Chapter 2

Weeks later, Victoria Hayes was still seething.

Ava hadn't called. Hadn't come back.

The girl was actually gone.

Victoria paced her office at the skating club, a frown etched on her face.

Ethan Vance skated with Chloe Sanders, their routine polished, but lacking something.

Ethan seemed distracted, his usual focus blurred.

Chloe, however, was all confidence, basking in her new role as the favored partner.

"He's thinking about Ava," Chloe said one afternoon, annoyance clear in her voice. "It's affecting our practice."

Victoria waved a dismissive hand. "Ava made her choice. A foolish, emotional choice. You and Ethan need to focus on Sectionals. This is your chance."

Ethan remained silent, his expression unreadable. He was good at that.

It was only when Victoria's lawyer called, confirming Ava had formally relinquished any claim to her trust fund, that the full weight of Ava's departure hit them.

She'd left the diamond necklace on Victoria's desk at home.

A clear, cold message.

"She actually did it," Victoria murmured, staring at the expensive jewel.

It echoed Ava's words from their confrontation. *I don't want it.*

Victoria felt a flicker of something she couldn't name. Annoyance? Or something closer to loss?

She quickly suppressed it.

"Ethan," Victoria said, her voice sharp, pulling him from his thoughts. "Pacific Coast Sectionals are next month. You and Chloe need to be flawless. Understand?"

Ethan nodded, his jaw tight. "Yes, Victoria."

Chloe smiled, a predatory gleam in her eyes. "We'll be ready."

She thought Ava was out of the picture for good.

The Pacific Coast Sectionals in Burbank, California, buzzed with energy.

Skaters in glittering costumes warmed up, coaches barked last-minute instructions.

Victoria Hayes sat in her usual prime spot, holding court with officials, her presence a subtle reminder of her influence.

Ethan and Chloe were the ones to watch, the golden pair.

Then, a new name was called for the senior ladies' warm-up.

Ava Hayes. Unaffiliated.

A ripple of surprise went through the onlookers who knew the Hayes family.

Ava skated onto the ice.

She looked different.

Her simple, elegant black dress was a stark contrast to the usual spangles.

Her hair was pulled back severely, her face pale but determined.

There was a new leanness to her, a new intensity in her eyes.

She moved with a raw power they hadn't seen before.

Victoria gasped, her perfectly manicured hand flying to her mouth.

Ethan, standing by the boards with Chloe, froze.

Chloe's confident smirk wavered.

Ava didn't look at them.

She skated to the center of the ice for her official introduction.

"Representing the Rose City Rink, Portland, Ava Hayes."

The announcer's voice boomed.

Ava gave a small, composed nod.

Victoria's pupils widened. Rose City Rink? That rundown place? Coached by whom?

She saw Ava's new coach then. Julian Moreau.

Jules. Standing by the boards, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Victoria felt a surge of disbelief, then anger. Moreau? That disgraced skater?

Ava's transformation was undeniable.

The way she moved, the focus in her eyes.

It was like a pearl covered in dust, suddenly wiped clean, Victoria thought with a strange pang.

This Ava was sharper, clearer.

She had a raw, untamed quality Victoria had tried so hard to polish away.

Ethan stared, a knot forming in his stomach.

This wasn't the broken Ava he'd last seen.

This was someone new. Someone formidable.

He felt a prickle of unease, a fear that Victoria's attention might shift.

Ava, on the ice, took a deep breath.

She thought of her past life. The humiliation. The betrayal.

The way Victoria had always prioritized Ethan, his "potential," her "investment."

The way Ethan had so easily discarded her.

A wave of disgust washed over her, quickly followed by a cold resolve.

That was then. This was now.

"Ava!"

A warm voice cut through her thoughts.

Maya Rodriguez, her new friend from Jules's rink, grinned at her from the boards, giving her a thumbs-up.

Jules gave a curt nod, his eyes conveying a silent message: *Focus. Skate your truth.*

Ava smiled faintly.

She wasn't a puppet anymore. She was a skater. Her own skater.

This was her stage now.

The music for the first group of skaters started.

Ava watched, her focus sharpening.

She saw the draw for the short program later.

She was skating in the same group as Chloe.

Of course. Fate had a funny way of doing things.

Later, as Ava waited for her turn, Chloe, flanked by Ethan, glided past.

"Surprised to see you here, Ava," Chloe said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Thought you'd given up for good."

Ethan looked uncomfortable but said nothing.

Ava met Chloe's gaze, her own expression cool.

"Some things are worth fighting for, Chloe. You wouldn't understand."

Chloe's smile faltered. Ethan looked away.

Ava felt a tremor in her hands. Nerves. Old demons.

The memory of her past life's flameout, the jeers, the pitying looks.

She closed her eyes, took a breath.

Jules's voice, calm and steady. *Authentic expression. Mental resilience.*

She opened her eyes.

The ice awaited.

She skated to her starting position.

The arena was quiet.

Then, her music began. A haunting cello piece Jules had found.

Ava moved.