Chapter 60
Chapter 60:
Phillip had never once believed that his sister would try to kill Rylie. Now that it had been exposed in front of everyone, a darker thought crept in. What if this wasn’t the first time? Had she done something before and simply gone unnoticed?
A sudden wave of exhaustion swept through him. As he watched Rylie walk farther away, he finally grasped the kind of hopelessness that she must have carried all this time.
Up on the podium, she stood tall at the center. The judges handed her the championship trophy as brilliant lights bathed her in gold. Her teammates celebrated beside her. Confetti rained down from above. In that moment, she looked like she belonged to a different world.
Rylie shone that night.
Her grace and certainty unsettled Phillip in a way nothing else had before. For the first time, she scared him. His phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.
As he stared at the screen, the club manager’s furious voice burst through the speaker. “What were you thinking? The sponsors didn’t just walk away. They’re asking for money back! You forced Rylie out of the team? She’s your sister too, isn’t she? You do realize Stacey’s nowhere near her level, right? You’ve taken things so far, we might lose the club over this p>
Phillip had nothing to say. Not one word. His silence came from panic.
His thoughts spiraled. Maybe he had chosen wrong all along. Their wins were real, sure, but those victories had Rylie’s name written underneath. She was the one who held the team together. He’d clung to the glory while forcing her into the shadows. Now, with her gone, everything crashing down felt deserved.
Those trophies on the shelf? They mocked him now.
On the stage, Rylie’s smile remained steady. Then her eyes landed on a face she hadn’t expected to see in the crowd.
She paused for a moment, then handed the trophy to Britton without saying a word. She hopped down from the stage and slipped through the crowd toward one person.
He stood quietly — tall, lean, his black coat rippling in the breeze. The collar of his white shirt was slightly open, just enough to reveal the clean lines of his neck.
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Stray bits of confetti landed on his lashes, but he didn’t move. He let them fall, unfazed. There was something wild behind his calm demeanor. He carried himself like someone relaxed but always watching — as if something dangerous lurked beneath his soft wool coat.
Rylie stopped in front of him. “So, you didn’t leave p>
“Yes. It’s late now, and I thought I should give you a ride home. By the way, the race was a surprise.” Brad’s eyes lowered slightly, his gaze softening into a smile. It was the kind of smile that reminded Rylie of a winter sky — clear and cold, distant yet glowing.
Rylie had seen attractive men before, but none quite like him. Brad carried both calm and danger in one breath, gentle in manner yet exuding the firm presence of someone who had faced war. That kind of balance was rare. Rylie composed herself quickly and smiled. “I can drive myself. I’ll be fine p>
Brad didn’t waver. “It’s not safe to be out this late. I’ll take you p>
Rylie lifted an eyebrow and motioned lightly. “Then lower your head p>
Across the crowd, Phillip spotted them. Brad, standing beside Rylie, had a quiet elegance. He lowered his head slightly, a small bow. Rylie reached up and tugged the ribbon from his hair.