Is this destiny?

Cassie weaved her way between people as she approached Chloe. She glanced around to make sure they are not overheard before asking Chloe: "Do you know what Samantha is up to?"

Cassie saw that Chloe and Samantha parted ways and that Samantha went to talk to Victor and Samuel. Considering that she heard Victor's and Samuel's negative remarks directed at Corey, and knowing Samantha, she assumed that Victor, Samuel, and Samantha are going to target the couple.

It's not that Cassie planned to intervene, but she wanted to know what was going on.

Chloe pressed her lips into a line and observed Cassie while wondering how much she should say. Cassie was following Samantha for years, so it was natural that Cassie and Chloe are familiar with each other. Also, Chloe was not sure if Cassie has loose lips due to her lack of intelligence, or she spreads gossip intentionally, but Chloe was aware that Cassie is not someone who should be trusted.

"I don't know the details, but it's for the best if we keep our distance.", Chloe said after some time.

There was no way that Chloe will say how Samantha hates Merve and is plotting to get her revenge. If people find out that Chloe was aware of Samantha's intentions, she will be blamed when things go South, like she had the capability of stopping Samantha without causing a ruckus.

Chloe knows that Cassie is a walking gossip, and she also knows that Samantha is scheming. If Chloe told anyone of importance what Samantha was up to, Samantha would twist it by making herself look innocent and Chloe would end up in trouble.

Cassie scrutinized Chloe, sensing that there was more to it, but if Chloe was not willing to talk about it, there was nothing Cassie could do other than wait and see what will happen.

Within the crowd that observed the fights, Jarred and Angelo stood not too far apart.

Donnie and Melissa were present at the event, but neither of them was interested in fights.

Over the last few years with Jarred, Donnie met many people from this circle, and she was comfortable socializing with other ladies.

Melissa was in the area with kids, watching over her grandbabies (even though their nannies were there).

Angelo was enjoying Sean's display of abilities and he was looking forward to seeing Ryan in the ring as well.

Jarred, on the other side, was looking at Sarah. He found this event as a great opportunity to approach her and start talks that will eventually lead to her finding out about the Council.

Jarred smiled absentmindedly while noticing how Sarah was sitting with other young ladies, chatting, laughing, and cheering as any regular energetic female. Ah, not many know how much power that young woman has in her hands. Actually, if Jarred was not watching Sarah, he would not suspect much either. And he is aware that Sarah's power is beyond fighting and controlling territories. He met her at a poker tournament where she cleared the tables and won astronomical rewards without breaking a sweat. She gave him a priceless blue diamond like it's nothing much, took the initiative to provide solutions when they thought that Charlie will not walk ever again, and then she ordered a custom helicopter. Two of them. After that, everything Jarred saw and heard about Sarah was more fantastic, yet nothing surprised him because she is extremely capable. Ah, she will be an amazing addition to the Council!

Sean and Allen finished their fight in a draw, and Ryan and Julius were next.

Emma was watching her brothers with a complex expression on her face. She saw that her twin brothers are enjoying themselves. Whenever they are with Allen, Julius, and other young adults from the Cliffside Villa, Sean and Ryan open up and show those carefree smiles she is used to seeing. Emma was happy that her brothers didn't completely lose their innocence and she hoped that her action will not come too late.

Emma rubbed her protruding belly and wished that Sean and Ryan not hate her for what she is about to do. How will her action compare to what their mother did twenty years ago? Donnie denied them a choice by concealing that their father is alive, and now Emma wants to make a heavy decision for her brothers.

Emma's talk with the Hill sisters was only the last drop in the full cup that pushed Emma toward stepping up and taking over responsibilities she was avoiding so far. It would be a lie to say how Emma was not aware of Nero Armi and how it threw a shadow on the lives of her brothers. But she didn't dare make a move because she felt weak and undeserving of such role. However, now Emma accepted that she needs to fight in order to protect herself and the people she loves, and in order to do so, she needs to grow as a person and in strength.

