Chapter 3 PLAY MY GAME

ELARA

The world seemed to stop when I noticed Aiden. He had dumped me, convinced our paths would never cross in the next life. But here we were, exchanging glances.

The sounds of the children running down the hallway died down.

“Sir, you aren't supposed to be here." The matron pleaded, snapping me back.

She tried to shut the door, but Aiden stepped forward and stopped her.

I gulped hard, not sure if I was ready to face the man who betrayed and ended my life.

He was… hot, and still had those dangerous looks.

His perfect, dreamy eyes scanned me, and I averted my gaze. This was the same man who had looked at me with pure disdain just hours ago...

He looked at the matron, voice calm but firm. “Why was she in here?” His gaze hardened.

“Were you planning to explain that… or should I assume negligence?”

His gaze flicked to me for the briefest moment before returning to the matron.

“I was told everyone was already out."

At that moment, he looked like he had been sent by the heavens themselves. If I hadn’t remembered the role he played in my last life, I would have fallen for him all over again.

But I knew better now.

He was furious. His eyes snapped to the matron, sharp and piercing.

“You locked her in while the others were evacuated?”

He took a step closer. “That’s not an oversight. That’s neglect.”

His voice carried so much authority . Then, leaning slightly closer to her, he added calmly.

“You’re done here,”

“I’ll make sure this is investigated, and that you’re removed.”

The matron’s face turned pale, her mouth opened and closed like she tried to speak, but her words failed her.

Aiden stepped toward me, and the air became tense.

Our paths still found a way to cross.

“Are you injured?” His voice was stern but there was a hint of care in it. I shook my head.

He was in a hockey uniform that clung to him in all the right ways.

His broad shoulders stood out.

I gulped as my gaze shamelessly dropped to his lower body, everything was perfect and it was impossible not to notice the lines of muscle that extended down his legs.

He stretched out his hand to me and when our fingers met, the warmth sent a jolt through me. He pulled me up effortlessly.

“You’re leaving this place,” he said.

“And no one will treat you like this again.” I smiled at the words that once swayed me, not anymore.

“Elara!" A familiar voice cut through the tension.

I blinked, startled.

Kenny. My boyfriend. I almost forgot he even existed. For a split second, my lips curved into a smile, but then it twisted into a big frown when I realised what he had done to me.

Kenny was… different. He had no control or class like Aiden, but he was street smart and familiar with my world where we shared hand-me-down clothes and was very attractive in his own way.

I had turned down Aiden for him once, but he cheated with Lyla, on my birthday, the day he promised to make me official.

A bitter laugh escaped me. I quickly swallowed the rush of old feelings, letting the warmth settle.

He walked further into the room, already threatened by Aiden's presence, they all acted as if I were untouchable… and then discarded me without a second thought.

“I heard what happened." He sounded like he had run out of breath while trying to find me.

"I'm fine now.” I replied, the situation was awkward but I was glad they met early.

He held my left hands and tried to pull me out of the room, but was stopped by Aiden.

“Who are you to her?”

“Her boyfriend, who are you?" Kenny retorted, but Aiden had a frown.

“Interesting,” He said lightly.

“On the field, another woman seemed far more comfortable calling you hers.” I wasn't surprised but still turned to Kenny for an explanation, before he could say something a man walked in.

“Sir,” he called, breaking the tension. He held a slim tablet with a serious expression. “The car is waiting outside. We need to leave now.”

Aiden’s head snapped up at the sound. His gaze lingered on me for just a second longer, calm but unreadable, before turning to the man.

“Is everyone accounted for?” he asked without looking away.

“Yes, sir,” the driver replied.

“All clear. The Vance convoy had arrived and the event would commence soon, but traffic is building, and we should depart immediately to stay on schedule.”

Aiden turned to me once again, and I averted his eyes. Before he could say another word, Kenny pulled me from the dorm room.

He had no idea what he had done. He was already in trouble by recklessly pulling me out of Aiden’s sight.

I knew that look, once Aiden wanted something, letting go wasn't an option.

Kenny had just crossed an invisible line.

When we got to the edge of the balcony overlooking the main hall, I stopped walking.

"I heard what the matron did to you, I'm so sorry I didn't come immediately." Kenny hurriedly explained.

I smiled, knowing what he really wanted was to ask for another huge favour, that was what our relationship was mainly about.

My eyes fell on Lyla below, standing with her minions by the banners of past sports meets and achievements.

Without saying a word, I took Kenny's hand in mine, both of them this time and instinctively brought my face closer as my lips brushed his, soft at first, then I deepened it, letting our tongues meet, slow and deliberate. My eyes still locked on Lyla, letting her know I was still in control.

I pulled back after some seconds, just enough to whisper against his ear. “We’re breaking up. Send me every single dime I’ve ever given you before the end of today."

