บททั้งหมดของ Untouched for Three Years: Leaving My Billionaire Husband and Return the Pool: บทที่ 141 - บทที่ 149

For the next thirty minutes, Sophia sat with an athlete welfare officer while Miller answered questions in the corridor. Every few minutes, she looked toward the service lift. Each time it opened, someone else stepped out: a volunteer carrying bottled water, two technical officials, a cleaner pushing a grey cart.At five thirty-five, an association vehicle arrived to return her to the hotel through a private exit. The welfare officer advised her not to contact the press and not to discuss the finding with other athletes while the matter remained under review.Sophia sent Caroline six messages before the car left the underground bay.None of them was read.The private media profile Caroline had built for her still remained open in another tab. It held the photographs taken after the team test, draft captions about discipline and resilience, and a proposed headline describing Sophia as Britain’s next international medal contender. When Sophia refreshed the page, the link returned an err

The marshal opened the door.The arena met them in layers: white light on the water, the announcer’s voice, music cut short as officials took their positions, and thousands of separate conversations collecting beneath the roof. The stands were not full, but from the pool deck they looked close enough to lean over the lanes.When Romy’s name was announced, the introduction lasted longer than the others.“Former junior champion, returning to national competition after three years away, swimming as a late replacement for Great Britain—Romy Palmer.”Applause spread across the arena. A few spectators stood. Cameras turned toward the outside lane.Romy’s fingers tightened around the edge of the block.She found Devon in Row B. He sat exactly where he had promised, one hand resting on the rail, making no movement that asked her to look at him longer. Liam was visible at the athlete gate on the opposite side, still damp from his own heat. He tapped two fingers against his temple, the same sig

“Are you injured?” Devon asked.Romy lowered her hand, but the movement did not erase what he had seen. The call-room marshal was already waving the finalists forward, and the space around the barrier had begun to clear.“The physiotherapist examined me after the heat,” she said. “There was no sign of a tear. It is sore, but I still have movement.”Devon kept his voice low. “That was not my question. Does the shoulder feel worse now?”Romy glanced toward Miller. If she mentioned the few seconds of weakness in the changing room, Devon would tell him. Miller would withdraw her before she reached the call room.The thought came with immediate shame. Devon was asking because he was frightened, not because he wanted control. Hiding the truth from him did not become harmless simply because she disliked the consequence.“The pain settled while I was icing it,” she said. “The doctor is checking me again before the final.”Devon heard the careful wording. “Is the arm weak?”Romy lifted it to s

The applause continued after the medical-room door closed.Romy could hear the announcer congratulating Anny on Great Britain’s first women’s medal of the meet. The sound should have made her happy. Instead, it sharpened the contrast between the result board outside and the support sling being fastened around her arm.Miller waited until the doctor finished.Then he pulled a chair away from the wall and sat directly in front of Romy. He did not shout. His anger had passed beyond volume.“You felt the arm weaken after the heat,” he said. “You concealed it. The doctor gave you one condition for racing, and you broke it before the final wall.”Romy stared at the black strap crossing her chest. “If I had told you, you would have withdrawn me.”“Yes.” Miller leaned forward, both forearms on his knees. “That was the purpose of the instruction. You did not return to this team so you could destroy your shoulder for fifth place.”Romy’s fingers curled against the edge of the table. “It was my

The noise beside the pool did not disappear. It changed direction.The announcer continued introducing medalists at the far end, music still played through the arena speakers, and spectators still moved along the upper concourse. Around the equipment gate, however, every camera turned toward Sophia.Security had not reached her yet.Caroline stopped walking but kept her arm linked through Romy’s. The grip tightened once, instinctively or deliberately, before her face settled into concern.“Sophia, you are distressed,” she said. “You should speak to your lawyer and the anti-doping officials before you make accusations in front of the press.”“You promised it was safe.” Sophia took another step. Her whole body shook, but her voice carried. “You said it was the newest technology and the Sheffield tests would never find it. You said your people would protect me if anything appeared.”Romy looked at Caroline.No surprise reached her eyes.But Romy found her brows wrinkling involuntarily. C