Chapter 51

Anger flared brightly across Beatrice's features before quickly giving way to a pale shock; she clenched her fists so tightly her nails bit sharply into her palms. How could she have possibly guessed that the handbag Grace casually held had come straight from Johnny's mother? What did his mom see in Grace that made her so generous toward her? Even more generous than with her own son?

Nearby,Chloe shifted uncomfortably, silently pleading to evaporate from the scene.

In mere moments, everything had spiraled wildly out of control, leaving everyone baffled.

Spotting Beatrice's ghostly expression, Johnny shot Grace a heated glare before gently saying, "Beatrice,don't mind Grace. She clearly doesn't recognize quality when she sees it."

Yet as soon as those words escaped his lips, regret nipped at him. The jab felt petty-who truly misunderstood the situation here? Who was actually blind to a rare treasure right before them?

Without another word, Grace smiled softly and walked

away with Adrianna.

Frustration surged through Beatrice,who slammed her foot against the ground.

Not long afterward, everyone drifted toward the basketball court.

The long-awaited faceoff between Briskvale High and their rival school had finally arrived. Students packed thesidelines, their voices rising in support of their team.

It wouldn't be long before Johnny, one of the school's own, took his place in the game, ready to represent them on the field.

Excited cheers echoed among the gathered students,each voice filled with pride for their school's reputation.

Anticipation rippled through the crowd, and they eagerly awaited the game's start.

With both sides bringing equal strength to the field,neither team could expect an easy victory.

At the front of the crowd, Beatrice held her pom-poms high, her cheerful smile once again lighting up her face.

She called out warmly, waving with enthusiasm,"Johnny, you've got this! Victory is ours for sure!"

Johnny responded with a quick nod but found his attention drifting toward Grace, wondering what thoughts hid behind her quiet eyes. Did she even grasp the basic rules of basketball?

As soon as the whistle blew, Johnny dazzled the crowd, landing several outstanding layups to roaring applause.

The team quickly pulled ahead by three points, and excitement rippled through the crowd.

Yet,basketball required more than individual brilliance.Soon Johnny's stamina faltered, and their slim lead slipped away.

During a swift counterattack, Johnny desperately dodged a rival defender but crashed to the floor,wincing painfully as his ankle twisted sharply.

A collective gasp echoed from the stands.

Beatrice hesitated, readying herself to run forward,but paused when she saw Grace already at Johnny's side.

Grace gently examined the injury and calmly explained,"Your ankle's sprained. You need ice immediately or it'll swell."

Sweat dripping from his brow, Johnny stubbornly

pushed her hand aside. "I don't need your help!"

Grace's brows furrowed slightly, her voice steady."Moving around now will only worsen it."

A teammate quickly chimed in, "Johnny,she's right.Let's handle this properly."

Efficiently, Grace provided basic first aid, expertly stabilizing Johnny's ankle.

However, another problem quickly arose. With Johnny sidelined, who could possibly step up?

Were they supposed to just accept defeat?

Johnny limped to the bench while the coach,worried and uncertain, scanned the substitutes.

Losing their star point guard was disastrous, as the skill gap was enormous.

Then suddenly Grace spoke,her voice surprisingly calm."Coach,put me in."

Basketball wasn't exactly rocket science.

Watching their struggle from the sidelines had already exhausted her patience.

A stunned silence briefly overtook the crowd before laughter erupted everywhere.

Beatrice sneered, "Grace, have you lost it? This isn't some childish game! What can you do?"

"Surely, in a school this large, there has to be at least one person who fits the role perfectly."

Curiously, the coach eyed Grace. "Do you even play basketball?"

Grace casually glanced at the court and answered,"Is it supposed to be hard?"

Without hesitation, she strode confidently onto the court and picked up an abandoned basketball.

Mocking eyes watched as she effortlessly tossed the ball upward.

The ball curved beautifully, dropping perfectly through the hoop.

An astonished quiet spread rapidly through the crowd.

Grace calmly turned back to the coach. "Can I join now?"

Before the coach could speak, the referee sharply blew his whistle and announced, "Substitution approved.Resume play!"

Beatrice paled once more, her nails nearly piercing her skin

She couldn't fathom that Grace genuinely knew how to play, and rather impressively, it seemed.

"She only made that shot by sheer luck," Beatrice shouted to the others nearby. "Just wait until she's actually out there, and she's going to make a complete fool of herself!"

When the game picked back up and the players noticed that Briskvale High had put a girl on the court,they exchanged amused grins, clearly not taking her seriously.

"Seriously, Briskvale? Is this your idea of comnpetition?"mocked their point guard.

Grace simply regarded him coldly, saying nothing.

The whistle sounded,resuming play.

Underestimating Grace severely, their opponents paid her no mind, until she swiftly maneuvered past their lax defense, elegantly scoring a flawless layup.

"Whoa!"

"She actually knows what she's doing?"

"That move was incredibole!"

Throughout the remainder of the game, Grace dominated effortlessly. Her lightning speed, fluid

dribbles, and precise passes opened easy scoring chances for teammates.

More impressively, she drained multiple three-pointers from afar, decisively turning the tables in their favor.