Chapter 253

Before Colton could react, Allison turned and walked away. Under the dazzling flash of cameras, she took her place at the top, a gleaming medal draped around her neck. The applause was deafening.

"Ms. Clarke is a true prodigy!" someone exclaimed. "Achieving so much at such a young age! Who would have thought we'd see a professional-caliber racer emerge here today? Look at the guy next to her—Travis, right? He's still wearing a mask, even during the ceremony. What's his story? This race was something else. Those two competitors who got disqualified went way too far. I heard the judges not only expelled them but also called the police. The prize money was huge, but to stoop so low and almost get someone killed? That's shameful! They deserved everything they got."

Colton remained frozen, his eyes locked on Allison in the winner's circle. She had carried herself with poise from the beginning, her cool composure never faltering, even with the slight frown she wore. Her elegant, self-assured demeanor was a far cry from the meek woman she had once been. He was a storm of emotions, unable to digest his defeat.

From behind, Melany wrapped her arms around him, her voice soft but laced with worry. "Colton… did we lose to Allison?" Though phrased as a question, subtle blame—aimed at the chaotic race incidents—underlay her words. "I was terrified. I can't even imagine what I would have done if something had happened to you. It was those cheating racers, somehow connected to Allison, that messed up your performance." She sighed dramatically. "To me, you're still the best. If the race had been fair, there's no way Allison could have beaten you."

The insinuation was clear: something shady had happened. How else could such an incident have unfolded? And who but Allison could have been behind it? Yet, a shadow of resentment clouded Melany's heart. She had never imagined Allison could be so skilled at short-track speed skating, almost on par with professionals. The very idea seemed unreal! But losing the race meant forfeiting their claim to the precious heirloom.

Colton remained unusually quiet. "Yeah," he mumbled. "Maybe." Now that the dust had settled, the reality was undeniable. Even if the race were rerun, Allison would have outpaced him. Everyone had faced peril in that critical moment, but Allison had surged ahead with raw, unyielding power. Her speed was unrelenting, her movements precise, and her endurance far beyond his own. It was as if she had been professionally trained. And those skills were unmistakably those of an athlete.

The bitter taste of defeat was hard to swallow. "Still," he said, "today's race doesn't really count. I wasn't at my best."

As Colton wrestled with his turmoil, he noticed Rebecca and Allison approaching. Suddenly, a staff member appeared, his face serious. "Mr. Stevens," he said, "Ms. Clarke mentioned that you made a bet with her. If you lost, you would kneel and apologize. Is that correct?"

Before Colton could respond, Rebecca smoothly interjected, "Oh, it's true. Plenty of people heard it." She had long grown tired of Colton and Melany's entitled behavior. With a clap of her hands, she signaled to someone who promptly handed her a megaphone. "Hey, everyone! Gather around! The great Colton Stevens, from the illustrious Stevens family, lost a bet. And guess what? He's going to kneel and apologize, just like he promised!"…