The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

On the other side, Kenneth returned to the arena, his mind set on victory.

Aaron had made it to the finals, and Kenneth was determined not to lose to him.

He had to triumph in the final showdown and show everyone that he was every bit Aaron’s equal.

Below, Percival watched with a discerning eye. He could tell from the gameplay that Kenneth’s desire

to win was too intense. He would likely falter in the finals without the right mindset, even if he won

today.

Percival could also see that Aaron’s skills were superior to Kenneth’s. Now, the game was as much

about mental fortitude as it was about teamwork.

He had confidence in their team’s synergy, but the mindset part was challenging.

After wrapping up an interview, Aaron did not idle. He headed to the locker room to strategize with

Vivienne. Then, they made their way to the stands to observe Kenneth’s match.

From afar, Percival spotted the pair laughing and chatting as they approached.

Kenneth’s worried gaze instantly sharpened.

In the blink of an eye, here was Aaron cozying up to Vivienne again!

Vivienne noticed Percival and was about to head over when Aaron’s grip on her wrist stopped her.

With a natural ease, Aaron stepped in front of Vivienne, blocking her view of Percival. “Vivienne,

everyone’s waiting for your insights. Let’s watch the match, and you can break down the plays for us.”

Vivienne agreed, realizing that real-time analysis would deepen their understanding. “Sounds good,

let’s go.”

Hence, Percival watched helplessly as Aaron led Vivienne to a section of the stands on the opposite

side.

Aaron sat down, casually throwing a provocative smile at Percival’s way.

Percival’s face darkened, and he scoffed.

Did Aaron think he could stop him?

He simply had to walk over!

He was about to stand up when his phone buzzed with a text.

It was from Vivienne and read, [Don’t come over. We’re discussing tactics. Remember our bet!]

Percival felt his irritation spike but settled back in his seat. When his Vivienne made a request, he

naturally would not intrude.

Yet, his eyes never returned to the broadcast screen for the rest of the match.

When the crowd erupted in cheers, he was still clueless about who had won.

“Bro, we did it! We’re in the finals!” Kenneth was the first to burst from the stage, excitedly lunging at

Percival.

Percival held up a hand, stopping him with ease. “Celebrate after you win the finals.”

Kenneth was momentarily choked up, but as an E-sports player, he knew the ultimate goal was to

clinch the championship.

No matter the match, he had to fight with everything he had to take home the trophy. That was the

basic professional ethic of an E-sports athlete.

Kenneth nodded intensely. “Yes, I’ll take the title!”

Percival turned to look at the stands where Vivienne had already returned to the locker room,

surrounded by Aaron’s team.

Now that Snake had won, the two teams would face off again in two days. Would it be a battle for

revenge or a crushing defeat?

The pressure was immense for Hawk, which had not made it past the group stage the previous year.

A loss this year would leave them without any chance of redemption, especially since this match was

Bennett and his team’s final game.

It was their last stop in their professional careers, and they did not want to end on a loss.

“Bro, let’s go celebrate!” Kenneth’s heart was racing. They had beaten their old rival, RED, who had

stopped them from reaching the finals last year. That defeat had always rankled him.

Even a later victory in a friendly match had not felt satisfying. Today’s win was a breath of relief.

This win was a huge morale boost!

Percival looked at him coldly. “Aaron’s gone back to train, and you want to celebrate? Everyone back to

the training room, now!”

“Yes, sir!”

Led by Kenneth, the team hurried back to prepare.

Percival exhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on Hawk’s direction.

This was not just about his bet with Vivienne anymore; it was a clash with Aaron.

Did that kid think he could win Vivienne’s favor? Dream on!

…

In Hawk’s training room, Vivienne called Matthew, assembling a team to practice against Hawk.

Theoretical knowledge recited hundreds of times was nothing compared to hands-on experience.

After a round of play, Hawk was decimated, not even managing to take down a single tower.

“Coach, the people you brought in are unbeatable, not just for Kenneth but even for Aaron. This is like

bringing a gun to a knife fight!” Fergus lamented, clearly demoralized.

Quentin, who had also been soundly defeated, complained, “Coach, this is brutal.”

Vivienne leaned back in her chair, a lollipop hanging from her mouth. “Keep going.”

“More?” Bennett sounded drained.

Vivienne locked eyes with the deflated trio. “Even the most precise team has weaknesses. You aim for

a lethal strike, not just maneuvering. Remember, you must think of every possible scenario in the game

and how to counter them to stand a chance at winning.”

As Vivienne spoke, Aaron had already regrouped his team. “Vivienne, let’s do it again.”

She nodded in agreement.

Several rounds later, Aaron’s team was still outmatched, but Vivienne could see they were adapting,

even trapping Matthew at his base in one game.

“Alright, that’s enough for today. Rest up and prepare for the finals in two days.”

Vivienne shut down her computer. Staying focused was crucial, but overexertion could backfire.

Back in Snake’s training room, the atmosphere was just as intense.

Percival and Leopold’s team left their players on the verge of mental collapse, yet steadily improving

and honing their strategies.

Both teams were primed for the finals, the air charged with anticipation.

…

In the pre-game preparations, the rivalry between Aaron and Kenneth was already ablaze.

“This time, I’m going to get the MVP for sure. Just you wait!” Kenneth shot a challenging look at Aaron,

not backing down an inch.

Aaron mimicked Vivienne’s snarky tone perfectly, “Oh, waiting to see you bawl your eyes out, kiddo?”

“Aaron, you’re younger than me, so quit acting like you’re the big bad wolf.”

“Can’t help it. This will be my tenth time snagging the FMVP.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join &

Stay Updated for All Books Updates…

“You’re full of it.”

“Not as much as you are.”

The tension between the two teams was palpable, but the two mysterious coaches were as close as

two peas in a pod.

On the rooftop outside the arena, Vivienne leaned against Percival’s shoulder, browsing through an

app for cleaning supplies.

“What are you buying?” Percival inquired.

Vivienne’s lips curled into a mischievous smile, “Just picking out the perfect broom for you.”

Percival playfully lifted Vivienne’s chin, teasingly gazing into her eyes, “So sure I’ll lose, huh?”

“Absolutely.” Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

Percival caressed her lips, his eyes simmering with an intensity he could not hide, and said, “Then let’s

raise the stakes.”