Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Nicole’s conscience weighed heavily on her.

She never expected someone from the Hayes family to appear out of nowhere, offering such a huge prize.

Five million dollars-even she was tempted, let alone

Ethan.

Avoiding eye contact, Nicole shifted uncomfortably.

The boy who once obeyed her every word now glared with fiery intensity, making it hard for her to meet his gaze.

“Austin, I had no idea Ethan would go back on his word. Don’t be upset-just focus on the competition. Even if you can’t beat Ethan, and your sister can’t either, second place is still something to be proud of.”

“But I want to win!” he protested.

“Relax, I’ll handle your dad. I’ve got your back, okay?”

She reached out to ruffle his hair, but Austin turned away before her hand could land.

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Her gesture hung awkwardly in the air before she brushed it off with a cheerful smile. “Here-a kiss for

good luck. It’ll help you win every match from now on!”

She pressed a finger to her lips, then gently tapped

Austin’s cheek.

His face flushed bright red, like a ripe apple.

“Fine.” Austin relented.

At this point, Austin had little choice.

Steadying his nerves, he followed Nicole’s advice an returned to the competition.

Yet, he couldn’t shake a growing suspicion.

Ever since he’d started listening to Nicole, luck seemed to evade him-misfortune followed him like a shadow.

The matches that followed only confirmed his doubts.

He lost to Olivia.

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Chapter 149

Against Mia, who was rankedd seventh, he barely managed

andraw.

Austin’s confidence was shatteredd.

Why was this so difficult?

Heowras al top student, accustomiseddccoming first in every

exam effortless victores had diwas been his norm.

Howhard he zalien so low that he nooststruggled against seventhippace?

His nina arffted to the shattered luckkkharın.

Glancing downaat his stili-swollen anklehrerin the protectivvetlaarmand the victory charmhisis100 had given nine-booth destroyed by his oombandss.

A wave of cold bread washed over him.

Then cameworEECHEVES,

While he was frantically searching for NicoleteMia approached Inm.

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“That lady who’s always hanging around? I saw organizers pull her aside earlier. Someone reported

her for bribing a player with 300 thousand dollars to manipulate the match results.”

Austin froze in shock.

Nicole-caught?

But that didn’t make sense.

Hadn’t his father given her five million dollars?

Why would she only use 300 thousand?

His thoughts tangled into a confused mess.

Nicole had taken the money to arrange the competition deals-Ethan was supposed to be paid off as planned.

So where did the rest go?

“You’re lying! You have no proof! Maybe the organizers just wanted to interview the players’ families,” Austin retorted defensively.

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Mia shrugged. She’d overheard it herself-how could it

not be true?

At the time, she’d been too afraid to speak up, worried the Frost family’s influence would affect her matches.

Now that her own events were over, she’d finally reported

what she knew.

“Believe what you want,” she said before walking away.

Panicked, Austin stumbled to the rest area and pulled Killian and Stephanie into the hallway, hurriedly explaining everything.

Killian rubbed his temples, exhaustion lining his face.

Yet another crisis.

Stephanie set her bag of almonds aside, eyes wide. “So your father gave Nicole five million dollars, and she pocketed four million and 700 thousand?”

“Grandma, it’s not about the money right now-who knows if Mia’s telling the truth? We need to find Nicole. and hear her side.”

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“You still want to find her? Why not just say we don’t know her? She isn’t even family,” Stephanie sighed.

“We can’t do that! It’s dishonest!”

Deep down, Austin refused to believe Nicole had deceived

him.

She’d been so supportive, arranging everything for his

sake.

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