Chapter 4 - Justice on the Ice
"The clinics Harper visited in secret during her recovery," Victor announced over the roaring stadium, his voice steady and commanding, "were my private medical facilities. I personally funded every single hour of her rehabilitation. I watched her fight through agonizing pain, infection, and despair every single day just to learn how to walk again, let alone step foot on competitive ice. She earned every fraction of her gold medal through pure, unmatched grit and sacrifice."
From the shadows of the VIP tunnel, heavy footsteps announced the arrival of local law enforcement and federal marshals. Two police officers stepped onto the pristine ice, their boots sliding slightly before catching their balance. Their radios buzzed with static as they advanced toward the center of the ring.
Chloe looked around wildly like a trapped animal, her eyes darting toward the exits, toward the judges, toward the press corps. But there was nowhere to run. Every avenue of escape was sealed by a wall of disgusted spectators and flashing cameras.
"Harper Vance is a true champion," Victor concluded, his voice echoing with absolute finality. "And you, Chloe Sterling, are under arrest for felony hit-and-run, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence, and fleeing the scene of a crime."
The police officers closed in, their hands reaching out. Chloe let out a shrill, hysterical scream as the cold steel of handcuffs snapped around her slender wrists. As they dragged her away across the ice, her expensive skating boots slipped out from under her, sending her sprawling unceremoniously onto the very surface where she had planned to destroy my life.
Through the chaos, Liam rushed out from behind the kiss-and-cry boards. Tears streamed freely down his face as he pushed past the lingering officials. He didn't care about the cameras, the scandal, or the corporate fallout. He ran straight to me, throwing his heavy wool coach's jacket over my shoulders and wrapping his arms around me in a crushing, desperate embrace.
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"I'm so sorry, Harper," Liam whispered, his voice choked with emotion against my hair. "I'm so, so sorry I doubted the pressure for even a second."
"It's over, Liam," I murmured, resting my head against his chest as the stadium around us erupted into a sustained, thunderous standing ovation. "It's finally over."
