“How can she still be that strong? Seriously, how does Alessia do it?”


    “Guess evolution decided to leave the rest of <b>us </b>behind–again<i>.</i>”


    The parade of students marched in neat formation


    across the field. As the next ss took their turn, chatter began to ripple through the crowd. Ileana caught every word, her jaw clenched.


    It didn’t matter how many times people praised Alessia–it always felt like an insult aimed right at her. Anyone else could outshine her, and she’d grit her teeth and bear it. But Alessia? Absolutely not.


    After the opening ceremony, Mr. Lance went over the rules and safety notes, then had everyone settle with their ss. Each student was to stay in their section until their event was called, or until it was time to go cheer for their friends.


    Ileana, sidelined from all the events by her injured leg, slipped away unnoticed–except by Lucy, who watched her go, silent.


    The meet ran smoothly. The schedule spanned two days, with the long–distance races set for tomorrow afternoon. Today was for the standard, less grueling contests. Alessia’s events–high jump and long jump–were among the first, and she delivered, winning both in quick session and setting her ss off to an


    electric start.


    Ethan and Liam were more anxious than Alessia herself as they watched from the sidelines. When she clinched her second gold, they nearly forgot to take pictures, too excited to remember anything else. It took Ethan’s level–headedness to smack Liam’s knee and remind him to snap a few shots.


    Standing atop the podium, Alessia didn’t look to the stands first. Instead, her gaze went straight to the VIP section, where she waved cheerfully at one boy in particr.


    Cole’s eyes shone with pride. Ignoring the puzzled nces from others around him, he lifted his hand and waved back.


    Only after Cole acknowledged her did Alessia turn to the regr stands, giving the Morton brothers a little wave. Liam fumbled with his phone to get the shot, while Ethan waved back, grinning.


    “Hey, did you notice?” Liam was scrolling through his photos when he spotted something odd. “Lessie looked like she was waving at someone else


    12:03


    first–someone up in the VIP seats.”


    Ethan peered at the screen, Liam was right. The first thing Alessia did after winning was look to the investor’s section.


    “She probably knows someone up there,” Ethan said with a shrug. “Honestly, when ites to Alessia, nothing surprises me anymore.”


    Liam caught the implied meaning and nodded in agreement.


    “She was probably looking at Cole,” Ethan added. “That exins why we didn’t see him in the stands.” Their voices, neither loud nor soft, carried just enough that Justin, sitting nearby, caught every word and couldn’t help but butt in<i>. </i>


    “Cole?” He frowned, the name familiar. Hadn’t he heard someone mention it before? It was obvious from their confusion that Alessia had never brought up Cole with the Morton boys. Justin wondered if she simply didn’t care, or thought it unnecessary. He hesitated, regretting his interruption, but now that he’d started, he went on.


    “See the youngest guy at the top row over there? That’s Cole. If you want to know what’s between him and Alessia–well, they’ve grown up together, almost like brother and sister. But if Alessia ever had to choose between Cole and anyone else–she wouldn’t hesitate. She’d pick Cole every time.”


    The brothers fell quiet, both ncing up at Cole. Liam suddenly remembered: thest time Alessia came for a meeting at theirpany, the boy who sat beside her had been none other than Cole, straight from the VIP seats.


    “Cole’s had it rough,” Xavier chimed in, his voice low. “Took over the Whitley Group at sixteen, and in just two years he’s managed to turn things around. If his father were still alive, he’d be so proud.”


    “His father?” Ethan felt a vague sense of dread creeping over him.