Is this destiny?

"If I can have everyone's attention!", Aiden shouted, making the surrounding noise simmer to whispers. "These fights are friendly spars. It's expected that every challenger shows his or her skills without holding back while making sure that no serious injuries occur. However, accidents happen, and we expect everyone who gets in here to agree that regardless of what happens during the spar, grudges will not be carried outside. If you have the ability, show it during the fight. If you don't, you need to accept the outcome." He looked at Sean and Allen. "Understood?"

Sean and Allen both readily agreed. They are used to this.

Hearing Aiden's words, Victor's eyes moved to Corey and flashed with malice. Victor has a black belt in jiu-jitsu, and he was confident that he can take on a guy like Corey. After all, they are all aware of how Corey lived with his mother in a poor neighborhood and he would still be there if Charlie didn't pity Corey and took him under his care. Considering Corey's background, Victor was confident that Corey didn't have time to learn any martial arts.

"How about we do it together?"

Victor jolted when he heard Samantha's voice from the side.

He turned to face her and saw that Chloe is behind Samantha, talking in urgent whispers, obviously trying to dissuade Samantha from whatever she is up to. He gave them a minute to sort it out.

"Get lost. If you are not helping, I want you to be out of my way. Understood?", Samantha hissed at Chloe.

"You will get us both in trouble. How stupid can you be?"

"If you are afraid of trouble, you are free to go.", Samantha said arrogantly and pointed toward the right. "There, our parents are that way. Go and tattle on me, it would not be the first time."

Chloe groaned in response, rolled her eyes, and walked away. She didn't go to their parents, but she didn't want to be near Samantha either. Samantha is arrogant, and she does not know when to stop and minimize her losses. Chloe couldn't prevent Samantha from acting on her crazy impulse, and the most Chloe could do was to hope that she will not be implicated.

While Chloe and Samantha bickered, Victor and Samuel observed them while occasionally exchanging glances. They were both aware of what happened at the prom and how Samantha was humiliated, and they had a good guess that Samantha is up to no good again.

Seeing that Chloe left, Victor focused on Samantha.

"You what to do something together with us?", Victor asked while gesturing toward himself and Samuel.

"Just you.", Samantha clarified. "I see how you are looking at Corey. This is your chance to show who is better. You, from the Miller family or Corey, who was abandoned by his father and grew up in poverty. Does he deserve all this attention? I don't think so."

Victor was stirred by Samantha's words. After all, that was exactly what he was thinking, but Victor was not stupid either. Until he hears what is on her mind, he will not show any reaction. Also, he hoped that he can use Samantha's rash personality to do the dirty work.

"You said, together. Explain.", Victor demanded.

"I am aware of your background in karate..."

"Jiu-jitsu", Victor corrected Samantha to what she rolled her eyes like it's not important. She can't tell the difference, anyway.

"You teach Corey a lesson and I will teach that girlfriend of his. We challenge them to a spar.", Samantha said while giving Victor a knowing look.

Samuel who was quiet until then, had to speak up. "What will you teach her? Everyone saw her slapping you around at the prom while you just stood in place, unable to retaliate."

Samantha hated that he reminded her of that incident. "I was caught by surprise. And I was not stupid to retaliate against a girl from the White family in front of so many witnesses."

Samuel scrutinized Samantha. "And now, it will be different?"

Samantha lifted her chin smugly. "Of course. Didn't you hear the rules? This is a great chance to settle grudges without consequences. Corey's girlfriend can slap just like any other adopted peasant girl, while I aced self-defense classes. Now I will be ready, and I will show that so-called White where she belongs. They are all acting like they own the place. Let's show everyone a difference between those nobodies and the real top of the society."

"How do you know that she is the adopted peasant girl?", Samuel questioned Samantha.

"Oh, please…", Samantha said dramatically. "Everyone knows that there is a bunch of them living with Whites. You don't think they are their real kids, do you? The rumor is that there was an orphanage that suffered heavy damage, and they adopted all of them. It's a good publicity stunt, to make common folks see White in a better light. It all happened recently, no more than two-three years ago. Thanks to their crazy luck to get the attention of Whites, they are enjoying all these benefits and mingle with us like they belong here."

