Chapter 339 A Narrow Escape

The pace quickened as the racers surged toward the finish line.

Santiago and Kayden launched off the slope, eyes locked on Tilda and Mystro still ahead.

The gap was closing, and they knew this was the moment to go all in.

They both accelerated hard.

On a downhill like this, one slip in control could mean disaster, but winning was all that mattered.

From the front, Tilda caught the sound of skis tearing faster behind her.

A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed it.

Santiago and Kayden were barreling straight toward them, recklessly pushing their speed.

"They're coming up. Should we push harder?" Mystro gestured with a signal only seasoned skiers would recognize.

Tilda shook her head. "Ignore them. We stick to our rhythm."

Holding first place meant no reason to panic.

Instead, it was Kayden and Santiago who were desperate.

Pushing that hard could only drain focus and control.

One wrong move could ruin everything.

Tilda knew.

Kayden was cautious, controlled—mistakes were rare.

But Santiago, proud and reckless, had at least a 90% chance of cracking under this kind of pressure.

It was kind of ironic.

In her previous life, Tilda had studied every mood, every flaw, every strength of the Jensons just to win their approval.

Now, all that knowledge had become her greatest weapon.

Tilda waited in silence, steady as a hunter lying in ambush, certain her opponents would make the first mistake.

Santiago’s focus narrowed to a single point as the gap between him and Tilda shrank.

He didn’t even dare to blink.

They were so close now. Tilda and Mystro hadn’t picked up speed on the downhill—cowards.

But the finish line was right ahead.

He had to push harder.

If he didn’t push harder, they would cross before he could catch them.

The thought ignited his instincts, and without realizing it, Santiago pushed for even more speed.

Then pain ripped through his wrist.

His control faltered in an instant, his technique breaking apart.

Damn it.

The thought barely formed before Santiago threw himself into a defensive roll.

His body tumbled across the snow, thrashing wildly as his ski pole flew from his hand.

And just his luck….

Of all directions, it had to arc straight toward Tilda.

The crowd watching the live drone feed erupted in a gasp.

At this speed, a direct hit could have been lethal.

Was Santiago trying to take her out on purpose?

“Tilda!” Mystro noticed and shouted.

Tilda’s eyes narrowed. Planting her own pole into the snow, she vaulted sideways in a clean, sharp hop and slid back into line, dodging the strike with inches to spare.

It was such a close call.

The crowd exhaled in relief, the tension breaking all at once.

“Santiago!”

Kayden’s chest tightened as he saw Santiago crash. He forced himself into a hard stop on the slope and cut away from the race to get to Santiago.

Meanwhile, Tilda and Mystro never looked back.

They crossed the finish line cleanly, taking first place.

Kayden abandoned the race and rushed straight to Santiago’s side.

“Are you okay?”

“It hurts a little, but it’s nothing serious,” Santiago muttered.

He’d reacted on instinct, shielding the vital spots just in time.

The snow softened the impact, making the fall far less brutal.

Compared to the wreck he’d had on the Rocky Mountains course, this was nothing.

Without that cushion, tumbling downhill at that speed would have been certain death.

The medics arrived within seconds, strapping Santiago onto a stretcher.

They then rushed him toward the infirmary.

Kayden glanced once toward the finish line, where Tilda and Mystro stood. Then he turned away.

Right now, Santiago’s injuries came first.

At the finishing line, Mystro leaned closer and spoke quietly, “You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”

“Of course. The Jensons never understood me. But I know them inside out.

“Funny, isn’t it? What I once thought was family turned out to be the ones who hurt me more than anyone else ever could.

“A fall like that won’t kill Santiago,” Tilda said in a light and detached tone.

There was a clarity in her voice, as if she had already seen through all of it.

Whatever bonds she had once craved from the Jensons were gone.

The only thought she carried now was to push Kyla into play like the pawn she was.

And then wait for the Jensons to taste ruin, a downfall so crushing it would be worse than death.

That was the only satisfaction worth holding onto.

“Tilda, if you ever feel like talking, I’ll be here. I’m a listener you can count on.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, then fine. I’ll just keep believing the Jensons were nothing but bullies to you.

“And if we ever run into them, even if we can’t take them down, there’s no reason to show mercy.”

“You really are the best, Mystro. You always know exactly what I need. Love you.” She playfully raised her hand, fingers forming a heart.

Meanwhile, Kayden stayed with Santiago in the infirmary.

After treatment, the doctors confirmed it was nothing serious—just some bruises and surface cuts.

With disinfectant and fresh bandages, he was cleared to rest.

Kayden pressed his lips together. “Stay here for now. I’ll go check on things outside.”