s opened

, a familiar rhythm in he

ing felt

hurt, a d

a fall on

as dif

e ache of r

ring ev

g Championships qualif

strous f

his face a mask of polite conc

g, already tasting

ictoria Hayes, or

o keep the lucrative

wanted

ed her. Publicl

skating. Qu

ake. Weeks befo

as sharp, a

hock. Hurt.

flood

of bed, her

ed in th

old. Talented

truggling

olu

s coming. She kn

r. Ethan and Chlo

d be there, wat

old knot in

would be

ldn't b

lculating eyes, her smooth j

said it was fo

family's

ve sponsorships

d to be her partner, h

the "naturally

mbition ov

ers, the shared glances

Chloe had grown, while her c

se now, a cruel

ot in her usua

thing that said she wa

estigious Colorado S

r felt good

on the ice. E

g a lift, Chloe lau

. Like they hadn't des

to the edge

n. Ch

was calm

o see her there so early,

Ethan asked, a l

, a small, knowing

ght at Ethan. "About how you're going to make sure

ished. "What are

es widened

mb, Ethan. I r

of si

nd you. So 'naturally gifted

an't handle the pressure

e," Ava said. "It's betra

wait for th

ctoria sat, coffee in hand, a pleased express

d. "Ava, darling, you're ear

," Ava said. "Not w

dramatic, Ava. We've discussed this. T

o, Mother? For yo

ngerous low. "Don't you dare speak to me like

your project?

's humiliation fueled her.

then, what was the point of it

nswer. The point

ressure. The manipulation. How you an

fury. "You're being hysteric

klace Victoria had given her. A symbol of their toxi

out. "I do

is, Ava, you walk away from everything. No more fun

lace on the railing. "I don't want yo

e sense of lightn

o longer

d and wal

on me!" Victoria's voice was s

ub, out of the life Vict

again, but this time

to the grand

r savings, hidden away from Victo

to lea

ould find a way t

cing her mother's relentless

a one-way

tland,

Port

name. Julian

dalist. Career cut short

ll, unassumi

g shot. A de

her luxurious ro

t like

ng the door sof

nty gnaw

e knew. All she ha

id no? What if she coul

irled, but she p

ep at

aiting, she saw a fad

skating show.

on it, smaller than th

lder woman, noti

the woman said, nodding at the poste

mall spark.

yb

us ar

k a dee

on, embracin

ath. He