So much for being tough, he thought. Turns out all it took was a gentle shove to send him sprawling–and now he’s managed to steal everyone’s sympathy,


    He stood there, jaw clenched, trying to look defiant. <b>But </b>when he caught sight of York curled up on the ground, a flicker of satisfaction crossed his


    face.


    “Serves you right! That’s what happens when you mess with me!” he dered, hands on his hips, triumphant and unrepentant. The bravado only earned him jeers from the other kids, and even the parents sitting in the bleachers frowned, quietly wondering whose child he was.


    Alessia and her friends rushed down from the stands. Ivan Morton, with


    Zane’s help, broke free from the teacher trying to hold him back and sprinted toward York.


    “York!” Ivan’s voice trembled with worry.


    “Are you okay?” Ivan hovered, eyes darting over York’s bruises and scrapes, not even sure where to begin.


    York’s face was a mess of pain and frustration, but he managed to wave his hand as if to say he was fine. He even tried for a smile, though it twisted into a grimace that only made things worse.


    The medic arrived next, kneeling and carefully examining York’s injuries.


    Two fresh cuts marred York’s handsome face, and his arms and legs were scraped raw. Worst of all was his ankle–swollen, discolored, and clearly out of ce.


    “Call an ambnce,” the medic said after a quick assessment, already cleaning the worst of the scrapes.


    Alessia came over just in time <i>to </i>hear those words, her face darkening even more. She crouched next to York, gently checking his wounds herself.


    11.00


    Chapter <b>402 </b>


    “And who are you?” the medic asked, startled by Alessia’s hands–on approach.


    “We’re family,” Cole jumped in quickly, worried the medic might try to chase them off. “She’s York’s sister–and a student of Dr. Alexander


    Dawson.”


    “Dawson?” The medic was skeptical. Dawson was a legend in the medical world, though everyone only knew of his one university–age protégé and he was rumored to be a guy.


    Cole nodded earnestly, quietly exining as he nced at the group gathered around York.


    “How is he?” Alessia finished her inspection, her voice softening as she


    looked at York.


    York shook his head, silent, his eyes ssy.


    Alessia pressed her lips together, ruffling his hair in a gentle,forting


    gesture.


    “I didn’t win,” York finally choked out, his words barely a whisper, his pain


    mixed with shame.


    “You did win,” Alessia answered firmly, her words ringing with conviction. “You fought with honor.”


    York’s lips quivered as tears spilled down his face. Ivan squeezed his hand, his own eyes shining with unshed tears.


    York never cried–not when he fell and scraped his knee, not even when he was really hurt. He’d always pick himself up,ugh it off, and crack a joke about being clumsy. But now, the tears wouldn’t stop, no matter how hard he tried.


    Max stooped down and lifted York into his arms, holding him steady and


    secure.


    York buried his face in Max’s shoulder, muffling his sobs. He didn’t make a sound, but his silent anguish was all the more heart–wrenching.


    <b>2/3 </b>


    11:00


    “Don’t worry,” Max said quietly, though his eyes were cold and stormy. “No. one’s walking away with the championship after this.”


    Alessia turned to Ivan. “Youing with us?” She knew there was no way he could sit through the rest of thepetition now.


    “Yeah,” Ivan replied without hesitation.


    “Me too! And my sister, please let use!” Zane had somehow slipped away from his teacher, who was now hurrying to catch up.


    “I’ll go exin what happened. You go with Max,” Cole said, appearing beside them and giving Alessia’s head a reassuring pat before stepping


    forward to handle the fallout.


    Alessia nodded, gathering the two younger kids and following Max’s steady stride out of the gym.


    11:00