Love Died in the Ring

Theres an unwritten rule in New Yorks underground fight clubs.

The final round is a fight to the death.

The winner walks out alive.

The loser leaves in a body bag.

Everyone thought Id be the one walking out safe.

After all, for six straight months, my name had been solid at the top of the leaderboard.

But I never expected to see Tyler Vance step into the ring.

He was my mentor.

The man who taught me every punch, every feint, every finishing move.

Fighting him was suicide.

The moment the whistle blew, a barrage of brutal, merciless strikes rained down on me.

With a sickening crack of my ribs, I crashed heavily to the canvas.

As the referee declared the match over, I heard Tyler let out a soft sigh.

"Yesterday was Chloes birthday. She wanted to see me beat you just once."

"Her health is failing. The doctors said she might not make it to her next birthday."

"I had to grant her this one last wish."

Below the ring, Chloe Sinclair sat in her wheelchair. Her cheeks were flush with color, a smug smile playing on her lips.

I lay on the cold floor, my chest barely moving. Even breathing was agony.

I didnt know if Chloe would survive until next year.

But I knew for a fact that I wouldnt survive the next three days.

***

###

The deafening roar of the crowd cut off instantly.

The referee gently placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Can you get up, Aria?"

Lying there, I felt my shattered rib pierce into my lung.

Every word I gasped out felt like swallowing glass.

"Let it go, Marcus."

Losing to Tyler was a bitter pill, but I accepted it.

After all, surviving in this cutthroat place for so long was entirely thanks to the moves he had taught me.

Just last night, too excited to sleep, I had climbed up to the rooftop of the gym.

The sky was filled with stars.

Through my headphones, I could hear his deep, comforting breathing.

My heart had been pounding like a drum, my voice trembling with hope.

"Tomorrow is my final fight. Will you be there to watch?"

I wanted Tyler to witness my ultimate victory.

A soft chuckle had drifted from the other end of the line.

"Of course I will."

He kept his word. He actually came.

He personally replaced my opponent, personally stepped into the ring, and personally signed my death warrant.

Tyler unstrapped his gloves, a few minor scratches on his handsome face from our brief struggle.

He extended a long, vein-defined hand toward me.

"Stop being dramatic. Get up. The ring is no place to show weakness."

"Cough, cough..."

Just as I was about to reach for his hand, Chloes sharp coughing cut through the air.

She hunched over, trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Tylers brows furrowed instantly. He vaulted over the ropes without a second thought, rushing to her side to wrap a cashmere shawl around her shoulders.

"The smell of blood is too strong here. Youre too weak to handle this. Lets get you out."

His voice sounded reprimanding, but it was dripping with pure indulgence.

"I told you not to come. If you wanted to know the result, I could have just texted you."

"When have I ever broken a promise to you?"

He cradled Chloe protectively in his arms. As they reached the exit, he glanced back at me over his shoulder.

"Stop playing dead. I pulled my punches. I know exactly how hard I hit."

"I know youre just mad that I broke your winning streak."

"Ill pick you up tomorrow and take you to that steakhouse you love."

He was doing what he always didtrying to brush our conflicts under the rug with a free meal.

I closed my eyes.

But this time, it was different.

After they left, Coach Marcus helped me limp off the stage, begging me to go to the hospital.

When I peeled off my shirt, my torso was covered in horrific, dark bruises.

***

###

The purple-and-black bruising looked absolutely terrifying.

Tylers punches had been exceptionally heavy today.

I splashed some rubbing alcohol over the cuts and tightly wrapped a compression bandage around my chest.

Only then did I find the strength to speak.

"I dont have many days left anyway. Lets not waste the money."

"I need to save every penny for Grandma Eleanors medical bills."

I cast my eyes down, forcing a weak smile.

In my head, I began calculating the remaining balance on my card, wondering if it was enough to cover Grandmas next few rounds of chemotherapy.

Suddenly, my phone lit up with a push notification.

The cover photo of the trending article showed Tyler carrying Chloe in his arms out of the fight arena.

The headline was massive and eye-catching:

*Sparks Fly: Billionaire Heir Tyler Vance and Chloe Sinclair Take Their Romance Public!*

Whether intentionally or not, Chloe had liked the post on Instagram before quickly unliking it.

Marcus stood beside me, his voice cracking with rage.

"These damn paparazzi keep making up lies! Youre Tyler's actual girlfriend! Shes just a"

I flipped my phone face down on the table, a bitter taste in my mouth.

"They come from the same social circle. They look good together. Its a perfect match."

While I sat there dazed, the door to the locker room was slammed open.

One of our neighbors stood there, panting and frantic.

