Otherwise, if they kept pressing, the situation would only be more dangerous.


    At that moment, Ste couldn''t help but be awed by the terrifying uracy of Joshua''s instincts.


    The door to the emergency room finally swung open.


    Joshua was still unconscious, his face pale beneath the harsh lights. Neville''s eyes, usually warm and charming, flickered with a shadow of something unreadable as he nced over.


    When Joshua finally came to, the television was ring with news coverage.


    A woman''s tearful voice echoed from the TV.


    "Yes, I''m Felipa, Ste''s partner. I don''t know what I did to offend Ms. Cameron. She didn''t even say a word-she just didn''t show up for thepetition. I know I''m not very talented, and I never expected to ce well, but... I just didn''t want to give up so easily. Even if I lost, even if I got eliminated, I wouldn''tin. But to lose like this-I really can''t ept it."


    A reporter asked, "Did the organizers give any reason why Ms. Cameron didn''tpete?"


    Felipa wiped her tears and shook her head. "No. No one''s been able to reach her, not a single person. I guess maybe I made too many mistakes in rehearsal, maybe I angered Ms. Cameron. Maybe she just didn''t want to partner with someone as weak as me."


    Another reporter, clearly annoyed, chimed in, "Even if Ste is the best, she can''t just ignore everyone else. If someone with no sense of sportsmanship wins first ce, it''s a disgrace. And now she''s supposed to represent us at internationalpetitions? She''ll just embarrass our country. Honestly, the organizers should disqualify her..."


    Just then, there was a gentle knock at the hospital room door.


    Abby stuck her head in. "Star, can you believe Felipa is using your name for publicity? She''s given interviews to every TV station, and now she''s all over the inte ying the victim-saying you looked down on her during rehearsals. She''s practically telling everyone you skipped the


    Abby seemed ready to rant further, but Ste quietly interrupted her. "Abby, let''s talk outside."


    Abby nced at Joshua, still unconscious in the hospital bed, and nodded.


    Not wanting to risk waking him, they stepped just outside and spoke in hushed voices in the hallway.


    Abby looked worried. "The online bacsh is getting worse. Even though I''ve already rified that you were in a car ident and hurt your hand, no one believes it. They''re all saying that unless you drop out of the next round, you''re faking your injury. If youpete, then it must have been intentional."


    She snorted. "It''s so obvious-they just want to force you out. The malice is unreal."


    Ste''s voice was calm. "Don''t worry. I won''t let this affect me."


    Abby frowned. "Rachel''s definitely going to take advantage of this, and Felipa''s milking it for all it''s worth. Honestly, Felipa was never going to make the finals on her own. But now, riding your coattails, she''s suddenly famous. You don''t even know-the minute all this happened, Felipaunched her own social media ount. She''s gained hundreds of thousands of followers


    in just a few hours. She''s made up her mind to turn this into a grudge match."


    If Felipa had just yed by the rules, she would have faded into the background -no one would''ve remembered her name. But after Ste dropped out, all eyes were suddenly on Felipa.


    If things had gone like normal, Felipa''s moment in the spotlight would have faded fast. She would''ve slipped into obscurity with nothing to show for it. But now-why not go big or go home?