Elisabeth quickly shifted into victim mode. "Fiona, even if you don't like me, there's no need to shove me, right? My ankle's still not completely healed."

Reid immediately dropped whatever he was holding and rushed to her side, fretting over her as she took a seat.

I stood by, listening, feeling nothing but an empty void inside. This kind of scene had played out more times than I could count.

Time and time again, without any hesitation, Reid took Elisabeth's side and scolded me in anger. In the past, I used to argue back, but it always led to a heated argument that solved nothing. Now, I didn’t have the energy to defend myself anymore.

After they left, I called my uncle, Theo, overseas. He'd always wanted me to come over and help manage his business since he had no kids of his own. I had turned him down countless times before, wanting to stay with Reid. But now, I felt no ties holding me back.

Lying in the hospital bed, as the anesthesia wore off, pain started coming in waves. I shut my eyes, yet sleep eluded me as my mind replayed my last argument with Reid.

It had happened one afternoon when he was tenderly wiping Elisabeth's sweat after a workout, and my patience finally snapped. I confronted him, asking if something had changed between us.

Reid stayed calm, as though I was being irrational. With frustration in his voice, he said, "Fiona, have you been working too hard lately? When you're exhausted, you start getting ideas. Maybe you should take a break for a few days?"

I looked around, feeling the stares of people around us. Elisabeth had that innocent look and a knack for charming everyone with honeyed words. Since she arrived, she had gradually taken over my spot, and if I stepped away now, I feared there’d be no place left for me later.

I couldn't bear the thought that years of effort could be wiped away. With a competition looming, I didn’t want to stir up any unnecessary drama, so I swallowed my grievances. But these issues kept piling up.

I often clung to a small hope, wondering if maybe I was just imagining things. Until the time when he deliberately caused my injury. Only then did the truth hit me like a ton of bricks.

In the two weeks I spent recovering in the hospital, Reid—who once swore to take care of me forever—visited only once when I first checked in. At first, I thought he was simply busy, but later I found out he came to the hospital every day—to spend time next door in Elisabeth’s room.

The nurse, Malaya, looked confused when she asked me, "Didn’t the guy next door used to come see you? I just checked the room next door; they were all over each other, kissing like crazy."

"I thought he was your boyfriend. Guess not, huh?"

I didn't bother correcting her, feeling a bitter sting in my heart. Even with just a wall between us, Reid wouldn’t come to see me, his supposed girlfriend.

As I was about to be discharged, Reid suddenly called me again. Without bothering to ask what I thought, he issued a straightforward command: "I'm picking you up for the Thanksgiving party. Everyone's waiting for you."

Just two weeks ago, I was the team's shining star. Now, I was a shattered athlete who might never stand again. The gap between those realities was huge.

My chance had been taken away, yet they expected me to watch and cheer for someone else's victory.

Reid arrived promptly and helped Adonis lift me and my wheelchair into the car.

The party was bright and glitzy, almost to the point of being overwhelming.

As soon as we entered, everyone focused on Elisabeth, brimming with admiration and envy.

The cheers for her rang sharply in my ears, making me clench my fists. For a moment, I felt the overwhelming urge to expose them all, showing what a deceitful and malicious person Elisabeth truly was.

I glared furiously at her insincere face.

"Zaylee, let me take you inside," Reid offered as he parked, taking control of the wheelchair from Adonis.

His voice was gentle, a tone I hadn't heard in a long time, yet it momentarily calmed me.

What would rushing in achieve? Acting recklessly would only risk my chance to reclaim what's mine, potentially putting me in greater danger.

I took several deep breaths, willing myself to stay composed.

Once Reid pushed me inside, everyone's attention shifted to us.

Elisabeth approached with a smile, holding her champagne flute aloft:

"Zaylee, you made it. I thought you might be too upset with me to join the party."

She handed me a glass from the table:

"Come on, Zaylee, let's have a toast!"

Still recovering and against my will, Reid had dragged me out of the hospital. My current physical state was far from capable of handling alcohol, so I shook my head and declined:

"I can't drink."

Elisabeth was insistent, her tone slightly mocking:

"Oh, come on, it's such a great occasion. Just one glass—you're not going to ruin it for me, are you?"

Reid, standing beside her, looked displeased:

"Don't be disrespectful. Accepting a toast shows respect; do you want it forced upon you?"

Watching their synchronized act filled me with despair. The man I once loved, my partner in training, now stood beside Elisabeth.

Under everyone's gaze, I reluctantly accepted the glass.

The moment I took a sip, the strong alcohol burned, bringing tears to my eyes. My tolerance was low, and my face flushed red, anger rising within me.

But I knew impulsiveness would only lead to more humiliation.

Fighting back tears and rage, I made an excuse to leave for the restroom.

Feigning concern, Elisabeth chimed in:

"Can you manage the restroom by yourself? Should I come along? I'm curious about the wheelchair experience, haha..."

Her eyes taunted me, and she laughed, barely able to contain herself.

With clenched teeth, I forced a faint smile, replying stiffly:

"No need, I can handle it."

Desperately needing air, I hurried away from the stifling atmosphere.

When I emerged from the restroom, Elisabeth was leaning against the wall with a malicious expression.

She sauntered towards me, looking down:

"How's life in a wheelchair? Torturous, isn't it?"

Teeth grinding, I tightly gripped the wheelchair's handles.

Fury roiled inside, yet I could only endure in silence.

My lack of response seemed to excite her:

"A soccer prodigy? You weren't hard to crush."

"You're a cripple now, beneath me, never to rise again, haha!"

With that, she kicked my wheelchair sharply.

I lost balance instantly, crashing heavily to the ground.