Ten minutes before the International Swimming Championship finals, my childhood sweetheart destroyed the entire team’s gear. She slashed every swimsuit, snapped every pair of goggles. Why? Because her "male bestie" had just tested positive for doping and was disqualified. If we lost this race, it would be a national disgrace. In my past life, to save her from the committee’s wrath, I called in every favor my wealthy family had to air-freight new gear at the last second. I even forced myself to swim in her bestie’s spot for the singles race just to buy time. We won. She accepted the awards as the "resilient captain." Her bestie, Skyler, eventually moved to the provincial team, got caught doping again, and was banned for life. Distraught, he ran into traffic and was crushed by a truck. She blamed me. Two months later, right before the World Cup, she injected a lethal dose of stimulants directly into my veins. "If you hadn't forced Skyler to drink that stuff back then, he wouldn't have been banned. He wouldn't have died!" she screamed, her mask of calm shattering. "You stole his trophies and caused his death. You’re the one who deserves to die!" My heart exploded in my chest. When I opened my eyes, I was back in the locker room. Ten minutes before the finals. This time, I’m not saving anyone. I want to see how they survive without me as their life raft. 1 I woke up to the sound of shouting. Opening my eyes, I saw our team’s hothead, Mike, poking Skyler hard in the chest. "Skyler, you’re the one who got disqualified! But now Serena destroyed everyone's gear because of you! None of us can race!" "The prize money is gone! Our careers are toast! How are you going to pay for this?!" Skyler was backed against a locker, neck stiff, denying everything. "It wasn't me! I didn't dope! It’s a testing error!" Mike was furious. "You failed the appeal and two re-tests! You still dare call it an error?" He raised a fist, ready to swing, but Serena rushed in and blocked him. Skyler, who had been acting tough a second ago, immediately turned red-eyed and weepy the moment he saw her. The teammates were seething. "Serena, if you guys want to quit, just leave! We want to win for our country!" "This is the International Championship! How are we supposed to swim naked?" Serena shielded Skyler like a mother hen. She lowered her voice to comfort him, then turned to the team with a self-righteous glare. "We are a team. Skyler was framed. You should be helping him appeal, not worrying about your own races." Her twisted logic stunned everyone. But since she was the team captain, they all turned to look at me—the vice-captain. "Lucas, we're on in ten minutes. What do we do? We never should have let Skyler join. Since he got here, everything’s gone to hell!" Serena cut him off sharply. "The bad luck is because you didn't train hard enough, don't blame Skyler." "Besides, the coach approved his entry. If you have a problem, take it up with the coach." The teammate muttered a curse, shooting a resentful look at me. "It’s all because of Lucas. Bringing these two disasters into the team." Great. Once again, I’m guilty by association. My family, the Sterlings, are wealthy. The Vanderbilt family—Serena’s family—approached my parents when we were kids, saying Serena wanted to swim too. We were engaged since childhood. My parents were happy to help. So, my family paid double to let my professional coaching team train her. We dragged her all the way to the National Team and made her captain. We were practically inseparable. Both families called each other "in-laws," waiting for us to retire and marry. Then, Skyler appeared in her circle. For this guy, Serena ordered my coaches to waste their time training him, barely scraping him past the qualifiers to get him on the team. She talked about him constantly. If I showed even a hint of displeasure, she’d snap: "Skyler and I are just friends. Stop being so dirty-minded. If you’re going to be jealous, at least be logical." In my past life, I believed her. When she destroyed the gear, I tried to save both her reputation and Skyler’s career. My reward was a needle in my arm and a stopped heart. This time? I’m done. The childhood bond is over. I looked down and sent a text message, instructing my family to contact a swimming equipment supplier. Then, I spoke calmly. "You're right. After this competition, I will formally request a re-evaluation from the coaches. Anyone who doesn't meet the standards gets kicked out." Serena looked