Chapter 10

After school, Nayeli gathered her textbooks and stood up, only to find her path blocked.

"Nayeli, you signed up for the figure skating tryouts?" Lucia appeared at her side, eyes glinting coldly as she stared at the poster on the wall.

Nayeli froze, her palm pressing down on the books in her bag. "Move."

"Can I train with you? I want to improve my skating too. I won't compete for a spot—I just want to be by your side."

Lucia reached out with both hands, grasping hers in a pleading gesture that would melt anyone's heart.

But Nayeli knew better. Beneath that fragile, innocent exterior lurked a twisted heart.

If she let Lucia train with her, disaster was inevitable.

She'd become nothing but an obstacle when it came time to secure her spot.

Nayeli pulled her hand away. "No."

"Nayeli, how can you be so cruel? Lucia just wants to train with you—is it really necessary to be this defensive? What, afraid she'll steal your spotlight?" Shepherd appeared out of nowhere, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Nayeli ignored him, turning to leave through the other side of the classroom.

"Stop right there!" Shepherd called after her relentlessly. Seeing her stride away like the wind, he grabbed her wrist in frustration.

Pain shot through Nayeli's arm. She gritted her teeth, sucking in a sharp breath.

Lucia rushed out after them, tears welling in her eyes as she bit her pale lip. "If she doesn't want to, it must be because she hates me. It's my fault—I shouldn't have come to the McCarthy family..."

"What right does she have to hate you? She's the one nobody wants." Shepherd glared daggers at Nayeli, desperate to save face after being humiliated.

Nayeli had had enough. She lifted her gaze, her voice cutting through the air like steel. "Are you done with your little performance?"

"You—" Before Shepherd could finish, Nayeli grabbed her bag and shoved past him.

The sudden movement left Shepherd stunned.

He'd never imagined his fiancée would dare disrespect him again and again like this.

"Get lost!" Nayeli's eyes flashed with ice-cold fury, the air around her dropping in temperature as she spat the words at them.

Shepherd stood frozen, his face dark as coal. "Nayeli, aren't you afraid I'll break off our engagement?"

She picked up her bag from the floor and tossed back coldly, "Do whatever you want."

Her silhouette stretched long down the hallway. Shepherd felt an inexplicable unease.

"Shepherd, don't be angry. She's only mad at you because of me. Are you okay? Should we go to the nurse's office?" Lucia hurried to his side, fussing over him.

She leaned in close, almost intimately. A warm feeling washed over Shepherd. Nayeli couldn't compare to Lucia.

Lucia should be his fiancée.

Training Center.

Nayeli sprinted the whole way, barely arriving on time. It was Shepherd and Lucia's fault for holding her up.

Otherwise she wouldn't have been late.

By the time she arrived, everyone had already lined up in formation at the center of the rink.

Yasser and Zaiden noticed her entrance and signaled for her to join the group.

"Let me introduce our guest. Carlos, a figure skater from the national team, came to the training center today to exchange techniques with Yasser. He's competed at Worlds, so feel free to ask him any questions."

Zaiden gestured to the side as Carlos stepped forward.

Everyone applauded in welcome.

Nayeli stared at Carlos McCarthy, her third brother, her face gradually draining of color.

In her past life, Carlos's words still echoed vividly in her mind.

She couldn't fathom how deeply he'd come to hate her.

His stern face radiated arrogance as he surveyed the room from above, his gaze landing on Nayeli.

"Yasser, when did your taste get so bad?"

Yasser cast Carlos a cold glance and pulled him aside.

"Everyone, continue training."

Nayeli watched them leave, the uncomfortable feeling finally easing.

She couldn't lose focus.

She would never let her past life repeat itself.

Nayeli laced up her skates and headed toward the ice.

Suddenly, she caught sight of a figure rushing into Carlos's arms.

"Carlos, I missed you so much! Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?"

Carlos lifted Lucia gently and spun her around, his face breaking into a smile. "I heard what happened. Has Nayeli been bullying you?"

Lucia glanced in her direction, her eyes weak and vulnerable. She didn't say anything, but her body language spoke volumes.

"I'll get revenge for you."

Carlos grabbed Lucia's hand and walked toward her.

Nayeli pressed her lips together, bending her body parallel to the ice as she extended her free leg high behind her in an arabesque, her posture graceful and elegant like a swan.

Carlos watched the scene unfold, jealousy rising unbidden in his chest.

He knew Nayeli's talent all too well.

Even the simplest basic position looked absolutely perfect when she performed it.

"Nayeli McCarthy!"

Nayeli stopped, gliding swiftly on her blades to the edge of the rink.

"Drop out of training immediately. You have no talent. Your skating will never make it past preliminaries. Stop this pointless persistence." His tone left no room for argument.

Lucia chimed in softly, "That's right. Carlos has experience in figure skating. Sister, you shouldn't take such risks. You'll just embarrass the McCarthy family."

Nayeli replied indifferently, "Does being on the national team automatically mean you're good? Carlos, you're the one embarrassing the McCarthy family with your half-baked skills."

Carlos bristled, his words hitting a nerve. "Nayeli! How dare you speak to me like that? Where are your manners? No wonder Nehemiah told me he can't control you. You get into fights at school, cause trouble constantly, and now you want to make a fool of yourself at international competitions?"

"You're completely delusional! I'm warning you—drop out of training now, or I'll personally ask Zaiden Lawson to remove you from the roster."

Nayeli laughed lightly. "Zaiden Lawson said this was an 'exchange visit,' but really you got sent back because you couldn't keep up with the national team's training schedule, didn't you?"

"Carlos, stop trying to gaslight me. I know my own abilities. As for you—you've competed in so many events and have the lowest scores. You've contributed nothing to competitive sports. You got into the national team by riding the McCarthy family name. You're all reputation and no substance. How much longer can you even last?"

"Maybe you should focus on improving your own technique. After all, pretty soon you'll age out, and getting kicked off the national team would really be something to cry about, wouldn't it?"

After delivering that barrage, Nayeli glided back onto the ice to continue training.

Carlos's fists clenched tight.

Lucia's brow furrowed as she watched that figure on the ice, unease beginning to creep into her heart.

"Lucia, do you want to enter the figure skating tryouts?" Carlos turned to Lucia.

A subtle smile flickered across Lucia's lips. "I do. I want to be as amazing as Carlos!"

Carlos relished being admired.

He nodded with satisfaction. "I'll mention you to Yasser. I'll get you into the training squad."