nce at Kasie's composure. "Cat

ct, were fixed on Janiyah. "The dress is beautiful," she said, her v

h anger. "That's better than someone w

," Kasie replied s

iliation, and it infuriated her. To regain the upper hand, she changed tactics. "It's a lovely day

d to showcase Janiyah's supe

onfidence restored. "How about it, Kasie?" she challenged, a smi

licker of something unreada

sitting in the center. Janiyah chose the white pieces, the aggressor's

cilian Defense, a solid,

e relentless, her movements swift and confident. Margo watched from a nearb

e. Her moves were quiet, almost passive, but they were building a structure, a web. Janiya

ess champion, and that Kasie had spent her childhood learnin

attacks were being effortlessly parried.

ok to a seemingly vulnerable position. It loo

itate. She captured the rook, a trium

is almost over," Ma

ne for Kasie's bishop. Her knight, now free, leaped forward. The two pie

ened in horror as she finally saw the

as swift

Janiyah's defenses. Her pieces were picked off one

the board, landing it in the one po

e," she s

nded to use as a weapon, had been turned against her and shattered. The humiliation was absolute.

was a thunder

ems," she said, her voice devoid of any emotion, "that some

r will be in touch about the new terms of the settlement. The pr

and a half times the origin

the estate, leaving the wreckag