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2025-09-30 13:34:09
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SHATTERED ICE:One rink, bound by betrayal 174.
Anthony’s POV I could see Celeste’s lips curl slightly, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She was confident, assured, ready for this to go her way. I had to stay calm. I had to hold steady.Mr. Daniels continued with care, “Mr. Carter, is it not true that any fall in figure skating, particularly during high-risk throws, carries inherent risk for both athletes? That even the most careful execution can still result in injury?”“Yes,” he said, though Carter added quickly, “but proper timing reduces risk.”“Correct,” Daniels said, nodding slightly. “And is it possible that Anthony was fully prepared, performing as trained, but the risk inherent to the maneuver still resulted in an accident?”Mr. Carter paused again, then nodded slowly. “It is possible.”I allowed myself a tiny exhale, just small, almost unnoticeable. Another small crack in the wall of accusations.Daniels pressed on, softly, deliberately, “Mr. Carter, you mentioned watching the footage and noting that Anthony’s reactio
SHATTERED ICE:One rink, bound by betrayal 173.
Anthony’s POVI stared at him with a mind almost blank from shock, listening to how certain, calm, and sure he sounded, while my mouth opened and closed again because I wanted to speak, to argue, to shout that he was wrong, but I knew I could not, not now and not here.The lawyer nodded. “In your professional opinion, Mr. Carter, did Ms. Harrison make any mistakes that contributed to the fall?”Mr. Carter did not hesitate.“No,” he said firmly. “She executed her role exactly as trained.”My chest tightened painfully. He did not even look at me when he said it. Not once.“And to be clear,” the lawyer pressed, “you believe the fall occurred because Mr. Vale failed to catch her in time?”“Yes,” Mr. Carter answered.One word. Simple. Final. I felt like the ground had shifted under me, a dull ringing filling my ears as I stared at him, because this was not just anyone speaking.This was the man who had trained us every day, the man who had watched our practices, the man who had once told
SHATTERED ICE:One rink, bound by betrayal 172.
Anthony’s POVThe courtroom felt impossibly cold, even though the air was heavy with tension. The kind of cold that sinks into your chest and makes your bones ache. I sat at the defendant’s table, staring down at my hands. My lawyer, Mr. Daniels, was beside me, flipping through papers, calm and methodical. Across the room, I could see her, Celeste. She looked composed, flawless even, like nothing in the world could touch her. But her eyes were sharp, calculating, full of purpose, and for the first time in a long time, I felt that knot in my stomach tighten.The judge entered, rapping the gavel once. “Court is now in session. We will hear the case of Celeste Harrison versus Anthony Vale.”I exhaled slowly, trying to calm the tightness in my chest. The whispers of the courtroom settled as the clerk read the claim.I turned to look at Isaac who was seated at the back, his posture straight, his expression calm in that way that always made it seem like he was ten steps ahead of everyon
SHATTERED ICE:One rink, bound by betrayal 171.
Anthony's POVI watched as the panel exchanged glances. Some of them scribbled notes, others nodded silently. The tension in the room was thick, and I could feel it pressing against me. Every second felt longer than it should. I shifted slightly in my chair, careful not to draw attention, careful not to let anyone see how fast my heart was pounding.One of the members, an older man with a lined face, spoke first. His voice was slow, deliberate. “But what about public perception? The media coverage has been intense. Sponsors, fans, and other athletes may question participation under these circumstances.” He continued. “How can we ensure this does not reflect poorly on the federation or the country?”Isaac did not hesitate. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of authority in it that made the room quiet immediately. “Public perception can be managed. There is no evidence to suggest that either athlete is incapable of performing at the highest level.” He defended.When they open
SHATTERED ICE:One rink, bound by betrayal 170.
Anthony’s POVI walked into the meeting room and immediately felt the tension pressing against me. The room was sterile, every surface polished, every chair stiff and uninviting. On the far side sat the federation panel. I could see the serious lines on their faces, the little nods exchanged between them. Each one of them carried the weight of decisions that could make or break careers. Their expressions were polite, almost neutral, but the kind of neutral that could slice open the truth without warning.On our side, Samantha walked in next to me. She had no bandage on her ankle. Not that I could tell. Not that anyone could tell. She carried herself like she was fine, like the injury never happened. Her back straight, head high, eyes forward. I could feel the tension radiating off her in little pulses. Her calm was deliberate. I had no idea what to make of it. On one hand, I wanted to reach out and tell her to be honest, to stop pretending. On the other, I understood her reason
SHATTERED ICE:One rink, bound by betrayal 169.
Anthony’s POV “You are,” I admitted. “And you are right. I will be okay. Because I have you reminding me.”He gave me a small, satisfied nod. “See? I told you.”I pressed my hand to his back, feeling the steady warmth of him. “You are a smart little man, Jaden. Really smart.”“Yeah,” he said, leaning closer, “and I can be even smarter. I will make sure you never feel alone. Ever.”The certainty in his voice made my chest ache in a good way, and I held him a little tighter. “I will try not to feel alone either, buddy. I promise.”He hummed, thoughtful, then muttered, “Maybe I should get a notebook, write down all the smart stuff I notice.”I laughed, shaking my head. “You probably should. You might end up teaching me a few things.”He smiled, proud of himself, and snuggled closer against my side. “I will. Because I am smart like that.”We lay there quietly for a few minutes. His breathing was slow and even, relaxed in a way I envied. He did not know what was happening. He only knew t
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