Samuel pressed his lips together. He could not deny what everyone knows: there are many young people in their early twenties or late teens that are tied up to Whites and they are definitely NOT blood-related, yet treated like family. But is it possible that they will allow them to fight without consequences if someone gets hurt?

The noise around the trio increased and they all saw Sean and Allen circling around the ring before they plunged at each other and started exchanging vicious blows.

Sean and Allen were evenly matched in speed. Sean had a minor advantage in strength, while Allen had an advantage in technique. Overall, it was a great display of their fighting abilities and neither of them was willing to back down.

Samantha frowned at the raw scene, while Victor got excited. As someone who practiced martial arts and participated in several competitions, he is not a stranger to such scenes, and he could not imagine that a guy from a lower class like Corey could be able to match him in a fight.

With every punch and kick, Victor's blood stirred, and he looked at Samantha with madness stirring in his eyes.

"Alright.", Victor said enthusiastically. "Let's go together."

"Victor, are you…?"

"I know what I'm doing, Sam…", Victor interrupted Samuel. "We will challenge them together."

Victor had a plan to let Samantha go first. As much as he was eager to teach Corey a lesson, he was not stupid to go first.

"Hello…", Samantha greeted Corey and Merve in a singing voice when she approached them with Victor by her side. Samuel was one step behind them.

"I was wondering if young master Smith is up for a challenge."

Corey looked at Samantha like she said something silly. "I don't fight with girls."

Samantha stifled a laugh. "Oh, not that…" She turned to Merve. "You see, we started on the wrong foot and I would like to apologize. Victor said that he and Sam sometimes settle lingering disputes by engaging in a friendly fight, and I was wondering if Miss White will join me in the ring. Let's leave any grudges there and start clean. In that way, young master Smith will forgive my previous impudence."

Corey frowned while processing Samantha's words. "Are you challenging Merve to a fight?"

"A friendly spar…", Samantha corrected him.

Corey looked at Merve. He didn't want to reject Samantha in Merve's name, but he didn't want her to fight either. It's not that he doubts Merve's abilities, but Samantha is crazy. There are serious spars going on in the fighting ring with people watching, yet he could imagine Samantha's fighting style as scratching and pulling hair (and a lot of shouting).

Corey's eyebrows shoot up when he saw a small smile at the corner of Merve's lips.

"Sure. A friendly spar. I accept your challenge, Miss Long."

Corey was uneasy. "Are you sure? You don't need to accept."

Merve blinked innocently. "Miss Long came all the way here with honest intentions. It would be rude from me as a host to refuse."

Samantha's lips twitched. Did Merve call herself a host? This is Smith's villa, and Merve is just an adopted peasant girl, damnit!

Corey let out a long exhale. "I hope you know what you are doing."

"Oh, I'm sure that Miss Long will go easy on me. After all, it's just a friendly spar…"

Samantha showed a tight smile. "Let's go and register!"

Samantha and Merve went to sign in and Imani's eyes darted from Merve to Samantha a few times before she wrote down their names.

"There are five spars ahead of you.", Imani informed them. "If your turn comes and you didn't change clothes and prepared for the fight, you will fall at the end of the queue."

Victor saw that Merve's and Samantha's names are on the list and he glanced at Corey.

"Since girls will spar, how about we give it a go?", Victor asked Corey casually.

Corey was visibly surprised. "You want to spar with me?"

"Any objections?", Victor asked. "I'm not a very good fighter, but I will do my best. I'm sure that you can teach me a thing or two." He downplayed his abilities in order not to scare Corey away.

"Uhm… sure.", Corey accepted reluctantly. He was not expecting this challenge and Victor took Corey's lack of enthusiasm as a sign that Corey is clueless.

Imani smiled brightly. Seeing that Samantha and Victor are signing in, it means that their circle of fighters is increasing… and that means more bets and excitement!

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