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"Second match,Ethan Stone wins!"
...
"Twenty-sixth match,Ethan Stone wins!"
The host shouted to the crowd.
I slumped on the cold,hard ground,panting,staring at my scraped palms,wondering how I had managed to use my undercover skills to barely win each time.A strange sadness welled up in my chest.
Emma,do you hate me this much?
You used to fret over a scratch on my finger.
Now you're pushing me into a fire pit.
Swallowing pain,I felt wronged, and glanced in Emma and Luke's direction.
I yelled,"Damn it,I'll die here!Can we stop for today?"
Emma smirked,her gaze shifting.I followed it to her aunt,Abigail Turner.
The host's voice grew excited:
"Final round!Fifty-year-old Henry Stone vs.our current champion, the invincible Ethan Stone!Who'll win?Stay tuned!"
This bombshell,this unexpected turn—I turned slowly,seeing Dad,who'd ditched me after delivering me,now here.
He was bathed in yellow light.Fists clenched,teeth gritted,he strode toward me,face grim.
My breath froze,senses on high alert.
Don't let Dad's security guard job fool you—he was a street fighter in his youth.Much of my skills came from him.
Rumor had it that Aunt Abby fell for him after he saved her from a mugging,sparking her relentless pursuit.
As Dad closed in,fist raised,I braced for defense.But he overpowered me easily,pinning me down.
"Whoa!"The crowd gasped.
Pinned,I heard Dad hiss in my ear:
"Little punk,did you take Abigail's hundred million?"
I struggled to roll over,pinning him down on the ground."Look who's talking—you took Emma's hundred million and one dollar!Why're you here,Dad?"
He threw a slow-motion punch to my cheek,growling:
"You dare ask!They said you took the money and didn't deliver,they sued for fraud.As your kin,I got dragged in,nabbed by that woman!"
I stifled a laugh,asking,"What's that got to do with the pit?"
Dad grabbed my collar,faking a shoulder throw,explaining,"She said I kept running away from her all these times,so I'm punished.Two choices:fight you or fight others forever..."
"Or?"I grabbed his arm,but Dad seemed to lose all strength,collapsing to his knees.
Grinning,he whispered,"Or surrender and be her sweet darling."
"Ref,I surrender!"
I gaped at my spineless dad.
He stood primly,waiting as Abigail descended,linking arms with him.
Before I fully froze,Dad leaned in,whispering advice:
"Son,I couldn't let go of your mom,who died after giving birth to you.But now I get it—some loves you can’t run away from forever.Life's short;no second chances."
I looked up,stunned.Dad winked.
He took two steps forward,then turned back,whispering intel:
"By the way,Emma's guy is probably her first love."
"You're likely a substitute for him while he was away."
"Her true love's got kidney issues,no donor match."
"Son,donate if you must.Be a pitiful,selfless guy—it’s the only way a substitute like you mikght win her pity and rise."
My heart stopped.Voice dry,I asked,"Where'd you hear this?"
Dad gave me a pitying look,hand heavy on my shoulder:
"Abigail,drunk,spilled it.Probably close enough to the truth."
He shook his head and left with Abigail.
I looked blankly at Emma and Luke but found no one—they were gone.
