NovelsFreeChapter 559 He was genuinely surprised by all of this.
Elodie didn't bother to explain.
In the VIP section, Patricia immediately spotted Watts standing with Elodie, engaged in conversation.
Patricia's brows arched slightly as she turned to Jarrod beside her, lips curving in a sly smile. "I wonder, Mr. Silverstein, what are your thoughts? Between the two of them, who are you rooting for?" Jarrod met her gaze, his eyes cool and unreadable.
He didn't answer.
Only then did Patricia's smile falter and her brows draw together.
Grady, seated nearby, overheard and chimed in, "Isn't it obvious? The last two rounds were just appetizers. Today is the real deal the true test of skill. Not everyone can just waltz into a top university and fake it till they make it." Maurice glanced uncertainly at Jarrod. Oddly, Jarrod didn't seem at all anxious about the outcome. Maurice frowned. He knew Sylvie's abilities there was no question she had what it took. But with Elodie, things were far less certain.
If Sylvie really did trounce her...
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe Silverstein family would definitely have something to say. After all, this was a public competition with plenty of attention. If Mrs. Silverstein herself lost to Sylvie, it would hardly look good-no matter how you spun it.
But Grady's comment caught Naylor's attention. Naylor shot him a look and said, "The scores will speak for themselves, Mr. Mercer. There's really no need for that sort of talk." Grady seemed oddly antagonistic, as if he had spersonal grudge against Elodie.
He looked like he wanted to snap back, but when he caught Jarrod's eye, he clenched his jaw and fell silent, clearly reluctant but unwilling to push it further.
Naylor's comment drew a thoughtful glance from Joseph, who then frowned, as if turning something over in his mind.
Meanwhile, as Elodie was preparing, Sylvie strode up to her.
She gave Elodie a cold once-over. "You still have tto back out if you want to save face." Elodie made sure Sylvie was actually talking to her before replying, icy and direct, "Worry about yourself." She didn't bother with pleasantries.
Sylvie's expression froze for a split second, then twisted into a sneer.
Suit yourself, she thought. If you won't listen to advice, don't blanyone for what comes next.
She didn't linger, spinning on her heel and walking away.
Esmeralda and Alexander arrived just in tto catch the tail end of the exchange. Esmeralda, puzzled, asked, "What's with her? She's got a real talent for bluffing." Alexander clapped Elodie on the shoulder. "Have you noticed Sylvie's been particularly hostile to you lately?" Elodie certainly had. Maybe it was something to do with Neural Intelligence, but she suspected it wasn't just that. Especially after Sylvie's little stunt the other day coming over to announce that she and Jarrod had spent the night together. Even that, clearly, hadn't rattled her.
"It's fine. I need to get ready," Elodie said, brushing off the . Alexander took the hint, tugging Esmeralda toward the audience seats.
Today was the final day. The last showdown.
It was tto submit their code for live testing.
Each project would undergo rigorous, high-precision trials-even involving military-grade drones.
Software and hardware had to work vef together seamlessly; even a 0.1-point difference in the data could mean the difference between triumph and disaster.
After submitting his own work, Watts kept a close eye on the results.
His curiosity about Elodie's abilities only grew. Not to be arrogant, but he יח.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmknew his own skills he was certain eint hed place in the top two. As for Sylvie he'd gotten a sense of her lever during the Neural Intelligence project. But Elodie... She remained an enigma.
Then, the results started rolling in.
Sylvie maintained her composure. She'd spent last night talking to Mr. Ferguson at the hotel, and caway with new ideas. She was confident-absolutely certain that no one in the room could match her today.
She'd smashed through a personal barrier.
Even Watts and that prodigy Lily were no longer contenders in her mind.
Elodie? She wouldn't even catch a whiff of Sylvie's exhaust.
With that thought, Sylvie allowed herself a silent, satisfied smile. But as the host's announcement echoed through the hall and the results flashed onto the big screen, her smile froze in place.
Not just her-everyone in the audience seemed shocked.
Patricia's eyes narrowed; instinctively, she glanced at Jarrod, searching for a reaction.
Jarrod simply looked up, his gaze fixed on the brightest non the screen. Naylor and Maurice shot to ve their feet staring in disbelief at the top spot: ELODIE. Maurice was stunned, barely able to process what he saw. Elodie-this good? In a competition like this, with the best of the best, and she still managed-
Sylvie was the most rattled of all. Her composure shattered, and as the results were announced, she om shapped, voice tight and sharp, "I'm sorry, I don't accept this. The results need to be recalculated!"
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