Semua Bab SHATTERED ICE:One rink, bound by betrayal : Bab 111 - Bab 120

Anthony’s POV “Thank you,” I said quietly, my voice catching slightly on the words.“Don’t thank me yet,” she said with a half-smile, tightening her grip before letting go. “You still have to face scrutiny from the board, the federation… and the press.” Her expression sobered a little. “It’s not gonna be an easy ride.”A low groan escaped me as I ran a hand through my hair. I wanted to tell her that it wasn’t going to be easy for her either, that if she stayed beside me, she’d get dragged into the same storm. But I stopped myself before the words could slip out. She already knew. And she’d already chosen to stay. No need to keep reminding her about that decision.“Don’t remind me,” I said instead, giving a tired smile.“Oh, I’ll remind you,” she teased, arching a brow. “Someone has to keep your head straight before you spiral again.”I let out a soft snort. “You think I spiral?”She shot me a look. “You brood,” she corrected. “There’s a difference. One makes you quiet, the other mak

Celeste's POVThe radiology room was cold, the kind of sterile chill that crept under your skin and made you feel exposed even though you were fully clothed. The hum of the machine filled the silence as the technician, a middle-aged man with kind eyes, motioned for me to settle on the metal table.“Alright, Ms. Celeste,” he said gently, adjusting the height of the X-ray arm. “We’ll just take a few images of your ankle today. Shouldn’t take more than ten minutes.”I nodded, forcing a thin smile. My palms were damp. “Okay… um, will it hurt?”He shook his head, smiling faintly. “Not at all. You might just feel a bit of discomfort from holding the position still for a while. That’s all.” he said.I exhaled slowly. My ankle throbbed faintly as he carefully positioned my leg, rotating it at just the right angle. “Like that?” I asked, glancing at him.“Perfect,” he said. “Now, just stay completely still for me. I’m going to take a few shots, one from the top, one from the side, and one at a

Celeste’s POVThe phone rang like an alarm cutting through the quiet of my apartment, shrill and unwelcome. I glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall, late afternoon, and for a suspended second I let myself imagine it was Lena calling with another pep talk, a text about next steps, anything that would keep me rooted to something other than the slow, grinding panic that had lived under my ribs since the appointment.“Celeste Hart,” I answered, voice smaller than I intended. My voice sounded foreign in my own ears.“Miss Hart, it’s Parker.” My lawyer’s voice was brisk, professional. “I need to see you at the office. It’s urgent.”Urgent. The word landed like a stone. I felt the air leave me for a breath. “Is everything all right?” I asked, trying to keep my tone steady even as my stomach constricted.“No… well, there’s been movement on Anthony Vale’s side. He’s engaged counsel. There are a few things we need to discuss in person. Can you come in within the hour?”My hands went suddenl

Celeste’s POVParker folded his hands again. “Good. From here on, we take each step strategically. I will handle the legal response. You focus on staying quiet publicly. No social media posts. No vague quotes that can be used against you. Anything you say will be monitored.”I forced a breath. “Fine.”“And Celeste,” he added, his tone softening, “I know you want justice. You deserve justice. But I also want to keep you protected. Let me take the hits for you in court, not in the media.”His words steadied something inside me, even if only for a moment.I sat back in the chair, letting the reality settle: Anthony was fighting, the federation would watch, the press would circle, and this was only the beginning.But for the first time in days, my fear slowly sharpened into focus.“If he wants a war,” I said quietly, “then he picked the wrong person to underestimate.”Parker gave a small, approving smile. “Then let us build the strongest case possible.”I nodded, gripping the armrests of

Samantha’s POVThe morning of the festival trip started earlier than I wanted. My alarm hadn’t even buzzed yet when a soft knock tapped on my bedroom door.“Samantha? You awake?”I recognized the voice immediately and resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Ryan. Anna’s cousin. Twenty-seven, cheerful to the point of irritation, “helpful” in the way someone becomes when they want to impress you. He had arrived two nights ago, suitcase in hand, all smiles and confidence. And apparently, very little respect for privacy.“One second,” I called out, though my voice barely carried through the door. I Dragged myself upright, feeling every inch of my body protest the hour, and grabbed the oversized hoodie at the foot of the mattress. The room was still dim, still warm from sleep, still quiet enough that I could pretend I had a choice in whether to face the day.I shuffled to the door and cracked it open an inch. “What is it?” I mumbled in my sleep voice.Ryan’s grin was already there, stretched