Chapter 3

Mom always said she' d be there for me, no matter what. That she would always put my happiness first. Now, I saw the truth. Her words were hollow, echoing the emptiness in my heart. She had always been obsessed with appearances, with the glittering image of her daughter, the figure skating star. My injury, my pain, my husband's betrayal – these were just inconvenient bumps on the road to her perfect family portrait. She couldn't understand. She couldn't see the gaping wound in my soul. How could I forgive him when every fiber of my being screamed betrayal? It felt impossible.

I drifted off to sleep, the exhaustion finally pulling me under, but it was a restless, tormented sleep. When I woke, the room was shrouded in darkness, the digital clock glowing 2:47 AM. The silence was oppressive, heavy. Suddenly, my phone buzzed, startling me. I fumbled for it, my heart pounding.

"Aria? Are you there?" It was Keagan. My childhood best friend, now a top-tier sports physical therapist. His voice, even through the speaker, was filled with concern. "Where are you, Aria? I've been trying to reach you."

"Home," I whispered, my voice rough from sleep and tears. "Why?"

"Oh, thank God," he sighed, a wave of relief in his tone. "I saw Elliott. He was at the Rinkside with Kelsie. Laughing. Spending money like water. I even saw him buy her a new pair of custom skates. Those things cost a fortune, Aria. He was ignoring calls, obviously yours. I know he' s your husband, but that' s just not right."

My stomach clenched. Custom skates. Those were something Elliott and I had always dreamed of for my future Olympic bid. Now, Kelsie was getting them. For a moment, I forgot my own pain, overwhelmed by the blatant disrespect, the financial betrayal. He was pouring our shared resources, resources meant for my recovery and our future, into his new protégé, his new lover. He neglected me, dismissed my pain, and then spent lavishly on another woman. The injustice was a searing burn.

"I know, Keagan," I mumbled, the words tasting like ash. "I saw them."

"You did?" His voice hardened. "That bastard! How dare he! I swear, Aria, I'm going to track that girl down and give her a piece of my mind. She has no right to break up a marriage, to parade around with your husband, spending your money!"

A flicker of warmth, small but real, ignited in my chest. Keagan. Always my protector. Always on my side. In a world that felt like it was crumbling around me, his loyalty was a steadfast beacon.

"No, Keagan, don't," I said, my voice firmer than I expected. "It's not worth it. I'm... I'm going to divorce him." The words, once unthinkable, now felt like a desperate, painful truth.

A pause. Then, "Are you sure? Do you need me to come over? I can be there in twenty minutes. Just say the word."

"No," I replied, thinking of his wife and young children. He had a family to take care of, a calm, stable life that I shouldn't disrupt with my chaos. "Don't. It's late. I'll be fine. Just... thanks for telling me."

"Aria," he said, and I could hear the hesitation, the reluctance in his voice. "There's something else. I heard some whispers at the rink. Kelsie... she's not just some random girl. She's Holman's daughter. You know, Richard Holman. Elliott's old mentor, the one who died last year."

My breath hitched. Richard Holman. Elliott had idolized him. His death had hit Elliott hard. But his daughter? Kelsie was Richard's daughter? And what was Elliott doing with her? The pieces were starting to click into a much uglier picture.

"And," Keagan continued, his voice lowering, "I heard Elliott's been using funds from... well, from Elliott and you, to secretly train her. He's been putting everything into her, pushing her forward, trying to make her the next champion. Your champion, Aria. He's been using your shared money to build her career."

The shock was so immense, it momentarily eclipsed the pain. My career. My money. My future. All of it, funneled into Kelsie. This wasn't just betrayal; it was a complete shattering of my professional identity, my financial security. The man who was supposed to be my partner, my coach, my biggest supporter, had systematically dismantled my life and handed it to another.

"I... I can't," I stammered, the words catching in my throat. My mind reeled, trying to reconcile the Elliott I knew with this monstrous stranger. The man who had meticulously managed my training, who had celebrated every victory with me, had been secretly plotting my replacement.

"Aria? Are you still there?" Keagan's voice was worried.

"I'm here," I managed. "I just... I can't process this right now. I just can't hear any more." The weight of it all was crushing.

Just as I hung up, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was a notification from our joint bank account. A large transfer. A very large transfer. My mind went blank. He was really doing it. He was draining our accounts.

My fingers trembled as I dialed Elliott's number. It rang, and rang, and rang. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he picked up. His voice was slurred, distant. "What?"

"Elliott, what was that transfer?" My voice was tight, barely a whisper. "What are you doing with our money?"

A long pause. Then, a sigh. "It's for Kelsie's training. And her new apartment. Her father left her nothing. She needs a place to live, a coach. I'm helping her." His tone was flat, devoid of any emotion, as if he were discussing the weather.

"Helping her?" My voice rose, cracking. "With our money? Elliott, that's illegal! That's shared property! You can't just take it and give it to... to your mistress!" The word tasted vile on my tongue.

"Mistress?" He scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. "Don't be so dramatic, Aria. Kelsie is a talented athlete. She deserves a chance. And you? You're injured. You're done. What do you need money for? Just sitting at home, doing nothing." He paused. "Besides, it's my money anyway. Most of it. You haven't worked in months."

The audacity. The sheer, unadulterated cruelty of his words stole my breath. "My money? Elliott, I was the one who earned the endorsements, the prize money! I was the one on the ice, breaking my body for us! You were my coach, my husband, you were supposed to protect my interests!" My voice was shaking, my entire body vibrating with a furious, desperate energy. "This is community property! Legally, it's half mine!"