Chapter 4

Chapter 4

There was a time when the passenger seat was mine alone... Forget it. It didn't matter anymore. I climbed into the back.

After we picked up Chase, the car soon pulled into the Elite Football League club.

It was a private association of wealthy people and big names from the professional leagues, and Chase and I were both members of this amateur club. Soon, though, we would be opponents on the professional stage.

In the locker room, Serena took a jersey out of a bag and handed it to Chase.

"Wear this one. I hope it brings you luck."

When Chase saw it was a jersey signed by Messi, his eyes gleamed, but he pushed it back with feigned hesitation.

"Isn't this jersey part of Ethan's private collection? Never mind. I don't want to take something he treasures."

"Put it on." Serena shoved it into his arms. Her words were stern, but her voice was openly flirtatious. "Getting bold, are we? Are you really going to argue with me?"

Only then did I realize it was the jersey I had treasured for seven years. I stared at her in disbelief.

"Why did you touch it without telling me? You know how much it means to me."

Serena only frowned, without a trace of apology.

"To you, it's just an old shirt sitting in a closet. For Chase, it's a crucial boost for his future."

Why did I always have to give in just because she favored him?

I was about to step forward and take the jersey back when a staff member hurried in to announce that the match was about to start.

The staff and the other players kept glancing at us with curiosity, so I had no choice but to swallow my feelings.

"Coming."

Maybe Serena sensed she had wronged me, because she patted my hand and said soothingly, "I'll buy you a better one later."

Chase changed into my jersey and brushed past me, smug.

"Thanks, Ethan. All my luck comes from you."

Serena walked out side by side with him, and people started whispering.

"Isn’t that Serena Whitmore, the heiress who’s supposed to take over the Whitmore Group? Are she and Chase... together?"

"Uh, but I thought she and Ethan Lawson were about to get married..."

A wave of gasps went around the room.

"Looks like there’s a new groom."

I said it with a blank face and walked out.

The two of them stuck together this closely everywhere they went, so everyone assumed they were the couple. Serena had told me not to care what other people thought.

"You're the one I love. You should know that better than anyone."

I had foolishly believed her for three years. Now, hearing this kind of gossip again, I felt almost numb.

Midway through the match, Serena took a work call.

When she looked up again, she saw another player go in for a slide tackle and accidentally trip Chase.

The next second, Serena ran onto the field like a madwoman.

"Chase! How's your leg?!"

She pulled Chase into her arms, then turned and shouted at me.

"Ethan, why didn't you look out for him?"

"Chase isn't like you. You only play soccer to entertain clients. You know perfectly well his legs are the foundation of his career, and you just let him get hurt?!"

It was clearly someone else's mistake, yet she pinned the blame on me without even asking what had happened.

The unfair accusation burned through my insides.

Fortunately, the team doctor examined him and confirmed it was only a minor surface injury. Only then did Serena breathe a sigh of relief and realize she had lost her composure.

She let go of Chase's waist and reached for my hand instead, apologizing awkwardly.

"Sorry, babe. I was just too worried."

I shot her a cold glance and walked back onto the field.

Her fingertips closed on empty air, and she froze for a moment.

But once the whistle blew and play resumed, that flutter of unease quickly faded. Her eyes locked onto Chase again, and she started cheering for him.

In the end, my decisive goal won the match.

Chase didn't score once that day, while I scored three goals in a row.

"Come on, let's go celebrate! Ms. Whitmore spent a fortune on a party. She says it's for Chase heading off to play professionally abroad, so it's a celebration for him too."

In the locker room, two teammates I got along with crowded around me, grinning.

Once I heard what kind of party it was, I didn't want to go.

But it was my last chance to hang out with them before I left for the pros, so after a moment's hesitation, I nodded.

"You guys go ahead. I’ve got something to take care of."

Once the locker room was empty, I called the club manager, explained the situation, told him I was leaving the team, and asked him to keep it quiet for now.

Then I checked in with my assistant on how things were going.

"Mr. Lawson, the files will be sorted out soon. I'll send them to your email discreetly in a bit."

I nodded, then video called the manager of my new team to confirm the check-in process. While I was at it, I sent over footage of my three goals from today.

"No wonder Messi recommended you so strongly. Those goals were outstanding! Oh, and we'll officially announce your signing in six days."

The manager turned the camera, and to my surprise, Leo appeared on the screen, beaming.

"Back then, I watched you play for ten minutes on a street in that run-down London neighborhood, and you blew me away. I'm glad you didn't give up on soccer all these years. Ethan, your place to stay is all set up. Can't wait to see you!"

A rush of warmth swept away the gloom of the past few days, and I laughed out loud.

"I can't wait to get out on the field with everyone either."

"Oh, and next month we have a friendly against River Plate. Could you put me on the roster?"

Chase's biggest dream was also to play alongside Messi. When he found out I had taken the very thing he wanted and couldn't get, what would his face look like?

And then, I would crush his dream of playing professionally abroad myself.