Chapter 4

In that single heartbeat, every last lingering shred of hope I had for Claire vanished into ash.

I vividly remembered the grueling training before the tournament, when I would come home covered in cuts and bruises.

Whenever there were scrapes on my elbow I couldn't reach, I'd ask Claire to help apply the ointment.

And what had she said back then?

She would grab the bottle grudgingly, slapping the medicine onto my skin with an irritated scowl.

"You have hands, don't you? Why do you need me to do this? Don't you know how busy I am?"

"You must have some sick masochistic fetish to beat yourself up like this. It looks hideous!"

Back then, I had chalked it up to playful petulance. I would always smile and pull her into a hug.

Only now did I realize that the disgust in her eyes had been real.

She simply never loved me.

I had just slid into the backseat of a taxi when Claire yanked the door open, dragging Austin in with her.

"Driver, City Central Hospital, step on it!"

Ignoring my presence entirely, she barked orders at the driver.

I stared blankly as I saw their fingers tightly intertwined in the rearview mirror. Even the driver looked back at me with awkward discomfort.

"Do you not understand the concept of waiting your turn?"

I had hailed the cab first. And she felt entitled to hijack it?

"Logan, take the next one! You're completely fine, but Austin's injury flared up—he can't wait. If something fatal happens to him, can you take responsibility?"

Her tone was heavy with accusation and thinly veiled threats.

Before I could answer, the driver slammed on the gas and sped toward the hospital.

The entire ride, the two of them huddled close, looking like the picture of an inseparable, loving couple.

As we pulled up, the driver even offered a well-meaning comment:

"Man, your girlfriend really cares about you. Hope you two stay together forever!"

I stepped out behind them, deciding I might as well get my own dressings changed at the clinic.

Right outside the consultation wing, I spotted Claire again, pacing the corridor with anxious fret.

The moment she saw me turn around to leave, she lunged forward, grabbing my arm tight.

"Apologize."

What?

I almost thought I had misheard, staring at her in sheer disbelief.

"If you hadn't provoked Austin, his condition wouldn't have flared up! If anything happens to his leg, I will never forgive you!"

Before the words had fully left her mouth, a group of men in sharp suits came marching down the hall with urgent strides.

They clearly weren't ordinary visitors.

The man leading the pack walked straight up to Claire and presented his credentials.

"Are you the girlfriend of Austin Vance, the new tournament champion? We're representatives from the International Boxing Federation. We heard he was injured during the finals and came to pay our respects."

"Furthermore, we'd like to extend an official invitation for Mr. Vance to compete in the upcoming World Boxing Grand Prix."

Hearing that, my heart skipped a beat.

Stepping onto the world stage had been my lifelong dream.

The Grand Prix brought together champions from across the globe. Just getting into that ring and sharing gloves with the best was an unmatched honor.

In recent years, the screening process had grown brutally strict. Most fighters couldn't even qualify to register.

I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Right at that moment, the clinic door swung open, and Austin stepped out.

Claire rushed to support him, her voice trembling with ecstatic excitement.

"Austin! These gentlemen are from the International Federation! They came specifically to invite you to the World Grand Prix!"

Austin blinked, stunned for a second, before flashing his signature charming grin.

Seeing them reach out to shake hands, my vision turned red.

I had waited years for this chance. There was no way in hell I would let Austin steal it out from under me!

I lunged forward, snatching the medical chart straight out of Austin's hands.

"I'm reporting a fraud. Austin Vance never set foot in the finals!"