I Ctrl+Alt+Deleted My Ex and Ctrl+C'd His Uncle novel Chapter 65

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**Through Silent Meadows We Trace Stories Left Behind Yesterday by Asa Rowan Flint**

**Chapter 65**

“Just in time, I have something to ask you,” Sophie said, her voice low but urgent as she pulled Liam into a secluded corner of the bustling venue.

As they slipped away, Celine, perched in her seat like a hawk, let out a derisive snort, her disdain palpable. “See? Sophie is just here to ride on Liora’s fame!” she scoffed to no one in particular, her eyes narrowing as she watched them.

In the corner, Sophie cautiously released the hem of Liam’s shirt, creating a respectful distance between them. She could feel the tension in the air, a mix of excitement and anxiety swirling around her. “How come I didn’t know that Liora would be attending the Starlight Cup?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Liam’s face remained an impassive mask, betraying nothing. “That’s just gossip from the fans,” he replied calmly. “They say this every year, but Liora has never actually shown up.” His tone was steady, but Sophie sensed an underlying tension.

“Besides, you’re Liora himself. How could I possibly agree to you attending without your permission?” Liam added, his eyes flickering with a hint of something she couldn’t quite place.

“Are you sure?” Sophie pressed, scrutinizing Liam’s subtle expression. She was searching for any sign of deception, but he appeared too natural, too composed. There was nothing to indicate he was lying.

“Liora is your creation. How could I joke about something like that?” Liam attempted to shift the conversation. “But you—what made you decide to come today? And why did you sit in the contestant area?” His gaze was piercing, demanding honesty.

Sophie hesitated, her mind racing. “Just came to look around,” she replied vaguely, feeling the weight of his scrutiny.

“Really?” Liam took a step closer, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. “Sophie, you can’t lie to me. If I find out, I’ll be very disappointed.” His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried an unmistakable weight.

Feeling cornered, Sophie instinctively took a step back. “I’ll go back to my seat,” she muttered, trying to escape the pressure of his gaze.

Liam’s fingers curled slightly, and for a brief moment, a flicker of resentment flashed in his eyes. Today was crucial—Sophie could not be allowed to disrupt his carefully laid plans.

As she took a long detour back to her seat, Sophie couldn’t shake the feeling that Celine was lurking nearby. Sure enough, as she approached her spot, she found Celine already seated, a smug expression plastered on her face.

Sophie’s brow furrowed slightly. It seemed that wherever she went, Celine was not far behind, like a shadow that refused to dissipate.

Celine’s voice dripped with disdain as she addressed Sophie. “How long are you going to keep this up? Want to ride on Liora’s name? This is the contestant area. Hurry up and get out of here!” Her tone was sharp, cutting through the air.

Sophie chose to ignore her and simply sat down, her heart pounding in her chest.

Celine’s face flushed with anger, her patience wearing thin. “If you don’t leave, I’ll call security to drag you out!” she threatened, her voice rising.

“Go ahead, then,” Sophie replied indifferently, her tone calm but her heart racing.

Around them, whispers began to circulate among the crowd.

“Can you believe Sophie? She’s shameless enough to sit in the contestant area. Doesn’t she know each seat is assigned to a contestant? What’s she going to do when the real contestants arrive?”

“Don’t even say it. I can’t imagine how awkward it will be when the real contestants show up. Sophie must have no shame to keep sitting there,” another voice chimed in, laced with mockery.

Celine raised her chin defiantly and added, “She’s not just shameless; she’s completely disrespectful!”

“I’ve already called security. They’ll be here soon to drag her out. Let’s see how she handles this,” Celine said, a smirk playing on her lips.

Sophie rolled her eyes, clearly irritated. “Annoying,” she muttered under her breath as she rubbed her ear, trying to block out their incessant chatter. She had come to experience the thrill of competition, but Celine’s constant prattling was ruining that opportunity!

Just then, two uniformed security guards approached, their presence commanding immediate attention.

Celine wasted no time. “She’s pretending to be a contestant and sitting in a seat that doesn’t belong to her. We kindly told her to move, but she refused to listen. You must drag her out. Don’t let her stay and ruin the artistic atmosphere!” Her words dripped with malice.

Seeing the security guards, the crowd that had been whispering suddenly grew bolder, emboldened by the authority of the guards.

“What kind of person has no shame these days?” one voice exclaimed.

“Isn’t she the daughter of the Chandler family? What would her elders say if they knew how she was embarrassing herself in public? They’d be furious!” another chimed in, laughter mingling with scorn.