The Inescapable Celibate Heir Chapter 112: Crushing Defeat

The final match began. Ella looked at Victoria across the table and smiled confidently. "Victoria, I think you're gonna lose this time."

Victoria's expression remained calm. She barely lifted the corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with disdain. "We'll see about that."

Ella scoffed. "Where do you get your confidence, Victoria?" She always thought Victoria's wins were due to luck. 

Even if Victoria had learned chess, it must have been in college, while Ella had been learning for years with a professional coach who praised her talent.

Victoria didn't say much and went straight to drawing lots. 

Ella drew the white pieces, meaning she would go first. She was pleased; she preferred going first as it allowed her to take the initiative. 

The opening moves were quick, neither needing much thought. After a dozen moves, their pieces began to engage in a fierce battle.

Since it was the final match, everyone at the chess house came to watch. 

Dennis frowned as he observed, stroking his chin. "Victoria's style seems different from her previous games." 

Leon, also studying the game, nodded in agreement.

Today's tournament was open to the public, and many participants were of average skill. 

Victoria hadn't played her best in the earlier rounds, winning just comfortably enough. 

But now, facing Ella, she was holding nothing back, determined to crush her. 

Victoria's moves became faster and more aggressive, putting immense pressure on Ella.

Ella started confidently, but as Victoria began capturing her pieces, she found herself unable to attack or escape. Her thinking time grew longer, and sweat appeared on her forehead.

Victoria leisurely sipped her tea and tapped her fingers on the table. "Made up your mind yet?" 

Ella, frustrated by her inability to find a solution, looked up sharply at the timer and snapped, "I still have time! Stop rushing me!"

Victoria raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Your defeat is certain. You might as well surrender now and save yourself some embarrassment." 

Ella bit her lip and made a determined move. "I won't give up!" 

Leon shook his head. To him, Ella had already lost. It was a pity; he had thought Ella was quite skilled. 

But against Victoria's onslaught, she was clearly outmatched and made several mistakes in a row. Victoria's skill level was evidently much higher. 

Dennis, watching the game, thought, 'Victoria is an excellent chess player. Even I would struggle against such an attack, let alone Ella.' 

Among all the girls he had met, none could compare to Victoria.

Ella struggled on, but it wasn't long before Victoria captured more of her pieces. It became clear that Victoria had her in checkmate, and Ella had no escape. 

Her timer beeped, signaling her time was up. The referee stepped forward and announced, "The final match winner is Victoria." 

Victoria smiled lightly. "Thank you." 

Ella's face turned pale, and the piece in her hand fell to the floor with a crisp sound.

Victoria won the championship, Ella took second place, and a young man came in third. All three would join the chess association. 

But during the award ceremony, Ella couldn't muster a smile. Leon and Dennis only had eyes for Victoria. 

Leon even patted Victoria on the shoulder and said kindly, "Victoria, you really surprised me. You're even better than I thought." He even stood next to Victoria for a photo! 

Ella clenched her teeth in anger. 'How can this be? Why, even after being reborn, can I never surpass Victoria? If this is how it's going to be, why did God let me be reborn at all?'

Victoria saw Ella forcing a smile despite her anger, feeling a mix of satisfaction and sadness. Today, it was Ella who failed at the last moment, whose efforts were in vain. 

But in the past life, it was always Victoria who failed. She had spent countless nights wondering why she was never as good as Ella, why every opportunity slipped away. 

Now, Victoria was just giving Ella a taste of her own medicine.

Dennis had been watching Victoria closely. He noticed that she didn't seem excited or happy about winning, but rather had a faint sadness about her. 

After she stepped off the stage, he approached her. "Victoria, aren't you happy about winning?"

Victoria was taken aback and looked up at him. "No, why do you think that?" 

Dennis gazed deeply into her eyes, her face reflected in his dark brown pupils. "Just a feeling. If you're not happy, you can talk to me." 

He felt a strange familiarity with Victoria, as if they had been close in a past life. In truth, if Ella hadn't been reborn, they would have been a couple. 

But now, everything was different, and Victoria wouldn't give him a chance. 

She smiled politely and said, "Dennis, we're not close enough to share personal feelings. Besides, some problems can only be solved by oneself."

Although Victoria was doing well now, she hadn't forgotten her past life's experiences. 

Losing everything she cherished, her parents and friends leaving her, her career destroyed—such pain left an indelible mark on her heart. 

Even with a second chance, she often had nightmares where everything was just a fantasy before her death, and she died alone, broken.

Dennis sighed. "Alright. But sometimes you talk like you're thirty." 

Victoria was surprised. He was right; she had just turned thirty when she died in her past life. 

But she wouldn't tell anyone that, so she just shook her head lightly without answering.

Ella went to the restroom to touch up her makeup and adjust her mood. She came out smiling and greeted Leon, but he was too busy discussing the game with Victoria to pay her much attention. 

Frustrated but unable to show it, she turned to Dennis. "Dennis, remember to include me in the association's activities. I still have a lot to learn about chess."

Dennis took a step back to put some distance between them and said politely, "There's a group chat for the association. You can check the notifications for activities." 

"I'm usually busy, so you can ask other members if you have questions. They'll help you if they have time." Dennis really didn't want to get too close to Ella, but his manners prevented him from being too harsh. 

He knew Victoria and Ella didn't get along, and if he got too close to Ella, Victoria would distance herself from him, which he didn't want.