Chapter 3

03

But before the awards were announced, Seraphina stepped onto the stage.

"Before the most important award is announced, I have a confession to make to the fans."

I felt a surge of dread and tried to stand up, but my legs were like jelly.

Ryker appeared behind me and pinned me into my seat with a brutal grip.

"You have no chance. Just watch. Even after all that effort, you're still my stepping stone."

Seraphina looked toward me, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

"Three years ago, I married Percy Miller. He used that connection to bully his teammates and steal starting positions. This was my mistake, and I am deeply sorry."

"But Percy's lack of professional ethics has reached a point where the team can no longer tolerate it."

"I have submitted evidence of his match-fixing to the committee. I am officially removing him from the team."

Being kicked off the team meant I was automatically disqualified from winning any awards.

I hadn't expected Seraphina to destroy my career just to stop me from taking the trophy.

The committee was thrown into chaos, deciding to cut the live stream to discuss the new winner.

Seraphina walked down the steps and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at her.

"Did you think I didn't know you've been moving the orphans to other locations? Did you think I didn't know about the new meds you got for the matron?"

"Too bad. Now that you're disgraced, you won't be able to afford her hospital bills anymore."

"Did you really think you could just leave me and return to the spotlight? You don't deserve it."

I wasn't surprised she knew about my movements.

But she didn't know that I had spent my last cent sending the matron to a specialist in Switzerland.

And she definitely didn't know I was leaving the country.

Seeing no reaction from me, Seraphina threw her phone into my lap.

The news had already hit the top of the trending charts.

Accusations from a wife who was also the team owner were enough to bury me.

The top headline read, "Percy Miller: The Scum of E-sports."

After a brief meeting, the committee announced Ryker as the MVP.

The live stream resumed, and Seraphina and Ryker walked onto the stage, smiling for the cameras.

I don't know if it was the sight of them or my head injury, but I began to vomit uncontrollably.

Security guards grabbed me like I was a bag of trash and threw me out of the arena.

When I finally woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

A nurse rushed over when she saw my eyes open.

"You've been out for twenty hours. You have a concussion and severe malnutrition. Who should we call for your family?"

I shook my head slowly, feeling the ache in my skull.

"I have no family. If I'm stable, please just let me check out."

After my parents died, I was alone.

Aside from the matron, Seraphina was my only tether to the world.

Now, even that connection had turned to ash.

The staff helped me finish the paperwork quickly.

I turned on my phone to find a dozen missed calls from the London team.

I was terrified they had seen the news and changed their mind, so I called them back immediately.

"Percy, we saw the headlines, but we've discussed it. We trust your talent more than the gossip."

"Your performance yesterday was the most incredible thing we've ever seen. We want you here as soon as possible."

A massive weight lifted off my chest.

But then, Seraphina's name flashed on my screen.

"Percy, you loser, where are you? Get your ass back home and clean this house."

Ryker's voice laughed in the background.

"I heard used protection is worth a lot these days. We used plenty last night. Come pick them up, and you can keep the change as your salary."

I let out a cold, sharp laugh.

"Sure. I'll be there soon."

I hung up and hired a courier to deliver the signed divorce papers to her house.

Then, I headed straight for the airport.