"Aria, this is bad!"

"The Sinclair Group just bought out the Riverside District. Theyre tearing the whole neighborhood down to build luxury condos, and they're forcing everyone out."

"Your grandma... they threw her out on the street!"

I stood up so fast that a sharp, stabbing pain shot through my chest, making me gasp.

After taking a few seconds to catch my breath, I threw on a jacket and sprinted out.

The sky outside was heavy and gray, threatening to snow at any second.

When I arrived home, the street was in utter chaos.

Grandma was sitting on the freezing ground. Our few pieces of cheap furniture had been smashed to splinters.

Several men in sharp suits were pinning Grandmas hand down, trying to force her thumbprint onto a contract.

"Get your hands off her!"

I grabbed a broken broom handle and swung it wildly at them, forcing them to back off as I threw myself protectively over Grandma.

In the scuffle, the contract fluttered to the ground, stained with dirty boot prints.

I looked down at it. The compensation line read a glaring, mocking **$0**.

Rage boiled in my veins. I glared at the suits.

"This is robbery!"

A neighbor opened their door and peeked out.

"Aria, just tell your grandma to sign it. The five-hundred-thousand buyout is enough to pay for her hospital bills."

My brain went numb. My voice was dry.

"What five-hundred-thousand buyout?"

The neighbor looked confused.

"The relocation package. The Sinclair Group is offering that same flat rate to everyone in the neighborhood."

I turned my glaring eyes to the lead suit.

"Why is ours zero?"

The man sneered, adjusting his tie.

"You only have yourself to blame for crossing the wrong person. Consider this a lesson in respect."

"I suggest you sign it quietly. Otherwise, with how sick your old lady is, I doubt she can survive us hounding her every day."

My heart sank into a dark abyss.

The person I shouldn't have crossed... the Sinclair Group.

"Was this Chloes idea?"

The men didn't deny it. Their silence was answer enough.

I remembered the night Tyler proposed to me. Chloe, who had always been perfectly healthy, suddenly fell critically ill and was rushed to the ICU.

The entire Sinclair family went into a frenzy.

When the call came in, Tyler was in the middle of fastening his familys heirloom diamond necklace around my neck.

"Chloe is in trouble."

Leaving me with only those words, he turned and ran without looking back.

When I saw him the next day, that exact necklace was already hanging around Chloes neck.

Tyler had stood in front of her like a shield, treating me as if I were some kind of monster.

"Chloe fell in love with the necklace. Im just letting her wear it for a bit."

***

###

Seeing that I didnt respond, his expression had darkened.

"Since when did you become so petty? She's a dying girl, Aria. Don't pick a fight with her."

Chloe had grabbed my hand, her other hand gently stroking the diamond pendant.

"I dont have much time left anyway, Aria. Please don't be mad at me."

Her voice was incredibly fragile, but her sharp fingernails dug deep into my palm, leaving bloody crescent marks.

It was on that day that I fully realized Chloes sick obsession with Tyler.

She hated me. She hated that I, a nobody, had taken her place.

But I never imagined her hatred would drive her to put me and my family on a literal death path.

After the suits left, I turned around and slowly helped Grandma off the cold ground.

As we walked into the ruined house, the distant sky suddenly erupted with brilliant, dazzling fireworks.

It was beautiful and grand.

I looked up, noticing that the first snow of the year had quietly started to fall.

Back in late autumn, Tyler had held my hand and made a promise.

"When the first snow falls, Im going to throw the most magnificent fireworks show for you."

"I want the whole city to witness our happiness."

Now, the snow was falling.

But the fireworks and the man no longer belonged to me.

Due to the extreme shock, Grandma ran a dangerously high fever that very night.

Left with no other choice, my hands shook violently as I dialed Tylers number.

The phone rang for a long time before he finally picked up.

"Tyler, Grandma is..."

Before I could finish, his exhausted, irritated voice cut me off.

"Are you seriously using the 'Grandma is sick' excuse again to make me come over?"

"Aria, this trick is getting really old."

The rest of my words choked in my throat, completely blocked.

Tyler continued, "Chloe is just finishing her bath. She cant sleep lately without me reading to her."

"Have some decency and show some compassion to a dying girl. Stop throwing these pathetic tantrums."

I lowered my head, hot tears splashing onto the back of my hand one by one.

I still remembered the very first time I stepped into the underground ring. I had been beaten to a pulp.

When I was dragged off the canvas, my face was swollen beyond recognition.

As I huddled in a dark corner of the locker room, a clean white handkerchief was suddenly offered to me.

Tyler had stood there, blocking the harsh overhead light, his voice softer than silk.

"Clean yourself up."

