Bab 20: Chapter 19: The Rivalry Escalates

Ava stared at the screen behind her, wishing it would magically glitch and explode. Ethan's smug grin practically radiated across the seminar stage as the audience murmured their approval of his "scientific" approach to love. The glowing testimonials and polished graphs were working exactly as intended.

Ethan stood beside her, holding his tablet like a prize he'd won in a science fair. "Any questions?" he asked, addressing the crowd with the confidence of someone who had definitely practiced this in the mirror.

"Yeah," Ava muttered under her breath, "can we skip to the part where you fall off the stage?"

The audience laughed politely, though it was clear Ethan's high-tech spiel had left them impressed. Ava gripped her notes tighter, frustration bubbling beneath her professional facade. She needed to win them over. Fast.