I froze, unsure of how to respond.

Before I could say anything, someone in the crowd yelled, “The organizers keep letting their own people play. This is rigged! How about I go up instead? If she beats me, we’ll forget that last mistake.”

I turned toward the voice and saw Betty.

She stood confidently with Ashton next to her, calm as ever and staring directly at me with that steady, unyielding gaze.

Betty wasn’t just bold—she was skilled. Challenging me like ...