Chapter 2

2 I worked my butt off, sweating and bleeding, to get into the State team and win those medals.

How could they... just erase all of that?

Tears welled up in my eyes.

The doctor asked, worried, "Hurting you?"

I shook my head, not knowing if it was the pain from the wounds or the pain in my heart.

The two most important women in my life were destroying my body and my reputation.

I wanted to ask them, were we family, or were we enemies?

A few seconds later, my phone started ringing.

I checked it and saw videos about me bribing the coach posted on all the college forums.

The comments were brutal.

[This guy's name is Danny Sawyer, and he's in my class. He doesn't know anything about basketball, just got in by cheating!]

[I can vouch for that. He's got a terrible attitude, always bullying people. He deserved what he got.]

[Wonder what his CEO mom thinks now that her precious boy is a loser?]

Every word felt like a knife in my heart, making me shake all over.

My sister covered my eyes. "Don't look, Danny."

Mom grabbed my phone, furious. "Sarah, what the hell? I thought you were taking care of this!"

My sister looked guilty. "I blocked the news, but someone must have snuck a video. Don't worry, Danny, I'll get those videos taken down ASAP!"

Their acting was perfect.

It made me want to throw up.

Mom knelt down in front of me, looking sincere. "Danny, no matter what happens, you're always my baby, my precious son!"

My sister nodded. "Yeah, I'll always love you!"

The videos were gone fast.

But some people had already copied them and sent them around.

My reputation was ruined. Even if my body healed, I could never go back to school.

I could never go back to the court and chase my dream.

After the doctor finished examining me, he looked serious. "Patient has broken arms, two broken ribs, and some burns on his legs."

"The worst thing is... someone stabbed him in the chest. The knife was two centimeters from his heart. He could've died…”

Mom's face went white. "He could've died?"

My sister's eyes filled with tears. "How… how could this happen?"

They were stabbing me in the heart.

I was on my knees, begging them to stop.

That night would be a nightmare forever.

"Doctor, whatever it takes, you have to heal my son!"

The doctor nodded. "We'll do our best."

Mom, who was usually so proud, got on her knees in front of me for the first time. "Don't worry, Danny, I'll make you a star!"

But I didn't believe her anymore.

After Mom and my sister left to take care of some things, I slowly walked outside and called that number overseas.

"I've made up my mind. I want to inherit Dad's estate."