Chapter 12

"Can't believe Lucia Montes stumbled like that… Such a shame."

"I know, right? She was supposed to be the most promising skater out there."

Yasser sat hidden among the crowd, listening to the chatter swirling around him.

He tugged his baseball cap lower. That triple axel Lucia had just attempted—he and Nayeli had coached her through it.

But Lucia's core strength and technique were seriously lacking, and her execution had been painfully sloppy.

Yasser's expression darkened as the spotlight shifted, illuminating Nayeli's face.

Under the lights, Nayeli's delicate features seemed to glow, her elegant, ethereal presence commanding every eye in the arena.

Her swan-like neck curved gracefully as both arms swept downward in a low arc.

Her right leg bent, positioned perfectly at her center.

As she settled into her starting pose, the opening notes of 'Boléro' began to play.

To the enchanting melody, Nayeli's blades carved swift arcs across the ice.

Fine sprays of frost scattered as she bent her knees and sank low, arms spreading like a soaring crane.

Suddenly the music quickened. Nayeli pushed off powerfully, launching into the air with explosive force.

Countless spectators watched her graceful form spin through the air, using forward momentum to complete three full rotations.

Then, gathering power mid-flight, she executed another high-difficulty jump.

As the music surged toward its climax, every heart in the audience tightened.

Breaths held, the girl's body compressed into a sleek spindle.

Her blades, the crystals scattered across her costume, even her hair—everything blurred into one fluid, flowing line.

Bold. Triumphant.

Her rapidly spinning form bloomed in midair, dazzling and magnificent.

When she finally completed the triple axel combination, scattered applause swelled into a deafening roar.

Nayeli reveled in the stage, fully immersed in every moment.

After nailing the triple axel combo, she pushed herself further with two more high-difficulty elements.

Images flashed through her mind—the training facility, tears and sweat, grueling practice sessions.

Falling again and again. Getting back up.

Every agonizing movement. The leg injuries. The bruises covering her body.

Training clothes soaked through with sweat.

The music shifted, turning melancholic.

Nayeli swept across the ice, her toe pick striking sharply as she launched skyward once more.

Then a second jump, her form so breathtaking it drew gasps from the crowd.

Soon, the music approached its finale.

Nayeli's spins gradually slowed, her limbs extending gracefully as she touched down on one foot.

She came to a stop, as if she'd just performed an exhilarating ballet.

"That performance had so much 'story' to it!"

"I almost thought I was watching a musical."

"Holy crap, that was incredible—I'm literally tearing up…"

"How does someone pack that much narrative into a triple combo?"

"Same triple axel, but this second skater? That's what you call artistry."

"Who is she? I need to follow her on Insta."

"Damn, I'm officially a fan."

"I love her face—she's got such presence."

"…"

Applause erupted like thunder.

Even the judges couldn't help but clap.

"There's no comparison. Same routine, but one skater's technique is rough and full of holes, while the other is clean, polished—practically master-level."

"Very impressive. The skaters making it to this qualifier are no joke."

The judge who'd been tearing into Lucia earlier surprisingly held back any harsh criticism of Nayeli.

When Nayeli stepped off the ice and returned to the waiting area, she spotted medical staff bandaging Lucia's wound.

Lucia's calf was wrapped in thick gauze, her expression sour—especially after overhearing those judges' comments about her.

Clearly annoyed, she took it out on the medic.

"Don't you know I have to compete? Couldn't you at least use 'pink' bandages?"

The medic looked mortified, head bowed, saying nothing.

Nayeli removed her skates, stood, and walked over to Lucia. "Maybe you should go home and work on your technique instead of throwing tantrums."

"Nayeli, what's that supposed to mean?" Lucia couldn't stand losing to Nayeli. The pretense was over.

"Can't understand skating 'or' plain English?" Nayeli shot Lucia a dismissive glance before giving the medic a friendly, reassuring smile.

Grateful for the intervention, the medic quickly left.

Just as Lucia opened her mouth to respond, other skaters who'd witnessed Nayeli's performance crowded around her.

"I got chills watching you. How did you manage a triple combo 'and' two more insanely difficult moves to close it out?"

"I literally cried. I've been skating for so long, and your performance just now brought back so many memories."

"Can you teach us? Let's follow each other on Insta."

"Yeah! We could share tips and learn from each other."

Surrounded by admirers, Nayeli smiled softly. "Sure, I'll add you guys later."

This was the first time Lucia had ever been ignored.

She'd grown up basking in attention.

And now Nayeli had changed.

Taken everything from her.

She refused to let Nayeli become the center of attention.

The announcement system crackled to life.

All skaters were summoned back to the rink.

After Nayeli's performance, there was no question—she'd take first place.

Nayeli stood at the back of the group, quietly confident.

The judges huddled together, whispering.

"You're Nayeli, correct?"

The judge who'd been commenting throughout suddenly called her out.

Nayeli stepped forward, meeting his gaze calmly.

The judge was Calvin Scott, a national team coach.

He'd won countless championship trophies and had once been a leading figure in domestic figure skating.

His personality, though, was notoriously difficult.

After repeatedly making mistakes while coaching the national team, he'd been forced to step down and settle for a judging position.

"I've been watching mediocre skaters all week—my eyes are tired. Finally, someone with real talent shows up… After this, make sure you get my contact info. I can teach you figure skating." Calvin leaned back, one leg crossed over the other.

The other judges froze.

Wait—Calvin, the pickiest coach alive, wanted to take on a student?

Years ago, he'd tried to recruit Yasser, but Yasser had turned him down.

This would be his second attempt at mentorship.

Nayeli recognized Calvin immediately—the genius of the previous generation. Her heart raced with excitement.

"Are you willing?" Calvin asked again.

Nayeli nodded eagerly. "Yes."

In the crowd, Lucia's face darkened instantly.

Her fists clenched. How could Nayeli win over a judge?

She was supposed to be crushed underfoot, nothing more than a stepping stone.

"Anyway, let's get back on track. Yasser, announce the winner."

Yasser rose from the audience and stepped onto the ice to reveal the name.

"Nayeli McCarthy."

Nayeli!

Nayeli again.

Fury surged through Lucia's chest, threatening to explode. "I object! Nayeli plagiarized my routine. She doesn't deserve to win."

Shocked murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"This is my training journal. Nayeli must have stolen a look at it—how else would her routine be 'exactly' the same as mine?" Lucia hurled the journal onto the ice.

The entire arena fell dead silent.