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    The shock rippled beyond just Marco and the families present. Edric and Neal found themselves equally caught off guard.

    But this situation presented entirely different dynamics.

    Chess skills hadn’t factored into his expectations.

    Silence stretched between them.

    She’d anticipated watching Veronica crumble under pressure within minutes.

    Quiet didn’t mean weak, and reserved didn’t indicateck of capability.

    None of them would have predicted she’d boldly throw down such a direct challenge.

    Felix barely knew Veronica, yet her presence hadn’t escaped his notice.

    Niall’s analytical skills and adaptability certainly exceeded expectations for someone

    her age.

    Her style emphasized patience over aggression, buildingprehensive strategies rather than simple tactical sequences.

    Cullen found himself forced to abandon the rxed confidence he typically brought to social games.

    Veronica epted the courtesy, cing her first piece. Cullen responded with his

    counter–move.

    Their previous match had resembled yful courtship more than seriouspetition.

    Like Marco and the others, she’d already fallen behind theplexity of Cullen’s

    responses.

    Both yers began with careful restraint, revealing nothing of their true strategies.

    Her delicate beauty paired with that soft–spoken, refined manner painted her as the ideal well–bred youngdy.

    This was Cullen meeting an equal opponent, and the difference was impossible to ignore.

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    When the initial surprise faded, Niall’s expression smoothed back into its typicalposed mask.

    This young woman approached chess like a seasoned executive approached corporate warfare–with long–term vision and calcted precision.

    Her quiet demeanor and reserved nature suggested someone who preferred shadows to spotlights.

    Felix watched Veronica’stest sequence with growing amazement, finally breaking into spontaneous apuse. “Remarkable technique!”

    Neal found himself reassessing his initial impressions of Maxwell’s granddaughter.

    Niall felt an unfamiliar tension building in her chest as she watched Cullen’s growing

    concentration.

    As the game progressed, Neal and Felix began recognizing patterns in Veronica’s approach that mirrored her personality–controlled and deliberate.

    In his mind, this type of woman would make an excellent match for his grandson.

    Her deceptively passive opening had masked increasingly sophisticated positioning, and they’d missed the subtle brilliance of her developing attack.

    Dario raised an eyebrow, his own smile spreading.

    Felix leaned closer to the board, his business instincts recognizing strategic thinking that reminded him of high–stakes negotiations.

    Though Maxwell had made introductions at the gallery earlier, Veronica remainedrgely an enigma to them.

    His eyes lifted to meet hers, a genuine smile tugging at his lips,

    Cullen quickly discovered that Veronica refused his subtle guidance, instead weaving intricate traps of her own design.

    Niall maintained her position beside Cullen, primarily observing his side of the board.

    Convention granted the opening yer a tactical edge,

    Never before had she seen him apply such serious focus to a social game.

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    They’d lost track of Veronica’s overall strategy several moves ago.

    Cullen had drawn out that game deliberately, coaching Niall throughplex positions and ensuring her sess. The entire exchange felt more like intimate tutoring than genuine contest.

    The atmosphere in the room shifted palpably. What had begun as anticipated entertainment transformed into serious intellectualbat.

    The truth became undeniable–Veronica didn’t just understand chess fundamentals, she possessed genuinely formidable skills.

    When he pulled back from aggressive positions, Veronica pressed forward relentlessly. She bnced defensive maneuvers with calcted strikes, systematically backing him into increasingly difficult corners until Cullen found himself genuinely hesitating.

    Veronica’s attention remained fixed on the board, barely acknowledging Cullen’s presence across from her.

    Cullen’s gaze settled on Veronica. “Ladies first?”

    She exchanged polite pleasantries with Neal before positioning herself at Cullen’s side.

    Veronica’s moves demanded hisplete attention and respect.

    Instead, Cullen’s expression grew more intense and focused than during any of their casual games together. When Neal and the other observers began leaning forward with genuine interest, the reality hit her–Veronica wasn’t justpetent at chess, she might actually surpass Niall’s own abilities.

    The guests who’d expected light entertainment instead witnessed a master ss in strategic patience and tactical execution.

    Earlier, they’dplimented Niall on her sharp instincts and solid fundamentals. In truth, Cullen had been subtly guiding her moves while allowing her victories.

    This wasn’t the gentle, encouraging partner who’d guided her through chess lessons.

    Marco and Edric stared inplete bewilderment.

    The casual confidence he’d always shown during their matches had evaporated, reced by the sharp attention he typically reserved for important business decisions.

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    Her defensive positioning hadn’t been timid–it had been patient predatory preparation.

    Each piece she advanced served multiple purposes, creatingyered threats that required careful analysis to fullyprehend.

    This realization struck both men with genuine surprise.

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