Alyssaâs decision blew Zoeâs mind. Betty guffawed and teased her, Wow, youâre great at making predictions, arenât you?â
âHmph! Let her be. Sheâll only overexert herself and fall on all fours!â Zoeâs teeth clattered from rage as she stared hatefully at Alyssaâs confident expression.
Winston was doubtful and concerned. âLyse, can you do it?â
âDad, you know me best.â She winked playfully at her father.
Winston, Lyla, and Jonah exchanged gazes. Alyssa might be adept at horse riding, but horse racing was an entirely different matter.
âMs. Alyssa, horse racing is not a childâs play. Moreover, this race. concerns an important business opportunity and your familyâs reputation. Itâs fine to stay out of the race. Better than falling off the horse in the race, donât you think? Mr. Taylor would be heartbroken if that happened,â Cornelius remarked.
He was subtly warning her about losing face in the race, which was worse than losing the race itself.
Everyone present assumed that she would lose badly.
âThatâs right, Ms. Alyssa. There are no female equestrians in this competition. Do you think itâs appropriate of you to show up?â Zoe joined in the teasing when she saw Cornelius doing the same.
âWe know youâre competitive, but you have to know your limits, or youâll only suffer.â
âMs. Zoe, do you believe that women have no place in horse riding, or do you think that women are inferior to men?â Alyssa countered as she fixed a frosty gaze on Zoe.
With a snicker, she added, âFrom my understanding, your grandma was once a famous equestrian when she was young. In a time when. the country knew little about equestrian sports, Josephine Harper represented the country at international races and won the gold medal.
âMs. Zoe, by the sound of it, do you think your grandmaâs behavior was âinappropriateâ? I donât mind you looking down on me, but it isnât right to look down on your own grandma.â
âYou-â Zoe was at a loss for words after she shot herself in the foot.
Frowning, Cornelius cast a look at his reckless granddaughter and shook his head.
âUm, Landon,â Lauren mumbled as she faltered. She grasped his hand tightly and said weakly, âH-Has Alyssa angered Zoe? Isnât she scared of Zoe?â
âWhy would she be? Even Jasper is afraid of Alyssa. She probably fears no one else. Isnât that interesting?â Landon chuckled and rubbed her cold hand.
âNo, thatâs not what I meanâ¦â With her head hung low, she said in an almost inaudible voice, âIâm scared. Iâm scared that Zoe would bully. Alyssa.â
âLauren, what is it?â Landon missed her words.
âN-Nothing.â She shook her head vehemently as fragments of horrible memories flashed across her mind overwhelmingly.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and forced herself to dismiss the thoughts as cold sweat formed across her forehead.
âI wouldnât have suggested myself if I was not up to the task,â Alyssa announced, flashing a wide grin at Cornelius as her eyes sparkled. â Mr. Cornelius, thanks for the concern, but I only participate in Cornelius fell into a daze and renewed his impression of Alyssa. The fearless way she carried herself reminded him of the young.
Josephine.