at me in shock. Skyler panicked. They knew. Without my protection, Skyler wouldn't last five minutes in a real assessment. Someone slammed the table. "Forget the assessment! The race is starting! No suits, no goggles, we don't even have caps! We're going to lose by default." "The live broadcast is on. The whole world is going to see us forfeit." "It’s not just embarrassing; it’s a national humiliation. We’ll be nailed to the pillar of shame forever." Serena’s pupils contracted. She bit her lip nervously. Skyler tugged her sleeve. "Serena, what do I do? My whole family is watching. If they find out I was disqualified, they’ll kill me." Serena turned back to comfort him. "Don't worry. I’m here. I’ll handle it." She stepped forward, putting on her captain’s face. "There's a rule. If the whole team signs a joint petition, a disqualified athlete can be reinstated." "I can fix the gear situation, but you all have to sign the petition to get Skyler back in." Skyler’s eyes filled with tears of gratitude. A teammate asked, skeptically, "Easy to say. The gear is shredded. We’re in a foreign country. How do you fix that in ten minutes?" Serena lifted her chin, pointing confidently at me. "Lucas's uncle owns a sports equipment company in this city. He can have professional gear delivered immediately!" 2 I sneered internally. Just like the last life. She volunteered my resources to clean up her mess. What she didn't know was that my uncle had pivoted his business to tech last year. He didn't have swimming gear anymore. Last time, when I explained this, she screamed at me: "Lucas, I know you hate Skyler, but is this really the time for games?" "The race is starting! Can’t you be the bigger man? Don't put your jealousy above national honor!" And Skyler had chimed in, "Yeah Lucas, beat me up later if you want, but help the team first." Back then, I was too panicked to see they were gaslighting me. But I’m not stupid anymore. "My uncle's company pivoted last year. They don't do sports gear anymore." The locker room erupted in despair. "It's over. We're dead." Serena frowned, shouting at me, "Lucas! This is the International Championship, stop joking!" Skyler added, "Lucas, bro, even if you hate me, think about the others." The team looked at me, eyes filled with blame. Seeing them try to shift the pot to me again, I pulled out my phone, opened a news article about my uncle's business pivot, and showed it to them. "I am thinking about the team. That’s why I’m calm. But I’m not the one who tested positive for drugs, and I’m not the one who shredded the suits. Why are you blaming me?" "I trained day and night since I was a kid to bring glory to my country. Who knew I’d run into sabotage from within?" Serena looked away, guilty. Knock, knock. Staff shouted from outside: "Ten minutes!" On the TV monitor, the crowd was roaring. Banners with our names were waving in the stands. Usually, this would pump us up. Now, teammates were cursing. "We have to go out there naked at this rate." "Just my luck to be on a team with you lunatics." "One dopes, the other destroys our gear for a man. If you want to date, go do it outside! Why ruin our careers?!" A fight broke out. Serena shielded Skyler, screaming, "Stop! Even if we miss this, there are other ways to go pro!" "Lucas! Your family is rich. Make your dad start a private swim club and sign everyone!" I blinked. "We're talking about the race. What does a private club have to do with anything?" Serena held up five fingers. "If you all sign the petition for Skyler and tell the committee the gear was an 'accident'... I'll guarantee you a salary of $500,000 a year." The number stunned everyone. "$500k? Lucas, is that true? Your dad would do that?" I frowned. She was trying to drag the Sterling family down with her. A national team failing internationally, then immediately getting signed by my family for huge money? It would look like a massive conspiracy. "Serena, who are you to make decisions for the Sterling family?" Serena smirked. "We’re engaged. You’re the only son. Your family’s money is basically mine, isn't it?" 3 So that was her plan. Eating the inheritance before I’m even dead. I laughed, glancing at a shocked Skyler. "Oh? You're announcing our engagement publicly now? Didn't you say you wanted to keep it secret so your dear Skyler wouldn't be sad?" Serena’s face darkened. "Skyler and I are just friends. Your mind is dirty." Before Skyler could speak, a teammate snapped. "Who cares! Lucas, just tell