Chapter 203 Betrayal

Book:The Reborn Wife Published:2024-5-1

There was no suspense in the results of the competition the next morning. Rufus played to his usual strength and made no mistakes. Furthermore, there was no elimination, so everyone did not care too much about it. They only hoped to perform as usual. In the afternoon, it was Caleb and Layla’s turn to compete.
It was quite a challenge to complete a complicated 60-grid comic within three hours. However, if they could complete the round, they would probably make it into the top five. When Rufus finished his round, and they all returned to the classroom to rest, the entire team was tense.
“Why did he suddenly quit? What happened? Was he kidnapped?”
Lois could not understand it. Their team had a high chance of making it to the top five, so why did Aryan quit their team at that moment? Aryan’s withdrawal was a disaster for them. Even if Layla and Caleb could complete their round in the afternoon and they could make it to the top five, they would still fail miserably in the final round the next day.
“Why did this happen? Elena, are you sure that’s what he said? Have you called him?”
“I called him, but there was no answer. However, someone saw him in the morning, and he looked just fine.”
They were relieved with Elena’s answer, but they also felt desperate at the same time.
“So, Aryan did quit voluntarily, but why? Why now?”
Both Layla and Lois were dispirited.
Luacs closed the window and looked at his friends. “Those people are gone.”
“Who?”
Everyone was stunned, and could not understand what Luacs had said.
“The people who had been trailing us since last night. Two of them were staring at Rufus before he went to compete this morning.”
“What?” Rufus was terrified by that news and immediately glanced out the window.
They were on the first floor, and the room faces the rear of another building outside the window. A big, wide road and two small streets were between those two buildings. It was midday, and everyone was taking their rest. A few students occasionally walked passed, but none of them looked strange.
“When I sent you back to the dormitory last night, I realized that someone had been watching us.” Luacs pursed his lips.
“I understand now. Did you ask Layla and I to stay together this morning because you were afraid that someone would hurt us?”
Caleb was still unsettled. “But why didn’t you stay with us after that?”
“I noticed that they weren’t going to do anything. They were just watching us all morning.”
“What for?” Caleb was confused.
If they were not to do anything, why would they keep an eye on them? It was a waste of manpower, was it not?
“They no longer need to target us. Without Aryan, even if we make it to the top five, we would not make it into the top three.”
Lois rested her head on the table; she was so depressed that she could not even lift her head. Aryan had become so famous. When one thought of September Studio, the god-like artist, Aryan, was the first thing that came to everyone’s mind instead of Elena.
If Aryan did not appear in the final round the next day, the judges would find out that he had withdrawn from their studio. What was the value of their studio without their famous artist-Aryan? Without him, their studio would not have much value at all. How could they possibly get a new artist in such a hurry? Caleb could be the lead artist, but he lacked Aryan’s skills. Everything that Caleb did was a hobby for him. His strength was in computer science. Their drawing skills were not on the same level at all. Hence, the gap between them was too huge even to compare. Layla also rested her head on the table as she also felt depressed about the whole matter.
“What do we do about this?”
“Aryan might not be here, but at least you all are safe. Isn’t that a good thing?”
Elena smiled and kicked her calf. “Be optimistic.”
Layla was still lifeless. Optimistic? How could she do that? They had lost all of their hopes ever since Aryan withdrew from their studio. Those who wanted to harm them could rest for a while. At least, their safety was guaranteed.
However, they needed Aryan back on their team badly.
Time passed as they rested. The group of friends had lunch and then continued with their break. Lois took Caleb and Layla to register for the next event. The whole team set off together as Elena brought the rest of the team to the auditorium. It was the last round before the judges would announce the top five teams. Everyone waited eagerly for the results. Regardless of what would happen the next day, all of the teams hoped that they would make it to the next round.
“It’s Aryan!” Layla suddenly exclaimed as she pointed to the entrance of the venue.
“Oh, my God! Why is he with Nina’s team?” Lois could not believe her eyes.
Caleb was also shocked. They had speculated a thousand possibilities for Aryan’s withdrawal, but they never imagined that it was because of that!
“So, he had left to join Nina?”
“That’s unacceptable!”
Rufus only saw red, and he quickly walked toward his former teammate. Aryan did not notice them until Rufus was right in front of him. Aryan finally saw him.
“Aryan, why are you doing this?”
Rufus grabbed Aryan’s shirt, and his eyes flashed red scarily.
“What did she give you? Why did you choose to be with them? You are too much!”
They were classmates. They had been strangers, but when they joined Elena’s team, their relationships had evolved to brothers. Rufus regarded Aryan as his brother, but what about Aryan? If they were brothers, why would Aryan choose to betray them at that critical time?
“What do you think you’re doing?” Nina was stunned at first, but she quickly regained her sense.
“What are you guys doing? Remove him quickly.”
Her team members reacted immediately. They lunged forward and pulled Rufus away.
“Stop it!” Elena arrived with the rest of her team members.
All Luacs had to do was to step forward. The cold aura exuded from his body was enough to scare those people away, and they released Rufus almost immediately. Rufus wanted to step forward again, but Luacs stopped him.
“Calm down!” Elena glared at Rufus.
Rufus was still furious, but he tried his best to calm down. He glared at Aryan as he was angry and heartbroken! Layla almost cried. She never thought that Aryan would join Nina’s team.
“You… you are too much!” She could not say anything more.
Her voice became hoarse as soon as she opened her mouth. She was choked with tears. Lois held Layla to support her. She also looked at Aryan, but she said nothing. A fine fowl could only perch on a fine tree, and a virtuous minister could only serve a virtuous master.
How could they blame Aryan? He probably had a better opportunity and more leeway to showcase his skills in Nina’s team. After all, their studio had only been established for less than a month. Even if they had great potential, they were still a new team.
However, Nina’s team was vastly different from theirs. Her studio was comparable to that of other large and established studios. Aryan only chose a better environment and a better team. Who could have blamed his decision?
Elena also looked at Aryan and asked expressionlessly, “So you have decided?”