b“/bbHow /bis sheb?/bb” /bPierce asked, ncing at Alessia.

b“/bbIt’s /bbnot /bbtoo /bserious. Let’s get her to the nurse’s office and put some ice on it!

b“/bBut Pierce, don’t you have an eventing up soon?” one bof /bhis teammates interjected.

“I’ll make it in time-

Before Pierce could finish, Alessia cut him off. “No need to wear yourself out running back and forth. You all go–your events are starting soon anyway. I’ve

finished for the day, so I’ll take her.”

Without hesitation, Alessia scooped Lucy into her arms, steady and unshaken, her expression calm and collected.

“Ste, I’ll be right back,” she called. Right now, only Alessia had both the strength and the medical know–how to help–there was no way she could refuse.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not the finals,” Ste replied, patting her on the shoulder. “There’s the shot putter this afternoon anyway. I’ll find you when I’m done. And Justin’s filming everything, so you won’t miss a thing.”

Alessia nodded and headed out with Lucy in her arms.

As the crowd dispersed, Alessia carried Lucy to the nurse’s office and gently set her down. Without a word, she propped up Lucy’s leg, rummaged for an ice pack, and pressed it to her ankle.

“Hold this.”

Lucy pressed her lips together and took the pack. Alessia didn’t leave right away; instead, she searched through the cabs, finally producing two pills and a cup of

water.

“What are these?” bLucy /basked.

“Painkillers. Take them if you want.”

“I’ll take them.” Lucy didn’t hesitate, tossing both pills back with a gulp of water.

“Keep the ice on for a bit. Once the swelling goes down, btry /bmoving it gently. But you should really get an X–ray at the hospital, just to be safe. I checked your pulse–there’s nothing major, buty off cold drinks and spicy food for now. Don’t stay upte. Keep a steady routine, and you’ll be back on your feet in no time.b” /b

b17-70 /b

bWhy /bare byou /btelling me all this? Luay looked at he, realizing–now bbefore /bbshe /bbnever /breally understood this woman.

“I did bstudy /bmedicine, you know. I owe it to my mentor. Alessia btidied /bbup /bbthe /bcab she’d bjust /bransacked.

“Once the pain eases up, call someone to pick you up. I have to go. She’d done all she could–now she needed to hurry back to catch Ste’s event.

“Ileana!” Lucy suddenly called out. When Alessia paused, she lowered her voice. “Ileana’s going to ask you to meet her at the basketball court.b” /b

Alessia arched an eyebrow. “And?”

“She said she’d get in touch, and you’d show up. That’s all I know.”

Alessia let out a softugh. “Pretty confident, isn’t she?”

Lucy barely caught the words, but pressed on. “When you go to see lleana, we’ll be on the phone.”

“Are you recording?” Alessia didn’t seem fazed in the slightestb; /bif anything, it was Lucy who grew flustered, waving her hands to deny it.

“I’m not recording.” She had considered it, but thought better of it. Trying to ckmail Alessia would have been reckless–downright suicidalb. /b

She was Lucy, not Ileana. She wasn’t so clueless she couldn’t read the room, nor so blind she couldn’t tell who was in control.

“So what do you want?b” /b

“Help me. In return, I’ll help you deal with Ileana.”

“Deal with Ileana?” Alessia’s smile grew, but her eyes stayed cold. “You think I’ve fallen so low that I can’t even handle Ileana on my own? Lucy, after all these yearsb, /byou haven’t changed a bit.”

Lucy stayed silent. Of course she knew Alessia didn’t need her help. Of course she knew Alessia was mocking her–for the shameless tactics she’d resorted to, just to reach her goalsb.. /b

But some things, if you missed the moment, you’d never get the chance to say.

again.

bChapter /bb201 /b