Someone quickly passed the microphone to Avery. She took it but remained seated, responding in a calm, detached tone, "I won't accept your gratitude because your achievements are the result of your own effort and have nothing to do with me."
The crowd was taken aback, thinking, Zoe is genuinely expressing her thanks—why is Avery being so cold? Is she secretly jealous of Zoe?
"How could it have nothing to do with you?" Zoe asked sincerely. "For the past seven years, we've been the best rivals, always pushing each other to improve…"
"You think you're qualified to be my rival?" Avery cut her off abruptly, a mocking smile on her lips. "Who gave you the audacity to even think you could compare yourself to me?"
The lively atmosphere froze instantly. Everyone was stunned, hardly believing their ears, thinking, 'Did Avery really just humiliate Zoe like that, tearing her down in front of everyone?'
