Chapter 166 Marcus Blushed
Beckett wore a light-colored suit, spotlessly clean, with a gentle and proper smile on his lips.
"What?" Beckett seemed confused about why I was asking. "I've been at the camp the whole time. Is something wrong?"
I said, "There was an incident in the woods just now. I saw Gerald there, but I didn't see you, so I thought it was a bit strange."
"I see. What happened in the woods?" he asked, then explained, "Mr. Gomez was invited by people from the big families, and I didn't go with him."
I nodded, chatted with him for a bit more, and said goodbye.
After walking away, Lucas suddenly said, "You suspect him?"
"Yes. Do you think it's possible?" I didn't share my suspicions and analysis, worried it might influence Lucas's judgment.
Lucas seemed to understand what I was thinking. He pondered for a moment and said, "We'll know once we investigate. If he did it, there will definitely be traces."
On the third day of the hunting competition, when I woke up in the morning, I found the weather wasn't very clear. The sky seemed covered with a blanket, with cotton-like clouds drifting in the wind.
At the breakfast table, Gale put down his coffee cup and looked over. "Why are you so restless so early in the morning?"
Julie asked with concern, "Did you not sleep well last night?"
I shook my head and asked, "Have you heard about Octavia being attacked yesterday?"
Marcus crossed his legs and bounced his foot. "How could we not have heard? The Woods family people practically turned the entire field and forest upside down last night. They almost lifted the grass to see if the attacker was hiding underground."
I asked curiously, "Did they find the attacker?"
"No." Marcus waved his hand. "Next they'll probably search all of Dawnharbor. Gale, let's go back to Starstream City together as soon as the hunting competition ends."
Gale nodded. "Bella, you were the one who gave Octavia first aid yesterday. Are you worried the Woods family will take it out on us? Don't worry, the hospital said Octavia is out of danger now, and that's thanks to you."
At this, Gale couldn't help but smile. "Now the Woods family owes us a big favor. Many people envy us."
I was about to say something modest when Marcus said, "The Woods family people are as low-key as cowards, always staying neutral. Being owed a favor by them doesn't seem to have much benefit."
Gale casually slapped Marcus on the back. "They're still one of the five major families. You make them sound completely useless!"
Julie and I both laughed.
After a while, I said honestly, "I suspect the person who hurt Octavia was Beckett, but I'm just guessing. I don't have any evidence."
"Beckett? Wait!" Julie took out her phone and looked at it. "Jacqueline says Beckett invited her to this morning's mixed-gender fun competition!"
This competition was mostly for entertainment, because the families needed more than just combat and intelligence exchanges—they also needed emotional connections.
After each fun competition, dozens of couples would form, which everyone loved to see.
"If Beckett really is a dangerous person, could Jacqueline be in danger?" Julie said worriedly.
That was what I wanted to say too, but Marcus waved his hand and volunteered, "I'll go find her later and have her refuse Beckett. Nothing to worry about."
"You're going to find Jacqueline?" I was a bit surprised. This was really rare!
"I'll go when the competition is about to start," Marcus clearly had his plan. "And test Beckett while I'm at it."
Gale nodded slightly. "Go ahead, stay safe."
"Don't worry." Marcus raised his eyebrows confidently. "Piece of cake!"
Many people participated in the fun competition. After it started, I tried to find Marcus, Jacqueline, and Beckett, but there were people everywhere. I simply went back to camp to wait for the results.
Long after the fun competition ended, I finally saw two familiar figures walking over, one after the other.
Jacqueline walked in front, with Marcus a step behind her. His gaze moved aimlessly left and right, occasionally flicking quickly to Jacqueline ahead.
I touched my chin, feeling like the atmosphere between them seemed different.
Lucas found it curious. "They didn't fight today?"
I snapped my fingers. Exactly!
Marcus and Jacqueline always bickered whenever they met. Why were they so quiet today?
When they got closer, I saw Jacqueline's cheeks were slightly flushed, her eyes wandering everywhere, just not daring to look at Marcus.
When Gale called Marcus over to talk, Julie and I pulled Jacqueline to a corner and excitedly asked, "What happened between you two? The atmosphere seems kind of weird?"
Jacqueline's face turned even redder. Her fingers twisted at her clothes as she stammered, "Before the competition started, Marcus found me and told me to refuse Beckett's invitation. I yelled at him for being ridiculous. I said I couldn't break my word!"
"Then Marcus signed up too. During the competition, he kept staring at me and Beckett. After the competition ended, he pulled me away and started yelling at me."
"Wait! Marcus yelled at you?" I was confused.
Julie told me not to interrupt and urged Jacqueline, "Keep going!"
Jacqueline lowered her eyes, her voice drifting. "He yelled at me for being blind, for liking a low-class guy like Beckett. I got so mad I cried."
Jacqueline covered her face. "I shouted at him through my tears—who's the blind and stupid one? I obviously like you! Haven't you noticed at all?"
Julie and I exchanged glances and let out a soft gasp of surprise.
"And then?"
"What was Marcus's reaction?"
Jacqueline dropped her hands, looking dejected. "He froze and asked how I could like him, that we have too big an age gap, that he sees me as a kid."
Jacqueline hugged mine and Julie's arms, burying her head between them. "Did I just get rejected? But Marcus's face turned red!"
Julie and I instinctively looked toward Marcus. Marcus happened to look this way at the same time, his gaze landing on Jacqueline. His ears turned red uncontrollably, until both ears were completely red.
I blinked slowly.
Julie smiled and pushed Jacqueline. "I don't think you got rejected."
After lunch, Marcus and Jacqueline ran off somewhere to play. Gale took Julie back to the tent for a nap, and I was brought by Lucas to his camp.
Lucas asked if I wanted to sleep for a bit. I wasn't sleepy, so I asked if he wanted to play chess.
Alfred found a chessboard. Not long after we started, Sophie arrived.
"Don't see her." Lucas stared at the board and told Alfred to send Sophie away without even looking up.
Alfred walked out of the tent and came back in a moment later. "Mrs. Valeri, Sophie says she's here to see you."
Lucas said directly, "It's definitely an excuse. Send her away."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sophie's shout came from outside. "Isabella! I have something important to tell you! Very important!"
Lucas impatiently tossed the chess piece in his hand and told me to ignore her. I thought about it and had Alfred let her in. I wanted to hear what she had to say.