Chapter 4

The moment Jake finished the drink, a grim satisfaction settled in me.

He didn't know it, but he' d just sealed his own fate.

Later, after the pre-game briefing, as the team headed towards the stage, I pulled out my phone.

For over a year, I' d been secretly paying the medical bills for Jake' s younger brother, Liam.

Liam had a chronic lung condition, and the treatments were cripplingly expensive for Jake's family. I did it because I loved Jake, and I saw how the stress affected him.

He never knew the full extent of my help, just that "sponsorship money" was covering it.

I found the recurring payment authorization.

My finger hovered over the cancel button.

No hesitation.

I pressed it.

"Payment cancelled," the screen confirmed.

A few hours later, after their first easy win in the group stage, my phone rang. It was Jake. His voice was tight with anger.

"Sarah, what the hell? My mom just called. Liam' s specialist clinic said the payment for his next treatment was declined!"

I kept my voice even. "Oh, really? That's unfortunate."

"Unfortunate? Sarah, this is Liam' s life we' re talking about! You know how important this is. You need to fix this, now!"

"I don't think I do, Jake."

A stunned silence. Then, his voice dripped with menace.

"What did you say? Are you messing with me? If you don't reinstate those funds, we' re done, Sarah. I swear to God."

This was it. The threat he thought would control me.

Last time, I would have crumbled, begged, done anything.

This time, I felt nothing but a cold clarity.

"Jake," I said, my voice calm, almost gentle. "We are already done."

I hung up before he could respond.

I blocked his number.

Then, I blocked Brittany' s, Psycho' s, and K-Dawg' s.

The ties were cut.

Let the consequences begin.