Chapter 1

My girlfriend rigged the championship fight, handing the gold medal I had bled for to her golden boy.

All because he already had bronze and silver—and only needed gold to complete his collection.

At the victory party, she casually told me I could just wait for the next season.

Oh, I waited.

I packed my bags, walked out of her life, and blocked her on everything without looking back.

Until five years later, when we met again in the arena.

I fought my way to the top and crushed her golden boy beneath my boots.

When she saw a stunning woman step into the ring to wipe the sweat from my brow, she completely forgot about her injured darling.

Desperately clutching my shirt, her eyes welled with tears as she pleaded, "Are you... really done with me?"

The roar of the crowd was deafening. Down by the podium, everyone was chanting the new champion's name, swooning over his dashing looks.

Meanwhile, nobody had any idea who the real champion was.

I overheard two girls beside me giggling.

"He wore that mask the whole tournament! I thought he was hiding an ugly face, but damn, he's gorgeous!"

"Right? Austin looks so gentle, but the way he fights is pure fire!"

I stood frozen in place, feeling as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head.

Ten minutes ago, Claire had sent me outside to grab a bottle of wine, claiming she wanted to celebrate my victory.

Yet when I returned, I watched with my own eyes as she hung my gold medal around Austin Vance's neck.

Because I had fought under a mask throughout the entire competition, the public had never seen my face.

Austin and I had almost identical builds. No one would ever suspect someone could steal a championship like this.

Right then, Claire turned around with a bright smile and met my gaze.

My fists clenched tight. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to storm the stage and confront her.

The very next second, she looked away, clapping her hands to lead the applause.

"Let's give it up for Austin Vance—the brightest rising star in the boxing world!"

Hearing her thrilled voice made my chest ache with sharp, agonizing pain.

I had trained five grueling years for this championship.

During countless lonely nights, I had given everything—sweat, blood, and tears.

In the final match, I fought tooth and nail, pushing myself so hard I nearly suffered permanent muscle tears.

And Claire—my girlfriend, the official guest presenter of the night—had brazenly hijacked my victory behind closed doors.

The anger burning inside me was ready to burst.

Yet Claire was happily celebrating Austin's "win."

She pulled a small brown box from her pocket, revealing a custom-engraved luxury watch.

I remembered seeing a charge from a boutique watchmaker on my credit card a week ago.

At the time, Claire told me it was a victory surprise for me. I had looked forward to it all week.

It was indeed a victory surprise. Just not for me.

I couldn't take it anymore. Amid the gasps of the crowd, I strode up to the podium.

Claire's brow furrowed, shooting me a sharp, warning glare.

"What are you doing up here? Whatever it is, we'll talk later."

I dodged her hand as she reached for me, my voice dropping to ice.

"Don't you have anything to explain?"

"Why is the championship medal that belongs to me hanging around Austin Vance's neck?"

The buzzing hall instantly fell dead silent. Every single pair of eyes shifted to me.

Claire's face darkened, guilt flickering in her eyes as she stepped closer.

"This is a live broadcast! Don't make a scene. I'll explain everything later!"

Explain?

The truth was staring me in the face. She had deceived me from start to finish. What was left to explain?

I snatched the microphone right out of her hand and addressed the bewildered crowd below.

"I'm here to report fraud. Austin Vance never even registered for this tournament. Claire Miller rigged the presentation so he could steal my championship!"