He thought his disdain would make me beg, but he was dead wrong.
"I hope you can stay as tough as you claim," Jason sneered.
Everyone laughed at me.
"Jason, you took advantage of me when I was naive," I squeezed my hand hard, "In three days, I'll wire the penalty into your account, I hope you'll keep your word."
Jason's expression darkened instantly, "Grace, do you really want to make a scene? Apologize, and I can let today slide. I can forgive what happened."
I walked into the rain without a backward glance.
"Jason, you just gonna let her walk?"
"Who does she think she is? I'm waiting for the day she comes crawling back."
...
"Does what you said before still stand?" After leaving Cloudbrook Heights, I texted that person.
Ten minutes later, I got a reply.
"It stands."
"I need two million."
"Okay, sign for a year. I want to see your worth."
6
When I was 6, I had a car crash and had to take a year off from school to recover, missing out on the chance to join the national youth team.
My parents died in that crash, and my family ended up paying a fortune in damages.
I met Jason Wright when I was at my lowest.
From 17 to 18, he filled the emptiest part of my life, supported me, and helped me rebuild my confidence.
After my leg injury healed, I signed with Radiant Wings based on my past performance and started competing in commercial tournaments, training and earning simultaneously.
I thought everything was finally looking up.
I didn't expect to hit a dead end so soon.
Three days later, I paid the penalty as agreed.
When I was packing to head to the capital, Jason blocked me at the school gate, furious.
"Grace Miller, I didn't agree to terminate the contract, how dare you!"
Thinking about it now, it's laughable. We dated for a year, and he hid his real identity while offering me training opportunities yet holding me back.
I once told him, "Jason, badminton is all I know."
He'd joke, "I'll support you in the future."
But during a fight, he snapped, "Is badminton all you have? Haven't you thought about what I need?"
I didn't get it back then.
But now I do.
"Jason, I'm not your pet. I won't come and go as you please. You have no right to dictate my life. We're done."
"Done?" Jason scoffed, "Grace, do you know I fought with my family over you?"
"So that's why you lied and manipulated me?" I brushed his hand off, incredulous.
"What more do you want?! Can't you just obey?"