And with my erratic steps, I found myself in the middle of the crowd. They were startled; I looked a complete mess.
“Oh my God… isn’t Chef Elena injured?”
“Yeah, she looks frustrated. She must really want this competition.”
“What happened to her is so sad.”
I backed away, panicking. The media cameras rushed forward, trying to zoom in on me. I stumbled, turned around, and ran.
As I passed by, a door swung wide open.
“Please arrange my wedding with Elena within a month, Hans,” Bryan’s voice echoed out.
“Are you really willing to give up your childhood sweetheart for that poor girl by marrying her?”
“I need to be by Elena’s side at all times so she’ll keep her mouth shut if she ever finds out; her father was imprisoned to cover up the mistake Livia’s older sister made while drunk back then. For Livia, I’ll make sure she always has a happy life. By any means necessary, even if it means sacrificing Elena.”
Bile rose in my throat. My body felt like it had been struck by lightning.
The marriage Bryan promised wasn’t compensation for my pain. It was worse than that. It was to keep me quiet.
For three years, my father suffered in prison. A hit-and-run charge.