Chapter 208

The moment Lila's concentration faltered, everything unraveled. Unlike Evelyn, she couldn't recover from her mistake.

Panic seized her, and within seconds, the simulation emitted three sharp beeps. "Surgery Failed."

The words flashed across Lila's screen, sending shockwaves through the audience.

"Lila failed!" someone gasped.

"That was a recoverable error. If she'd stayed calm, she could've fixed it."

"She lost her nerve—that's what ruined her. Clearly, she lacks experience. Still, making it this far is impressive."

"Now, it all depends on Evelyn."

Dominic Pierce's smug expression wavered as Lila's failure registered. His jaw tightened, a shadow of unease flickering in his eyes. But just as quickly, he leaned back in his seat, forcing composure. Even if Lila had failed, it wouldn’t matter—Evelyn would too. He was certain of it.

At worst, this round would end in a tie, buying him time to prepare for the next match.

Ten minutes later, Lila entered the auditorium, her face drained of color, shoulders slumped in defeat.

Dominic felt a spike of irritation, but he swallowed it. Scolding her now was pointless. Instead, he motioned for her to sit beside him and said, "You did better than before. But your mindset needs work. Panicking ruins everything—you have to stay composed. Understand?"

Lila pressed her lips together and nodded.

After a beat, she turned to him, regret darkening her gaze. "I'm sorry, Mr. Pierce. I... I let you down."

Dominic exhaled sharply. "It's fine. Just don’t make the same mistake again."

But Lila’s anxiety lingered. "Will there even be a next time for me?"

Her eyes flicked to the screen, where Evelyn was still operating. A knot of dread twisted in her stomach.

Dominic smirked and gestured toward the display. "Look. She's alone now."

The realization hit Lila like a slap. "What’s happening?" she whispered, confusion knitting her brows.

Dominic’s smile deepened, but he said nothing.

Lila studied his confidence, and slowly, her tension eased.

She turned her attention back to the screen, watching in silence. Minutes crawled by. Evelyn’s movements were swift but precise, her hands steady.

Then, Dominic’s and Lila’s faces paled simultaneously.

Was Evelyn actually going to succeed?

Just then—

"She did it!"

"She actually finished!"

...