After that, he was the one who applied my ointment, accompanied me to visit Grandma, and taught me how to use my bodys leverage to deliver the most devastating punches.

After my first win, he had pulled my head into his chest in front of everyone, his warm breath tickling my ear.

"From now on, you can lean on me."

I actually believed him.

Looking back now, I was such a fool.

Grandma lay on the bed, her breath growing hotter and more labored by the minute.

I wiped away my tears, walked outside, and pulled out our old, rusty utility cart. I lined it with a thick blanket.

Then, gritting my teeth through the agonizing pain in my chest, I carried Grandma on my back and laid her gently in the cart.

The snow on the road was thick and heavy.

I dragged the cart, my boots sinking deep into the snow with every agonizing step.

By the time we reached the hospital doors, I had completely lost all sensation in my limbs.

A team of doctors rushed out to wheel her in.

Soon, the red light of the operating room turned on.

I leaned against the wall, my eyes staring blankly at the door.

The snow on my shoulders had melted into freezing water, soaking through my thin jacket.

Thankfully, the doctor's words gave me a glimmer of hope when he walked out.

"Weve stabilized her for now, but she needs to start the next phase of treatment immediately."

My heart hammered with anxiety.

"How much will the subsequent treatment cost?"

"Around a hundred thousand dollars."

I let out a sigh of relief.

***

###

Over the past two years, I had barely taken a break, fighting match after match.

The money I had saved up was just enough to cover the hundred thousand.

When I entered the ward, Grandma had already regained consciousness.

"Aria... Grandma is a burden to you again."

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.

I pulled out my bank card and tucked it safely under her pillow.

"Grandma, use this card to pay for your treatments. When Im not here, you have to take good care of yourself."

The next day, while waiting in line at the hospital pharmacy, I bumped into Chloe.

"Oh, Aria. What a coincidence."

"I had a slight headache last night, but Tyler insisted on bringing me to the hospital for a full checkup today."

I clenched my jaw, refusing to engage with her.

But when I returned to the ward, my heart stopped. Grandma was lying on the cold floor, having fallen out of bed.

"Grandma!"

Grandmas hands were shaking violently, and she was crying hysterically, clutching her head in distress.

I grabbed her hands, my stomach dropping.

"What happened?"

Tears poured down her wrinkled face as her lips trembled.

"Some men... they broke into the room just now and took the card."

"Its my fault... Im so useless! I couldn't protect your hard-earned money!"

She kept sobbing, her face pale with helplessness and despair.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My vision began to go black.

Grandma grabbed my arm, her eyes filled with terror.

"They were the same men... the ones who came to tear down our house yesterday!"

I instantly pictured Chloes smug smile downstairs.

It was her!

I turned and bolted out of the room.

In the distance, I spotted the familiar silhouette in the wheelchair.

"Chloe Sinclair!"

I ran up to her, my eyes bloodshot, and demanded, "Give me my card back!"

She tilted her head, her face a mask of sweet innocence.

"Aria? What are you talking about? I don't understand."

"Stop lying!"

I grabbed the armrest of her wheelchair, begging desperately, "Do whatever you want to me! I dont care about Tyler anymore, you can have him! Just give me my money back!"

"Please, I need that money to save my grandma!"

She stared at me for a second. Suddenly, her eyes welled with tears, and her shoulders began to shake.

"Aria... youre scaring me..."

The next second, a powerful force shoved me violently to the side.

Tyler grabbed my arm, his eyes burning with pure fury.

"You really never learn, do you? Harassing Chloe at the hospital?"

"I guess I went too easy on you in the ring yesterday."

I let out a hollow laugh that sent a stabbing pain through my chest. I looked at him with dead, empty eyes.

"I just want her to give my money back."

Tylers brow furrowed.

"You lost your money?"

"If your money is gone, you can earn it back. Why the hell are you taking it out on Chloe?"

I wrenched my arm out of his grip, screaming in absolute despair, "There is no time! I don't have the time to earn it back!"

Tylers temper flared, and he slapped me hard across the face.

"What do you mean 'no time'?"

"Ive spoiled you for too long, and now youve just gotten lazy!"

"Youre nothing but a pathetic piece of trash!"

Once, he had called me a wild flowerresilient, unique, and beautiful. He said that was why he fell for me.

Now, he called me trash.

I swallowed the metallic taste of blood rising in my throat.

He turned and began pushing Chloes wheelchair away.

"I am so incredibly disappointed in you, Aria."

My body went rigid, but I didn't miss the fleeting look of triumph in Chloes eyes.

And there, slipping slightly from the sleeve of her coat, was a flash of my familiar blue bank card.