us, can you guarantee the contracts?" "If you can't, Serena and Skyler are paying for this with their lives!" Serena shouted, "I guarantee it!" The team looked at me. I threw up my hands. "I didn't say it. I can't guarantee anything." "You..." Serena started. Suddenly, the Coach burst in. "Why aren't you warming up?! Five minutes! Why aren't you changed?!" A teammate pointed at the pile of shredded fabric in the corner and quickly explained. The Coach’s face turned purple. "Are you insane?! This is national honor! This is everyone's career!" "My career is ruined because of you two psychos!" Skyler cried, "Coach, I didn't dope! It's a mistake!" Serena stood tall. "Skyler was framed. I did this to force you to take it seriously!" The Coach ignored her, frantically making calls. But with minutes left, in a foreign country, it was impossible. He pulled his hair out, screaming, "It's over! My career is over!" The despair in the room was palpable. "My parents are watching. If I walk out without a suit, they'll disown me." "This is a major violation. The committee might ban us for four years." "Four years..." Silence. An athlete's prime is short. Four years is a death sentence. A girl started sobbing. A male teammate clenched his fist. "If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!" He punched Serena in the face. Chaos erupted. Serena screamed, "My dad can sign you too!" Everyone stopped. She pulled out her phone, muttering, "The Sterlings have money, the Vanderbilts have money too! I'll make my dad start a team. $500k each, just don't blame me!" "Dad! Start a swim team! Sign my teammates! Five hundred thousand salary each!" On speaker, her dad’s voice roared: "You useless idiot! Did you offend the Sterlings? They just cancelled every contract with our company! I can't even pay our debts, where the hell am I getting money for you to waste?!" 4 The call ended. Serena gasped. She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Lucas! You did this!" I shrugged calmly. "I just told my dad that you only wanted to marry me to eat my inheritance. That you were a gold digger." "Maybe... my dad felt your motives were impure and cut ties." Serena’s face flushed red. "Who said I'm a gold digger... You did this on purpose! You want to see our careers destroyed!" I pointed at the security camera on the wall. "Don't twist the facts. The camera saw who shredded the suits. You and Skyler are the ones destroying careers." Teammates, faces pale as death, turned on them. "That's right! You ruined our lives! I'm calling the committee right now." "No!" Skyler snatched the phone away. "No one calls until my results are overturned!" Suddenly, the TV screen announced the start of the Men's 400m Freestyle. That was Skyler's event. His name wasn't even on the screen. Skyler let out a strangled scream. "It's over... it's completely over..." Serena held him up. "There's still the relay! There's still a chance!" Gritting her teeth, she faced the team. "Gear or not, we go out there. Even if we lose." "I promise, if you help Skyler get reinstated and keep your mouths shut, I will give you each $500,000 after the competition." Someone sneered. "Your dad just said you're broke. Where's the money coming from?" "I have my ways." I raised my voice. "Then write a promissory note. Everyone signs." "Yeah! Write it down! Or we don't believe you!" Cornered, Serena nodded. By the time the 400m freestyle ended, Skyler was sobbing at the TV. But everyone else held a handwritten IOU from Serena. "Okay? Now go appeal before the relay starts!" She dragged Skyler toward the door. The others hesitated. "What are you waiting for?" Serena turned back to see me blocking the door. "Lucas, what now?" I smiled and signaled my teammates to step aside. The door opened. Several delivery men walked in carrying two large crates. Inside were brand new, professional-grade swimming kits. The team cheered, rushing to find their sizes. "Where did these come from?" I bent down to grab my kit. "I asked my uncle to pull some strings with other suppliers. Late, but just in time." Serena’s face lit up with relief. She pulled Skyler over. "Lucas, I knew you wouldn't abandon us. Since you helped, our families' partnership should be restored, right?" But the boxes were empty. Everyone had a suit. Except Serena and Skyler. "Where are ours?" I laughed. "So sorry. My uncle could only find this many." "Coincidentally... we're exactly two short."
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