I released his hands slowly. Then, without looking back, I turned, letting my steps carry me towards the locker room. The look on his face gladdened me. He was in disbelief.

---

The locker room smelled faintly of disinfectant and sweat. I stared at the rows of lockers lined against the walls and stopped in front of mine.

I reached out and pulled the handle, inside my white tennis skirt and team shirt was folded carefully, I frowned at the arrangements, someone was here before me.

I reached for the skirt and lifted it, but the fabric fell apart in my hands.

It was cut with scissors, ruined beyond repair. My fingers tightened in anger.

Only one person could do this.

Lyla.

I also knew she was the one who locked me in the dorm room and not the matron. She had the right to do or command anyone, her father was the Head of this orphanage, unlike me who was truly an orphan.

Before, I would have panicked, but not this time.

I reached for the shirt, the same thing. I knew she was hiding in the hallway and waited, as expected, the door slammed shut behind me and her voice purred from too close.

“Well,” she clapped.

“That's unfortunate.”

I turned.

She stood, blocking the aisle, her eyes flicking briefly to the ruined uniform before lifting to my face, satisfied.

I straightened my shoulders.

Ruined clothes were nothing.

I had survived death.

I carefully removed my clothes, picked up the torn outfits and in the same careful way, put them on.

I adjusted the hem and tied my hair back.

Layla laughed softly. “You’re really going out like that?”

I turned to her and smiled.

“Well,” I said, imitating her and stepping closer, “at least now I know someone’s watching me closely.”

Her smile faltered.

I closed the distance between us before she could step back and threw my fist.

She staggered, not expecting the punch.

I didn’t wait for screams or witnesses. I reached past her, grabbed my tennis racket from the bench, and slung it over my shoulder.

“I suggest you fix your locker,” I said lightly as I walked past her. “Seems things go missing around here.”

Then I pushed the door open and walked towards the tennis room with my racket hanging loosely in my hand.

My colleagues stared at me weirdly, but I didn't slow down and walked ahead.

I pushed the door to my practice room and stepped inside.

The old but familiar room smelled of varnish and rubber. Two tables stood under bright lights, their green surfaces already scuffed from years of play. A few heads in the room turned, then looked away immediately.

Coach Evans was there.

He glanced up from arranging the nets and paused when he saw me.

His eyes lingered for half a second, long enough to notice what everyone else had…but he didn’t comment.

“Afternoon Elara,” he said.

“Afternoon, sir.” I expected him to caution me like he always did... for not participating at the National Orphans Tennis Championship, since he really wanted me to win, but he didn't.

I set my bag down and picked up a ball.

“You training alone now?” he asked, bouncing the ball lightly against the table.

“For now,” I said.

“Ivy was taken in today as Mr Vance’s protégé, Jane was also adopted by an influential family.

They did well in the sports, you know it should have been you, right?” I nodded once. That was all I gave.

Ivy and Jane were my only friends. I was glad they were out of this shithole. But yet I couldn't shake off that odd feeling that something wasn't right.

He stepped to the other side of the table and raised his paddle. “Let’s play.”

The ball snapped between us.

We played for a few minutes when the door opened.

The head of the orphanage walked in.

“Elara,” he called.

The ball died on the table.

“I need to see you. There’s a call about your sponsorship. You may be leaving the orphanage soon. You’re old enough to be on your own now.”

My grip tightened around the paddle.

‘So fast?’ I said under my breath.

I nodded, but my chest felt tight. Everything was going wrong.

I followed him out. Was this because of what happened between his daughter and I? Did daddy's girl report me to him?

He opened the door to his office and gestured for me to sit, but he didn’t sit yet.

He leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed.

“The call just came through. The private sponsors…you know, the ones who have supported promising athletes have decided to withdraw their support.”

I blinked.

“Apparently,” he continued, “they expected another rich benefactor to take interest in you, someone like Mr Vance who could invest more.”

“They called it off before making any real commitments.”

I had expected this, it happened to Ivy, but that was five months after the sponsorship.

He leaned closer, voice lowering. “But there is still an option. Someone more influential than Vance has expressed interest in taking responsibility for you through marriage. He had taken interest in you from your first game, it’s up to you whether you accept.”

I felt uncomfortable. My first game was when I was 10 meaning he had seen me as an asset to him.

Then, it suddenly dawned on me, If he had really watched me all those while, he may have probably watched me take my last breath and knew who my enemies are.

“Can I… know who it is?” I asked, keeping my voice calm.

“It is Damien Blackthorne.”

The words hit me like a thunderclap.

Damien Blackthorne.

The Blackthorne family again?

Aiden's brother. My hand tightened around the chair, disgust evident on my face.