Chapter 213 Wife's Opinion
The team members looked just as lost. "Are you asking me? I'm just as clueless. Isn't this all because he ticked off those people earlier? We wouldn't be in this mess otherwise."
"Exactly. Now it's not even about winning or losing; we can't even play. We'll have to embarrass ourselves by withdrawing."
"He was the one bragging to that woman, making it seem like he was dropping out on his own, but really, he's dragged us all down with him."
He was already in a rotten mood, and the accusations from his own teammates quickly ignited his temper.
"Is this my fault? How was I to know those two women had such a hefty clout?"
"It's because you never took your fans seriously."
"Whatever. What's the point in discussing this now? We might as well throw in the towel. At least the team hasn't disbanded."
Though he said that, he knew no team would ever want him again. His poor character was something fans could never tolerate.
After Reese and Malcolm left, they got straight into the car. Alyssa slumped her shoulders. Her mood was admittedly affected.
She didn't show it there, though. Feelings that had grown over time weren't so easily cast aside.
She slapped the backseat of the car in frustration. "I really wasted all my affection on him."
“That's the thing,” she mused. “Sometimes it's better to keep people at a distance. Meeting them in person can shatter the illusion and reveal they're nothing like you imagined.”
Before meeting someone, better keep your expectations in check. If they turn out great, it's a pleasant surprise.
But for someone like Alyssa, who'd idolized him, finding out he didn't measure up was a huge letdown.
Alyssa, however, was pretty resilient and could move on quickly. She turned to Reese and asked, "And what about you, Reese? How did you manage to win so easily? Even if he's been off his game recently, it shouldn't have been such a cakewalk for you."
She had her suspicions about Reese being that enigmatic retired player.
To Reese's surprise, Alyssa was unusually sharp today; she even pieced together that little fact, earning a newfound respect from her.
The last thing Reese wanted was for Malcolm to doubt her again. If her cover was blown repeatedly, it would become impossible to hide her true identity.
For them, the less they knew about her business, the better.
It was Reese's turn to fabricate a story: "Since I aced the last competition, I got a little too cocky and lost my focus on training properly, which is a major no-no."
Alyssa gave Reese a thumbs-up. "Wow, Reese! You're incredible!"
"It's pretty obvious when you spar with him. Even if they threw everything they had at the matches, they wouldn't be guaranteed a win."
Reese's analysis was on point and very precise. Malcolm, who had been quietly observing, couldn't hide his pride for his brainy wife.
How could his wife be so smart, so formidable?
The first time Alyssa saw that look of astonishment from Malcolm—as if saying, “How can my darling wife be such a force?”—she almost felt sick with envy.
"Bro, can't we have a little dignity, please? I'm all for your PDA, but do you have to be so blatant about it?"
Far from dialing it back, Malcolm simply pulled Reese closer into his embrace. Reese didn't resist, though she seemed slightly uncomfortable.
He raised his eyebrows with a cocky grin. "Why shouldn't I hold my own wife?"
In that moment, Alyssa felt like she was about to implode.
"I can't, I need to get off. This is not my ride to the daycare."
With that, she pretended to reach for the car door, only to find no one made a move to stop her.
Frustrated, Alyssa protested, "What’s with you guys? Can’t you even bother to pull me back?"
Reese wasn't the type to plead with someone to stay or indulge their tantrums, especially when Alyssa was clearly joking.
She was like a kid, with emotions all over the place, but at heart, she was simple and had no ill intentions. Reese preferred straightforward people.
Malcolm said, "Knock it off, we're heading back."
Alyssa pouted; these two were no fun at all. She settled back into her seat nonetheless.
On the road, Malcolm answered a call from Justin. His tone immediately turned ice-cold.
"What's up?"
"We got word. There's a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for that project tomorrow."
The man's brow furrowed with frustration, a rare lack of resolve stirring within him. No one had ever snatched a deal out from under him before, least of all by a stranger, and he had a sinking suspicion it was his own wife's doing.
Every time the thought crossed Malcolm's mind, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Reese, who was lounging in the car seat, her eyes closed as if she was fatigued. Her curly lashes fluttered slightly, and her beauty was undeniable—she was easy on the eyes in every way.
Initially boiling with rage, he found himself disarmed by her allure. "Alright, let it go," he thought. "No use getting mad when your wife's that gorgeous."
If it was indeed her who had taken his project, he'd reluctantly accept it. Now, what really mattered to him was not winning back the deal, but finding out who was responsible.
He was determined to figure it out, even if it drove him to his grave.
Clearly, his wife was no pushover, and his indirect inquiries seemed likely to end in vain.
Yet, there were always ways to get to the bottom of things.
On the phone with Justin, Malcolm said, “So we're doing a ribbon-cutting ceremony, huh? Why tell me? Trying to rub it in?”
Justin felt blindsided by Malcolm’s sharp tone. Hadn't Mr. Flynn himself insisted on being informed of any issues with the project promptly? Why this sudden change of heart?
It didn't seem wise for him to attempt an explanation now. Justin had a gut feeling that doing so would only fuel Mr. Flynn's anger.
"Got it," Justin replied before ending the call.
Alyssa, ever inquisitive, leaned forward. “Bro, is it about that deal that got swiped from you?”
“It's done now. But good luck to anyone trying to snatch something from me again.”
His firmness caught Reese's attention, her slender brows lifting with curiosity as she lay there with eyes closed.
Noticing her reaction, Malcolm quirked an eyebrow with a mischievous grin. “What's up, honey? Got a different take on it?”
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