Emma is scared of what the future will bring, but she knows that staying on the side will only lead to certain doom. And she is not alone, she has Charlie who supports her wholeheartedly. More than Charlie, she has Hill sisters, and Ellie, and Bridgette, and Tiffany, and Penny, and... where is Charlie? Wasn't he supposed to fight with Jeff?

In the men's dressing room…

Corey and Victor changed their clothes swiftly while Charlie, Jeff, Jasper, Gabriel, Steve, and Felix were engaged in a lively discussion. It seemed that they forgot about their fights.

Merve and Samantha stepped out of the dressing room and met Corey and Victor at the door, waiting for them.

Ron and Haru were in the ring, and since other guys were stuck in the dressing room, Corey wanted him and Victor to go and claim their spot for the fight, but Victor was delaying by tightening his shoelaces unnecessarily.

Victor was confident in facing Corey, but he didn't want to go before Samantha. He was not foolish to wipe the floor with Corey, and then Samantha to bail out of their agreement by faking a stomachache or something like that. If Victor is putting himself out there, so will Samantha.

Nala and Zula cheered Haru and Ron enthusiastically, and the girls barely controlled themselves from jumping into the ring to help out.

Sarah instructed Eve to record Haru's fight and to send the file to Hong. She was confident that the old man would love seeing his disciple in a spar with an opponent who can withstand his hits. And it was more than strength and technique, there was also Nala who looked at Haru like he was the only guy in the world. Surely, Hong's heart will warm up when he sees that Haru is doing great and that he is happy.

Sarah was proud of Ron who grew from a teenage rebel without a purpose into a reliable young man, director at the White corp. who is managing Heinelurgy. Ron and Zula are engaged, and since Zula was only a few months away from graduating with a college degree, Sarah was expecting that soon they will announce their wedding date. Ah, she will get to help Zula with the wedding dress while Aiden will walk her down the aisle to give her hand to Ron, as a true father would. Aiden will also get to do a father-daughter dance and Sarah will definitely help him pick a good song.

The lively atmosphere turned into a tense buzz when Merve and Samantha stepped into the ring.

Even Sarah was surprised by this and she glanced at Bridgette to ask her if she knew about this to what Bridgette shook her head.

In the back, Chloe felt several sets of eyes burning at the back of her head. Two seconds later, someone tugged her hand, making her turn.

"What is going on!?", Samantha's mother shrieked at Chloe.

Chloe blinked innocently. "How am I supposed to know? I am here talking to Cassie."

Samantha's father frowned. "You were supposed to watch over her."

Chloe lifted her hands defensively. "We came here together, and she saw some of her high school friends and left me. Did you expect me to stop her? Or rush after her?"

Cassie observed the strained atmosphere and two seconds later, she spoke. "It's true. Sam saw Victor and Samuel and said that she will say 'hi' and come back. We have no idea how Sam ended up in that ring."

Seeing that Cassie confirmed Chloe's story, Samantha's parents didn't have other options than to back off. Without a word, they proceeded closer to the ring.

Chloe looked at Cassie with a mix of surprise and gratefulness.

Cassie smiled smugly. "You owe me one."

Chloe didn't respond.

As Samantha's parents made their way toward the ring, both of them were on verge of collapsing from stress.

"What is she thinking?", Samantha's mother hissed. "If she harms that girl, it will be more trouble. What if she gets hurt? Why did she accept the challenge?"

"We were not supposed to let her come here.", Samantha's father said angrily. "Are you sure that Sam was not the one to initiate this madness? I hope that girl will beat some sense into Sam because it seems that she will not stop until we are completely kicked out of the family."

They wanted to stop the fight, but how is that possible without making the situation worse? Sure, Charlie, Jeff, and Steve were not in sight, but Emma, JoAnna, and Bridgette were in the first row, watching. To make things worse, Aiden and Sarah were present as well and Samantha's parents still remember how those two cost them man assets after the incident Samantha caused at the prom. Ah, this can't end well!

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