Chapter 5

“Come on, one more,” Chole said, trying to hide the frustration in her eyes.” I’m just getting warmed up.”

I glanced at her, then at Ethan, who still hadn’t said a word. Melina watched from the side, clearly annoyed but not stepping in.

“Sure,” I replied, picking up another ring, my tone casual.” Let’s keep going.”

We kept playing. I hit the pillar again. And again. Chole’s throws grew wilder, her aim less precise, her confidence visibly cracking. Melina’s eyes darted between us, her polished exterior slipping as her face twisted into an increas- ingly sour expression. She glanced at Ethan, clearly expecting him to intervene, but he just stood there.

I picked up my final ring, tossed it with a casual flick of my wrist, and it spun neatly around theMoon Pillaronce

more.

Chole’s forced smile finally shattered. Her eyes filled with tears, and a small, broken sound escaped her throat. She clutched the last ring tightly, her fingers shaking, then let it clatter to the ground as she stumbled toward Ethan.

Ethan stepped forward, his face hard, eyes cold. He snatched the gold ring from my hand, his jaw clenched.

“That’s enough,” he said, his voice low but sharp.

Chole threw herself into his arms, her shoulders shaking as she buried her face in his chest: Ethan’s expression soft- ened, his arm coming up to hold her gently, fingers stroking her back in slow, comforting circles. Melina quickly stepped in, wrapping an arm around Chole, whispering something I couldn’t hear.

“Really, Olivia?” Melina’s eyes snapped to me, sharp and furious.”It’s just a game. Was it necessary to take it so seri- ously?”

I didn’t respond, just slowly stepped back, setting my last ring down on the side table.

Melina’s eyes bored into me, “You come from an ordinary family. You think being competitive is the only way to gain respect?”

Her words hit like a slap.

I glanced at Ethan, expecting… what? Defense? Support? But his eyes were distant, his face like a faded photograph, all the vibrance I once admired now washed out and cold.

Forget it. There are only twenty days left. I shouldn’t care.

up, ready to leave,

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13:18

you are hurting us,” Yve’s

my hand, my fingers curled so tightly that my nails had broken the skin. I hadn’t even

on my heel and walked toward the door.

voice followed me, sharp

I didn’t stop.

the Hawthorne Manor and got into my car, my

Ethan. I ignored it and finally, I blocked his

road, the tires crunching against the gravel

for my phone, typing out a message to Melina with one

make sure you and your family pay

phone onto the passenger seat, my pulse still

gray clouds rolling in, the first

peripheral vision, followed by the sharp, whining roar

wildly, its rider dressed in dark leather,

the seatbelt cutting into my shoulder as my

voice snapped in my

what happened, a deafening crash shook my car. My head slammed into the steering wheel, a sharp,

blurred, red and

against my temple, wiping away the blood

cracked windshield, I saw the red motorcycle disappearing into the distance. Then I checked my rear view mirror to find a black Maybach that had rear-ended me.

could gather my thoughts, a firm knock

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13:18

Chapter 5

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his forties, dressed in a crisp black suit, glasses perched on his nose, stood beside

down the window, wincing as the motion sent another wave

ma’am,” he said, his voice calm and steady.”I rear-ended your

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