Chapter 3

Stepping out of the locker room after dumping Liam and cutting off Lily, I took a deep breath. The air actually felt cleaner without those two parasites clinging to me.

Tomorrow's National Cheerleading Championship wasn't just about school pride. Stanford and Yale's admissions officers would be sitting front row in the VIP section.

The entire competition hinged on one thing: my solo performance as team captain, a high-difficulty aerial sequence that could make or break my future.

In my past life, I died from anaphylactic shock and never made it to the competition. Lily took my spot. She nailed my routine, impressed the recruiters, and walked away with the recommendation letter that should've been mine.

This time? Not happening.

The final rehearsal was scheduled for that afternoon in the school's indoor gymnasium. I showed up in my training gear, watching Lily huddle in the corner wiping her eyes while Liam rubbed her back and whispered comfort in her ear.

"Everyone gather up!" Coach clapped her hands. "Tomorrow's the finals. Stanford's admissions officer is already in town. Chloe, your solo center position is the make-or-break moment. No mistakes. Got it?"

"Don't worry, Coach." I flashed a confident smile. "I've got this."

During the break, I walked to the sideline to grab water.

"Chloe." Lily suddenly appeared next to me, holding a water bottle. Her face painted with that sickeningly sweet smile laced with malice. "I know we had some... unpleasantness yesterday. But I still want you to be perfect tomorrow. After all, you're our captain."

She thrust the water bottle toward me. "Here, I brought this for you. You need to stay hydrated before such an important competition. It's so crucial for muscle performance, you know?"

I looked at the bottle in her hand.

"I have my own water, thanks."

"No, no, I insist!" Her smile widened, but her eyes were cold. "I made sure it's the perfect temperature. Please, Chloe. For tomorrow's performance. You have to stay hydrated."

"Fine." I took the bottle from her hand. "Thanks."

Her shoulders relaxed visibly. "Of course! Make sure you drink it all, okay? Hydration is so important."

Looking at that fake face, I had to physically restrain myself from slapping her again.

"Of course," I said flatly, tucking the bottle into my bag without opening it. "I won't let anyone down."

After she left, I pulled out my phone and called my father's assistant.

"Lincoln, it's me..."

...

Championship day arrived. The entire St. Jude's Arena was packed. Colorful banners waved, the brass band blasted fight songs, and college recruiters in sharp suits filled the VIP section with their clipboards and evaluation forms.

Ten minutes before our performance, the music exploded through the speakers. Our St. Jude's squad stormed onto the floor as the grand finale team.

The crowd erupted. I stood at the front of our formation, scanning the VIP section.

We powered through our opening group routine. Then came my moment. My individual showcase: three consecutive back handsprings into a straight-body double backflip with 720-degree rotation.

Just as I was about to start my run-up, I stopped.

I turned and looked at Lily standing near the edge of our formation.

"Lily!" I shouted, "You've always wanted a chance to shine, right? Today, with Stanford watching, this center position is yours. I'm giving it to you!"

The arena went silent. Then erupted in confused chatter.

Lily's face went pale. "No! Chloe, that's your spot. I can't—"

"Why not?" I smiled brightly, projecting my voice so everyone could hear. "This is an amazing opportunity! Stanford's recruiter is right there. You deserve to shine!"

"I... I don't think I should..." Lily stammered, taking a step back. "This is your moment. I can't take it from you."

Coach Martinez was staring at us in confusion. "Chloe, what are you doing?"

"Coach, Lily has been working so hard," I said loudly, addressing the crowd as much as the coach. "She deserves this chance. The spotlight in front of Stanford! It's perfect for her!"

The crowd started applauding. Someone shouted "Go Lily!"

I turned back to Lily, my smile never wavering. "Come on, Lily. Don't be modest. You said yesterday you'd do anything for this team, didn't you?"

Lily's face was frozen in panic. Her eyes darted to the center mat, then back to me. "Chloe, really, I don't need—"

"Lily!" Coach Martinez called out. "If Chloe is offering, you should take it! This is a great opportunity!"

The crowd was cheering now. Everyone was looking at Lily expectantly.

She was trapped. If she kept refusing this "generous offer" in front of everyone, it would look bizarre. Ungrateful.

I could see the moment she realized it. Her face flushed red, a mixture of fear and forced excitement.

"I... okay. Yes!" She forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I won't let you down, Captain!"

"That's the spirit!" I stepped aside, gesturing toward the center mat.

Lily walked forward like she was heading to an execution.

I stepped aside and watched her coldly as she positioned herself on the mat.

The music hit its climax. Lily stood frozen for a moment, staring down at the mat beneath her feet. Her breathing was rapid, uneven.

She took a deep breath and started her approach, but her movements were stiff. Cautious.

One, two, jump!

She launched into the air, but something was off. Her form was too controlled, too conservative. Instead of the confident arc of a seasoned performer, her body was tense, guarded. She was barely attempting a simple back tuck when she should have been soaring.

Her eyes were fixed on her landing spot the entire time, calculating, terrified.

But the instant her feet were about to land on the mat—

"AHHHHH—!"

A piercing scream ripped through the arena as Lily lost her balance mid-air. Her body twisted grotesquely and she slammed into the hardwood floor with brutal force. The crack of breaking bone cut through even the blasting music.

Dead silence. Then massive gasps of horror.

The music stopped. The gymnasium descended into chaos.

Lily lay on the ground clutching her severely deformed right leg, shrieking like a slaughtered pig. Coach and medical staff sprinted onto the floor. Liam vaulted over the railing from the stands like an enraged bull, shoving through the crowd to reach her.

"Lily! Oh my God, Lily, are you okay?!" Liam dropped to one knee, his eyes red.

"My leg... Liam, my leg hurts so much, I can't feel it..." Lily's face was drenched in sweat, tears mixing with her ruined makeup into a pathetic mess.

I stood a few feet away, watching this circus with cold detachment. In my past life, I was the one dying on the floor in despair while they held each other just like this. Karma really does come around.

The paramedics quickly secured Lily onto a stretcher. Just as they were about to wheel her away, Lily suddenly grabbed Liam's hand with desperate strength, her trembling finger pointing straight at me.

"It was her... it was Chloe!" Lily screamed, her voice raw with pain and accusation. "She did this on purpose! She knew that mat was rigged, that's why she gave me her spot at the last second! She wanted to destroy me!"