Ignoring Ava, Ace turned to hand the plush to Mandy and said, "Don't forget your promise. If I don't get my own car in a week, I'm taking your Dark Starpedo."
Snatching the plush from Ace's hand, Mandy narrowed her eyes at him and warned, "Try it, and I swear you'll be missing one of your legs the next day."
"Ahem," Cam cleared his throat, stepping forward to divert attention from their playful bickering. He held out a small box and said, "Here's the 18Kt gold pendant, your reward for breaking my record."
"Nice," Ace muttered, his tone casual as he accepted the fitted pendant box. He opened it to reveal a delicate yet striking cross pendant. Admiring its craftsmanship, he turned it in his fingers, noting how it exuded elegance and spirituality.
Mandy's expression softened as she watched him inspect the pendant. Though she suspected Ace would save it for someone special, like Mary or Lyra, a small part of her couldn't help but hope he'd give it to her. But, to her surprise, Ace turned to Lola and, with an authoritative tone, said, "I think this will look good on you. Turn around."
Lola blinked, startled. For a moment, her wide eyes betrayed her shock, and she hesitated, unsure how to respond. Before she could utter a word, Ace stepped behind her and whispered playfully near her ear, "Hold your hair, will you?"
Lola's body reacted unconsciously to the suggestion. She lifted her hair, revealing her graceful neck and collarbone. Ace didn't miss a beat, swiftly fastening the pendant around her neck. Then, stepping back, he circled in front of her, his eyes lighting up with satisfaction. "It looks great on you," he declared with a confident smile.
Lola's cheeks flushed, a mix of embarrassment and gratitude flooding her expression. She fumbled for words, wanting to tell Ace the pendant was far too costly and that she couldn't accept it. But before she could speak, Ace turned to Mandy with a teasing grin. "Auntie, don't get jealous. You already have a diamond pendant set. Next time, if I win something like a bracelet, it's all yours."
"Whose jealous?" Mandy huffed under her breath, tightening her grip on the plush in mock annoyance.
Meanwhile, Lola instinctively began to tug at the pendant, her fingers fiddling with the chain as she hugged the large plush doll to her chest. Noticing her reluctance, Ace quickly stepped forward, his face exaggerated with mock pain. "Lola, please, don't make a big deal out of this! I didn't buy it—I just won it for $10. Please, don't refuse," he pleaded, his tone earnest.
Lola glanced at Ace, his exaggerated expression making her smile despite herself. With a soft sigh, she finally conceded, letting her hands warp around the plush toy. The pendant rested comfortably against her skin, a subtle but meaningful mark of their friendship.
Meanwhile, Danny couldn't help but nod in quiet self-realization. His cousin was no longer the nerd he once knew but a player—confident, incredibly handsome, and undeniably good at it.
"It's getting late, and a lot of people are drunk by now," Cam said, glancing at the increasingly rowdy crowd that buzzed with laughter and occasionally stumbled. "You guys should head to the gymnasium. We'll finish packing up here and meet you there. They should be ending the silent auction, announcing the auction winners, and then raffle draw winner at the last."
"Yes, we should," Mandy agreed with a curt nod. She glanced toward Lola, who was still clutching the plush toy. "We'll drop Lola off at her parents' stall and then head to the gymnasium."
The others nodded in unison. As they turned to leave, they bid farewell to Cam and Ms. Matthews, exchanging smiles and quick waves. Ava's gaze lingered on Ace and as the group left her eyes darted following his Ace's back. Only she knew what she was thinking.
They made their way across the fairground, weaving through clusters of merrymakers. The festive lights flickered overhead, and the smell of fried food lingered in the cool night air. At Lola's parents' stall, her mother greeted her with a warm smile and a relieved expression.
Once Lola was safely with her parents, Mandy ushered the group onward. The gymnasium loomed ahead, its doors wide open and spilling warm light into the night. The sound of faint music and murmured conversations reached their ears.
As they approached, the security guards standing by the entrance straightened up, but the moment they saw Mandy, they waved the group through without so much as a glance at their tickets. Ace raised an eyebrow at the preferential treatment, but Mandy brushed it off with a smug smile. Other guests from the surrounding communities were stopped, their tickets scrutinized, but Mandy's presence seemed to grant the group an effortless passage.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted. The gymnasium was well-lit and less chaotic, with tables neatly arranged for the auction and groups of people chatting politely. The gang looked around, taking in the change of pace as they prepared for the next part of the evening.
Soon, they found their parents seated at their table, deeply engrossed in a heated discussion. From afar, their animated expressions hinted at the seriousness of the topic. The trio exchanged curious glances, wondering what could have gotten them so riled up, and approached the table quietly.
As they drew closer, they overheard Dan's voice, tight with frustration. "I can't believe this. It was our idea—I mean your idea. How can they shamelessly decide to just take it and do the same?" He corrected himself mid-sentence, feeling Pam and Mary's sharp glares on him.
"What are you guys discussing? Let me guess—it's Rockworth again," Mandy quipped, her tone light but knowing. She set her plush doll carefully on the chair next to hers before slipping into the seat beside Mary. "Other than them, no one else can get under your skin . So, what happened?"
Pam, clearly still irked, turned to Mandy with an accusatory look. "Can't you call? If not for Danny's text, I would've been worried sick wondering what was taking you so long," she scolded her in a tone mixed with relief and irritation.
Mandy rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair. "We're here, aren't we?" she replied, waving her hand dismissively. Then, with a sly grin, she gestured toward Ace. "Besides, Ace has some news that'll cheer you all up."
The tension around the table shifted slightly as Mandy launched into the story, her voice animated. She recounted how Ace had not only completed the gold bar challenge hosted by the Rockworth twins but had won their prized Polaris Ranger. Her hands gestured emphatically, adding weight to the tale. To drive the point home, Mandy pulled out her phone and played the video she had recorded.
However, to Mandy's surprise, the adults' reactions were mild. They offered polite congratulations to Ace for winning, their expressions calm and composed. Alwin, ever practical, crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Where did you get the $100 to play the challenge?"