All Chapters of The Coach's Forbidden Play: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Sage's POV The morning light, pale and indifferent and filtered through the heavy drapes of my bedroom. I hadn’t slept well, the unfamiliar quiet of the mansion amplifying every distant creak and groan. After a quick shower, I dressed in a simple yet elegant, silk blouse and tailored trousers... A deliberate choice to avoid anything that might invite comment or judgment from my parents.As I descended the grand staircase, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and something savory and probably Mrs. Gable’s excellent pastries wafted up from the dining room. I found my parents already seated at the polished mahogany table, each engrossed in a tablet and their faces illuminated by the screens’ glow. The scene was perfectly manicured, perfectly silent and perfectly devoid of the warmth one might expect from a family breakfast.“Good morning,” I said, my voice feeling strangely loud in the quiet room.They both looked up with a hint of acknowledgement, then returned to their screens. “Sage, d

Sage's POV The heavy silence of my room was a welcome reprieve after the library incident but it wasn't long before a soft knock at the door announced Mrs. Gable. She entered, carrying a dress bag draped over her arm, a gentle smile on her face.“Your mother asked me to bring this for the reception tonight, dear,” she said, her voice soft and kind.I nodded, my stomach tightening. The Sterling Gallery reception. The first of my public displays, my reluctant re-entry into their world. I took the dress from her, the fabric cool and smooth against my fingers. It was a deep emerald green, a silk gown that shimmered with every movement. Simple in cut, yet undeniably elegant with a modest neckline and long, flowing skirt. It was beautiful, far more luxurious than anything I usually wore and utterly their choice, not mine.“Thank you, Mrs. Gable,” I said, forcing a polite smile.“Let me help you, dear,” she offered and before I could protest, she was unzipping the dress and guiding me into

Sage's POV My stomach churned with a mixture of dread and defiance. The museum date. It loomed over me like a storm cloud, promising nothing but irritation and forced politeness. I considered feigning illness, a sudden debilitating flu that would miraculously clear up the day after but my parents were too shrewd for such a transparent ploy. They’d simply reschedule, perhaps even accompany me to the museum themselves, turning the ordeal into a family outing of forced pleasantries. No, I had to go. But I wouldn’t go willingly and I certainly wouldn’t make it easy for Michael.I spent the rest of the day in a haze of resentment, the hours dragging by with agonizing slowness. I tried to focus on my research, on the intricate algorithms I was developing but Michael’s smug face kept intruding, superimposed over lines of code. The image of him, leaning against the doorframe, that insufferable smirk playing on his lips made my blood boil. He knew, I was certain of it. He knew my parents wer

Sage's POV I immediately regretted the invitation. The words were barely out of my mouth before Michael’s signature smirk, the one that usually made my blood boil, reappeared. It was a clear signal that the brief truce, the fleeting moment of professional respect was over. He was back to being that Michael. The one who reveled in my discomfort, who pushed my buttons with infuriating precision."Changed your tune, have we?" he purred, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous light that promised trouble. He didn't wait for an answer, simply pushed open his car door and stepped out into the deluge. He walked around to my side, still holding my gaze, a silent dare in his eyes.I opened my own door, the cool damp air hitting me as I got out. He stood there, dripping wet, his hair plastered to his forehead and yet somehow, he still managed to look annoyingly charming. "Lead the way, then," he said, gesturing towards my front door with a sweep of his hand.My mind raced. How could I un-invite

Sage's POVI stood there, seething with my hands clenched into fists at my sides. Michael, the infuriating catalyst of my current predicament, simply watched me with that infuriating smirk. He finally pulled his shirt on, seemingly unbothered by the chaos he’d unleashed. The fabric stretched taut across his chest as he buttoned it, a fresh wave of irritation washing over me. He looked entirely too put-together for someone who had just torpedoed my relationship with Andrew.“You think this is funny?” I spat, my voice low and dangerous. “You think it’s hilarious to mess with my life, to deliberately cause trouble?”He tilted his head, his eyes losing a hint of their amusement and becoming something unreadable. “Cause trouble, Sage? Or expose the truth?”“What truth?!” I shrieked, my control finally snapping. “The truth that you're arrogant, manipulative… Who enjoys making other people miserable?”He took a step closer, his expression suddenly serious. “The truth that you’re living a li