her a lesson . This girls asking for it ! What are we waiting for ? Get her ! The group of thugs didnt feel any shame in ganging up on a girl . They swarmed Zoey , thinking theyd overwhelm her . The leader hung back , planning to clean up afterward . But he never got the chance . He watched as his men hit the ground one by one with their joints dislocated , groaning in pain . He stopped watching , his face growing serious . 1/2 Chapter 18 A Difficult Opponent 1 Zoey moved through the crowd like a dancer , light and swift , ench mive elegant yet powerful . In no time , only the leader was left standing . Zoey wasnt even winded , just a few strands of hair out of place , Case on . The leader wasnt dumb . He knew his mens skills , Didnt expect Mi King to be a martial artist , Are we fighting or not ? She looked like she couldnt be bothered with more words . The leader didnt hesitate , Im no match for you . Smart , Zoey thought , smoothing out her sleeve . Send Mayn a messige , tell her everything went smoothly . Can I ask why youre doing this ? Even his tone had turned respectful . Zoey opened the car door , giving him a faint glance , Less talk , more action . The leader nodded , watching her leave before turning to clean up the mess . The engagement party was a big deal . The place was decked out , and the guests were all rich and powerful . Jesse was in high spirits , mingling with guests in the living room , showing off his favorite grandson . People were offering their congratulations . Everything was set , just waiting for the bride . But they waited and waited , and the other star of the show never showed up . Dont worry , maybe she got held up , lesse said , but he was starting to feel anxious . Maya chuckled , Shes not coming . Jesse frowned , What do you mean ? Exactly what I said . Maya pulled Thalia closer , looking pretty pleased with herself , If theres gonna be an engagement , it should be between Thalia and Henry . Chapter Comments POST COMMENT NOW LIKE < SHARE 2/2 Sparkling Girl Chapter 18 A Difficult Opponent 2 What nonsense are you spouting ? A line who framed others is fit to be my granddaughter in law ? And Zory is ? Mayn didnt give a damn about Jesses opinion . She was dead set on ruining the engagement today , so she dragged Henry and Thalia into the crowd . Henry looked annoyed , Mom , youre being ridiculous ! Moms doing this for your own good . Youve been putting up with Zory for Grandpas sake even though you cant stand her . Dont worry , Moms got this . Just as Maya finished talking , a slemler figure walked in through the door. With a long white dress , a cool demeanor , and eyes full of allure , her beauty captured everyones attention . Mayas smile froze , and Zoey smiled faintly , Im here to crash the wedding Mayas mind was spinning . The text said the job was done , so how was she here ? What were those idiots doing ? Henry , will you come with me ? Zoey asked . Ignoring Mayas fury , Thalias resentful glare , and the guests shock , Roeys eyes were locked on Henry . Even though he knew she was doing this to spite Maya , and there was no affection in her eyes , Henry still couldnt help his heart from skipping a beat . The answer came out without hesitation , TII go with you . Zoeys lips curved into a smile . They held hands , the cold and the bright , the strong and the gentle , standing together so perfectly . Maya was so mad at her sons betrayal that she wanted to hit someone . She asked Zoey , How did you do it ? The people Maya sent were Zoeys defeated subordinates , but they shouldnt have been taken down so easily by an ordinary person , Those small try were too weak , not worth my effort , she replied . Maya realized this woman was really good at making light of things to infuriate people . Arrogant , if youre so great , dare to spar with me ? Sure . Zoey agreed without hesitation . Henry reflexively gripped her fingertips , Are you really going to agree ? Zoey raised an eyebrow , Yes . My mother , Henry ignored his mothers glare , she was trained by rop martial artist , one of the best , ranked in the top fifty The Novaria Martial Arts ranking had a hundred names . But fifty was a significant dividing line , with a huge gap in between . Zoeys expression didnt change , Its fine , dont worry , I wont lose you to them . Henrys good intentions were met with her retort , making him want to let go of her , but looking at her perfect profile , he inexplicably didnt move . If were going to spar , lets do it property . Theres a place in the backyard , Ill have it cleared . Zoey , you both should change clothes , and a match should have stakes to be interesting . Jesse smiled , enjoying the spectacle . Zoey cooperated , You decide ? 1/2 Chapter 18 A Difficult Opponent 2 Jesse looked at her lovingly , hey understands me . A martial arts mach : stop at the point of contact , no life threatening or disabling injuries . The loser must apologize and shake hands . Can you do that ? Maya chuckled , Are you so worried Til cripple her ? Jesse looked at her meaningfully . Fine , I agree . Maya ignored the strange feeling in her heart , overly confident in her skills , not thinking she could lose . Zory , of course , didnt object . Soon , the backyard was cleared , and the two changed clothes and wed to the center of the field one after the other . The crowd formed a circle , knowing this was a match with no suspense . But seeing Maya , the top martial artist and disciple of Saul Pena , in action , the reappearance of long hidden skills , was enough to excite them . Jesse called out , Begin . Maya shot towards Zoey like an arrow from a bow . Chapter Comments LIKE POST COMMENT NOW < SHARE Title: Caution! Cute Baby Alert! In "Caution! Cute Baby Alert!" by CrushReel, Scarlett's life takes an unexpected turn after a night with the enigmatic billionaire, Robert, leaves her pregnant and alone. Rejected by her parents and believing her baby to be lost, Scarlett's world unravels. Little does she know that secrets lie beneath the surface, waiting to be unveiled. Exploring themes of love, loss, and newfound strength, this modern romance novel delves into the complexities of relationships amidst wealth and power. Scarlett's journey from abandonment to resilience resonates with readers seeking a tale of redemption and hope. Set against the backdrop of luxurious mansions and high-stakes office drama, the story weaves a captivating narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. What sets "Caution! Cute Baby Alert!" apart is its ability to blend heartwarming moments with gripping twists, creating a unique reading experience that lingers long after the final page. Available to read at CrushReel, this sweet romance promises to tug at your heartstrings while delivering a compelling storyline that defies expectations.