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Novel Catalog
Chapter 29 Why?
Samuel’s voice carried a tone of admiration, his eyes wide with disbelief as he looked at Nicole.
Spencer’s expression mirrored his brother’s, a mixture of awe and respect.
Gloria, too, was impressed, though she masked it with a smile.
“You’ve really been hiding your talents, huh?” Spencer added, clearly impressed.
Norah’s face darkened, her jealousy bubbling beneath her calm facade.
The mention of a national championship was not something she could easily dismiss.
She had spent so much of her life trying to outshine Nicole, but once again, it seemed like her cousin was in the spotlight, effortlessly stealing attention.
Nicole noticed Norah’s discomfort but chose not to address it directly.
Instead, she kept her tone light and nonchalant.
“It wasn’t a big deal.
I just happened to be good at it.”
Her calm demeanor only fueled Norah’s frustration.
She forced a smile, trying to maintain control of the conversation.
“I’m sure you’re great at everything you do, Nicole,” she said, though the bitterness in her words was hard to hide.
Samuel, oblivious to the tension between them, chuckled.
“It’s so cool to know we have a martial arts champion in the family! Maybe you can teach us some moves.”
Nicole smiled softly.
“I could give it a try, but I’m not sure how well you two would do.”
Spencer grinned, eager for the challenge.
“We’ll see about that.”
Gloria, sensing the subtle undercurrent of rivalry between the cousins, quickly redirected the conversation to keep the mood light.
“How about we focus on enjoying this meal? Nicole, you should try more of the salmon—it’s your favorite, right?”
Nicole nodded, grateful for the change in topic.
She didn’t mind the attention, but Norah’s jealousy was starting to make her uncomfortable.
She had never liked the tension between them, but it seemed inevitable.
As they continued to eat, the atmosphere remained tense, though they all made an effort to keep up appearances.
Nicole couldn’t help but wonder just how much longer this fragile peace would last, especially now that her skills and accomplishments were beginning to draw more attention.
But for tonight, she decided to focus on the present, on the warmth of the meal, the comfort of her family’s company, and the subtle satisfaction of knowing that, despite Norah’s efforts, she was still in control of her own path.