From Gilded Cage to Silver Medal

ctoria Hayes wa

alled. Hadn'

was actua

e at the skating club, a

e Sanders, their routine pol

tracted, his usu

fidence, basking in her new

one afternoon, annoyance clear in he

hoice. A foolish, emotional choice. You and Ethan

his expression unreadab

Ava had formally relinquished any claim to her trust f

ond necklace on Vic

, cold

ictoria murmured, starin

from their confrontati

thing she couldn't name. Annoya

kly supp

from his thoughts. "Pacific Coast Sectionals are next

is jaw tight. "

atory gleam in her e

was out of the p

nals in Burbank, Califor

mes warmed up, coaches bark

ot, holding court with officials, her pr

re the ones to wat

s called for the se

s. Unaff

t through the onlookers

ed onto

ked dif

dress was a stark contra

ack severely, her fac

ness to her, a new i

raw power they ha

erfectly manicured han

by the boards wi

nfident sm

't look

er of the ice for her

Rose City Rink, Po

ncer's vo

small, co

Rose City Rink? That rund

new coach then

boards, arms crossed, h

isbelief, then anger. More

ormation was

oved, the foc

ust, suddenly wiped clean, Victo

as sharper

uality Victoria had trie

a knot forming

e broken Ava h

one new. Some

ase, a fear that Victori

ice, took a

ast life. The humili

prioritized Ethan, his "po

had so easily

d over her, quickly fol

then. Thi

va

cut through

Jules's rink, grinned at her from

yes conveying a silent messa

iled f

anymore. She was a s

s her s

e first group of

, her focus

w for the short

g in the same

had a funny way

her turn, Chloe, flanke

said, her voice dripping with false swee

ncomfortable b

gaze, her own

fighting for, Chloe. Yo

faltered. Etha

in her hands. Ne

life's flameout, the je

her eyes, t

steady. *Authentic expre

ened h

ce aw

o her starti

ena wa

n. A haunting cello

mo