Their Punching Bag Became The Storm novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42 A New Round of Tasks

Whitney shot back, “No, I’m not.”

She rubbed her cheeks, then lifted her head with a perfectly blank expression and stared Nora down. “You’re seeing things.”

Her eyes could have cut glass.

Nora’s gaze darted around the room. She threw her hands over her own neck and ducked behind Elian. “Alright, my mistake.”

But her frantic attempt to play it off only made things more obvious. The others shot Whitney those teasing, knowing glances, their eyes sparkling with mischief as a ripple of laughter spread through the group.

Whitney kept her face icy, but inside she was boiling. She thought, ‘If they don’t knock it off, I swear I’ll lose it. Me? Blushing? Please. What a joke.’

No one seemed the least bit scared of Whitney’s frosty glare. If anything, it only made them laugh and tease her harder.

Ryan stood off to the side, tall and graceful, his cool, almost ethereal features looking especially serene in the scattered golden sunlight.

His eyes never left Whitney, not for a single second, his gaze fixed on her the entire

time.

The live chat was losing its mind, flooding the screen with endless screaming thanks to the banter and Ryan’s smoldering stare.

Not far away, the Anderson siblings had already been fitted with their mics and sat there looking completely miserable. Their gloomy faces stood in stark contrast to all the laughter and fun nearby.

They were still steaming from getting roasted by Whitney and Ryan, and now Darian was barking orders at the crew to get them wired up and ready for the livestream.

Emily stole a glance at Whitney, who was surrounded by everyone, bit her lip, and reached for Chase’s hand.

“Chase, don’t let it get to you. I’ll do my best to get Whitney to warm up to me, and I’ll ask her not to upset you anymore,” Emily said.

She offered him a soft, sugary smile. “I’ll also work hard this afternoon so I won’t slow you down. That way you’ll actually get to have dinner tonight.”

Her determined yet gentle tone eased the crease between Chase’s brows.

He pulled his gaze away from Whitney, pushed down his irritation, and gave Emily’s head a gentle pat. “I’m your big brother. You don’t have to push yourself so hard.”

Chapter 42 A New Round of Tasks

Chase thought, ‘Emily is so thoughtful and mature. She’s even willing to put herself on The line for me.

‘And then there’s Whitney, my own flesh and blood. She’s always wrapped up in her own selfish world, never once sparing a thought for her brother.

At half past one, Darian called everyone together and announced the afternoon’s challenge was fishing.

The wild island sat smack in the middle of a vast, endless, sea, with water stretching to the horizon in every direction.

The guests could use whatever method they liked, bare hands, nets, or fishing rods. In the end, they’d be ranked by the total weight of their catch.

The winner would be treated to a seafood feast prepared by a renowned chef from Roynfort, flown in by the production team, plus a special surprise the crew had lined up for the next day.

The moment Darian made the announcement, the energy shifted. Everyone lit up.

Out of all the guests, only two or three could actually cook a proper meal. Apart from Whitney, the rest could barely manage boxed mac and cheese.

Now that the production team had brought in a top chef to cook for them personally, of course they were buzzing with excitement.

Nora blinked her big eyes. “So what’s this surprise tomorrow?”

Darian flashed a mysterious grin. “Want to know? Win first place and you’ll find out.” Nora pouted. “So you’re telling us nothing. And with Whitney here, there’s no way I’m snagging first place.”

Her words made the Anderson siblings‘ expressions darken further.

Kayla wedged herself in beside Emily and said with a cold smirk, “Wow, Nora is such a suck–up.

“Whitney only won last time searching for food because she got lucky. It doesn’t mean luck’s always on her side.”

Nora stared at her. “As if you’re not a suck–up for Emily.”

Nora thought, ‘Being a suck–up is bad enough, but sucking up to a fake little angel? Seriously, what’s the point?

‘Doesn’t Kayla get that those two–faced girls treat everyone around them like props? So what if I’m a suck–up? At least I backed the right person.‘

Soon, Darian led everyone through the dense forest and out onto the beach.

Chapter 42 A New Round of Tasks

The ocean stretched endlessly, melting into the sky. With sunlight dancing across the surface, the waves glittered and shimmered, so stunning it barely felt real.

If this weren’t a survival show set on a wild, shadowy island, they would swear they were on a beach vacation.

Darian raised his hand and pointed ahead. “Everyone, see that ring of flags out there?”

Out on the water, a circle of bright red flags fluttered in the breeze, barely visible against the horizon.

Darian continued, “The production team brought in professionals to survey the area and mark off a safe zone. No one goes past those flags. Stay inside the safe area, understood?”

At the end of the day, this was still a show. They weren’t about to let the guests put their lives on the line.

They were all for keeping things thrilling, but every challenge had to be safe enough that no one was ever in real danger.

Darian drove the point home. “The ocean is the most dangerous place for accidents, so all of you need to keep your safety in mind. Especially after that downpour yesterday, the waves are rough today.

“If you step outside the safe zone, a big swell could knock you right off your feet. “And I know some of you are strong swimmers, but don’t get cocky. Out here, nature doesn’t care how good you are. You’re nothing against it, understood?”

The guests all voiced their understanding./

Elian shot his hand up and waved at Darian. “Darian, is this a solo challenge, or can we team up? I really want to stick with Whitney and cruise to an easy win.”

I

Darian said with a broad grin, “It’s totally up to you. You can go solo or forrn teams however you like.

“Keep in mind, though, it all comes down to the weight of the fish each person catches. So if you team up, make sure you split the haul fairly, alright?”

Teaming up always made for good entertainment, and watching them divvy up the catch at the end was another highlight. Of course, Darian was all for it.

Elian dashed over to Whitney, giving her the full puppy–dog eyes. “Whitney, let me tag along! Please, I’m begging you.”

Nora latched onto Whitney’s arm. “I’m sticking with you no matter what. I couldn’t care less if I don’t catch a single fish.”

Ryan strolled over and planted himself behind Whitney, hands in his pockets, looking completely at ease. He didn’t say a word, but his actions said it all.

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Chapter 42 A New Round of Tasks

Henry walked over with a grin.. “Whitney, you promised you’d look after me, so I’m Joining your team too.”

Watching everyone flock to Whitney, eager for her to carry them to victory, Emily was seething inside.

Emily thought, ‘Seriously, what’s wrong with these people? Has Whitney cast some spell on them? Why is everyone clinging to her like that?

‘So what if Whitney came in first last night? So what if she’s a decent cook? Do they really have to keep fawning over her?

A flicker of resentment flashed in Emily’s eyes, but her signature soft, sugary smile slid right back into place a heartbeat later.

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Chapter 43 Feel My Abs