Chapter 3

Inside the studio, Jonathan was giving an interview.

The reporter held up a microphone, his voice tinged with admiration. "Mr. Nash, you and Ms. Lloyd are truly the ultimate power couple in the boxing world."

Amber looked polished and poised. Her arm looped through Jonathan's as she leaned against him.

"I've heard that Ms. Lloyd played a huge role behind the scenes in helping you win back the world championship."

Amber giggled softly. "Those years after Jonathan became paralyzed were incredibly difficult. But as long as we faced everything together as husband and wife, there was nothing we couldn't get through."

She put extra emphasis on the words "husband and wife".

I gripped the gear case tighter until its sharp edges dug into my palms.

Just then, a sharp-eyed reporter in the front row suddenly pointed toward the backstage area.

"Wait a second. Isn't that the woman who stood up at the celebration party?"

Every camera in the room swung toward me.

The reporter immediately sensed a story and thrust the microphone toward Jonathan.

"Mr. Nash, what exactly is your relationship with that woman? There have been rumors that she was the one who stayed by your side during your darkest days and even helped with your rehabilitation. Is that true?"

The room fell silent.

Everyone's eyes moved between Jonathan and me.

I stared up at him. Those few seconds felt like an eternity.

A pathetic part of me still hoped that even if he wouldn't admit I was his partner, he'd at least say I was the one who had pulled him through the hardest years of his life.

Jonathan looked at me, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes.

Then, he slowly raised the microphone. "Yvette was the housekeeper who took care of me all these years."

His voice rang clearly through the speakers, "She worked hard and always did her job well."

He turned to Amber, and his expression softened with affection. "But as my wife, Amber is the most important person in my life, and I could never have done this without her. She's the reason I was able to make my comeback."

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the crowd.

I stood frozen, clutching the box as my fingers slowly turned cold. A dull ache spread through my chest.

A housekeeper.

So, all the sacrifices I had made meant nothing to him. I had sold my home to pay for his surgery and stayed up night after night caring for him through eight years. Yet to him, I was nothing more than a housekeeper doing my job.

The moment the interview ended, the crowd outside descended into chaos. Someone had already posted photos of me working as a hotel housekeeper online.

Frenzied boxing fans immediately blocked me at the exit, hurling insults at me.

"So she's just a housekeeper? And she thought she could use our champ to get ahead?"

"What a shameless woman! Jonathan has a wife. Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Having someone like her around Jonathan just ruins his reputation!"

Vicious curses rained down on me.

Suddenly, someone slammed hard into my shoulder, knocking the gear case from my hands. Boxing gloves, mouthguards, and protective gear spilled onto the floor.

I crouched down to pick them up, but someone shoved me hard from behind.

I lost my balance and tumbled down the steps. Blood seeped from my scraped elbow, and sharp pain shot through my ankle. I gasped, unable to get up.

Laughter broke out among the crowd.

Jonathan noticed the commotion and started toward me, but Amber grabbed his arm. "Jonathan, the reporters are waiting for us to take pictures, and the sponsors are watching."

The panic in Jonathan's eyes disappeared.

"Security," he called flatly, turning away. "Get the crowd under control. Don't let anyone disrupt the event."

Back when Jonathan couldn't walk, if I was ten minutes late coming back from the grocery store, he'd break into a cold sweat from anxiety. He would drag himself to the front door, terrified that I had abandoned him.

Now his legs were healed, yet he watched me fall and simply walked away.

"Ma'am, you need to leave right now," a security guard ordered, shoving me toward the exit.