Chapter 93
93:
Though no one could say for sure what had provoked the horse’s sudden aggression, few were inclined to feel sorry for Alex.
Given where the hooves had landed, it was safe to assume Alex wouldn’t be competing for at least two years—possibly never again if his injury was severe enough.
The crowd was pleased with that.
“Ah!” Alex’s scream ripped through the air, a sharp, guttural cry of pain. His legs, his abdomen—every inch of his lower body felt as though it had been shattered beneath the crushing weight. Yet, rather than sympathy, the audience erupted in loud cheers. Event staff and medics rushed toward Alex. Some worked to restrain the still-agitated horse, while others tended to him.
Meanwhile, the man who had won second place approached the referee, his expression grim. He gestured toward Alex’s right middle finger and mimicked his earlier act of hitting the horse.
The referee didn’t hesitate and declared, “Alex Espinoza is disqualified for using cruel and underhanded tactics in the race. Due to repeated violations of international competition regulations, along with unsportsmanlike behavior and personal attacks, he is permanently banned from entering this country!”
“Congratulations!” As Ethan approached Brenna, his eyes landed on her, still wearing her sleek riding gear. The confidence radiating from her made her the most captivating presence in the arena.
Rosie trailed after him, her jealousy barely concealed. She glanced at Alex, now being carried away, and her expression darkened. She thought Alex was so useless; he couldn’t even defeat someone like Brenna.
She had placed her bets on him winning, yet he had failed miserably.
𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 g𝖺𝖑𝖓𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫶ⅽ𝗈𝗺
Wearing a cold expression, she strode toward Brenna, convinced that Brenna’s victory was nothing more than sheer luck. In her mind, Brenna had only won because she had
She spoke with a faint smile. To those a bit farther away, it might have looked like she was offering congratulations.
“What’s there to be so happy about? It’s just a local horse race, not some world championship. You’re acting like it’s the greatest accomplishment of your life, Brenna. Honestly, it’s embarrassing.”
Brenna met her gaze with calm indifference. “You’re right. Compared to my other awards, this one doesn’t really count for much. Horse riding is just a hobby for me, and I can win some prize money along the way.”
“You!” Rosie seethed, her face twisting with anger.
She had trained tirelessly for over a month, pouring effort into the race, only to fail before even reaching the finals.
Yet, Brenna had made it sound like it was so easy to win. What kind of ridiculous statement was that?
What made Rosie angrier was Ethan’s smile. Ever since he saw Brenna today, he hadn’t stopped looking at her with smiles.
.
.
.