Katherine's POV:

Of everyone staring at me Cameron looked the most anxious. Probably afraid I would say something to upset Marilyn. He gave me a silent warning glare.

The way he was being so careful made the pit in my stomach deepen.

I hesitated for a moment, forced a light smile, and replied, “Of course.”

Once I break up with Cameron, I’ll withdraw my support from the team.

At that point, whether Marilyn decided to come back or not would be none of my concern.

The crowd seemed pleased with my answer, erupting into cheers.

Cameron even flashed me a smile, almost as if it were charity.

I didn’t respond; instead, I lowered my head and poured myself a drink.

Marilyn stood up amid the cheers.

“Since Ms. Katherine welcomes me back, I guess I’m part of the team now.” She raised her glass and said to Cameron, “According to our team's tradition, the captain must drink five shots to welcome a newcomer!”

The others cheered him on as Marilyn tilted her head, smiling sweetly. “But Cameron, given our history, you have to take ten!”

I instinctively opened my mouth to intervene.

But Rex beat me to it, saying, “Cameron had stomach surgery four years ago; he can’t hold his liquor.”

Cameron, however, wasn’t having it; he was more focused on making Marilyn happy.

“It's fine,” he told Rex, then turned to Marilyn. “To welcome Marilyn back, I’ll do ten shots.”

He was completely insane!

“Wait a minute,” I couldn’t hold back any longer. “How about three shots? You have a race next week; you can’t go overboard.”

Even if he wasn't my boyfriend anymore, he was still on my team, and I had a duty to mitigate any risks for the team's sake.

Cameron’s expression darkened.

Marilyn slammed her glass down on the floor.

Everyone stared, shock written all over their faces.

Marilyn looked down at me, her tone icy. “What’s it to you, old woman? This is between me and Cameron. Even if you are the coach, it’s none of your business!”

No one laughed. No one objected. A few shifted uncomfortably in their seats, eyes dropping to their drinks. No one spoke up.

And I knew exactly where I stood.

“I heard you’re thirty this year,” she went on, lips curling. “Why don’t you let us young folks have our fun? If you can’t hang, then just step aside.”

Her outright rudeness ignited my anger.

Rex seemed to notice the shift in my expression and stood up to mediate. “Marilyn, Ms. Katherine didn’t mean it that way. As our coach, she’s concerned.”

“What does she know about being a coach? She’s just some rich kid with a few bucks!” Marilyn’s insults pushed further.

She turned to Cameron, finally voicing what had seemed to be brewing in her mind for a long time, “Cameron, what’s with bringing your girlfriend around to ruin our reunion? Now that you have a girlfriend, you’re ditching our brotherhood, huh?”

She was baiting me, but I didn’t rise to it. Coming from a prestigious family, I wasn’t one to stoop to her level. I took a deep breath and tried to keep it polite.

“Marilyn, there’s no need to be so confrontational,” I said, laying the sweetness on thick. “As a coach, I’m responsible for the health of each athlete on the team.”

Marilyn laughed, then shifted closer to Cameron, rewriting the story as she went. “Cameron, you need to make a choice right now: are you going to listen to your girlfriend, or are you going to listen to me? Ten shots, and not one less.”

“Well…” Cameron looked between us, visibly panicked.

Marilyn leaned in. “If you don’t drink today, don’t be surprised if I get mad at you.”

At that, Cameron laughed as he tried to appease Marilyn. “Fine, I’ll drink! Ten shots, no problem!”

He poured himself another drink while Marilyn smirked at me like a peacock preening.

I kept quiet, watching Cameron drink shot after shot.

With each one he downed, Marilyn cheered him on, counting along.

Eventually, Cameron started clutching his stomach.

After ten shots, he finally couldn’t take it anymore and dashed toward the bathroom.

Marilyn and I raced after him. While making our way to the restroom, Marilyn bumped into someone. She looked up and froze.

“Brad?”

Brad’s face shifted the moment he saw Marilyn. He immediately pulled her aside. Thinking they were catching up, I continued to the bathroom.

Inside, Cameron was bent over the sink, shoulders shaking, retching dryly. His face had gone gray.

I grabbed a glass of water from the waiter and gently patted his back as I handed it to him. “Here, drink some water.”

He turned his head, his eyes red from discomfort and glistening with moisture.

Looking at me, he said softly, “I know why you’re upset. You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

For a moment, I got lost in his tenderness, letting out an exasperated sigh.

Just as I was about to speak, he called me “Marilyn.” An icy chill ran through me, and I nearly dropped the glass.

He was drunk and had mistaken me for Marilyn.

“Marilyn,” he continued, “you like me too, don’t you? When you turned me down before, you rejected me for being a virgin, but now I have experience!”

He was looking at me, but he wasn’t seeing me. Just her.

He laughed softly, rambling. “I know how to be in a relationship now, how to make a girl happy, and I’m no slouch in bed!”

Each word landed like a bruise.

“I’ve practiced everything you wanted,” he went on. “If you agree to be with me, I’ll break up with Katherine right away!”

My chest tightened as I took a step away from him.

“Did you know? Katherine asked me to marry her,” he added, almost proud. “I don’t want to marry her; the one I like—no—the one I love is you!”

“Marilyn,” he whispered, pulling me into his arms. “I love you!”

The sadness washed over me. Despite being so close to him, my heart ached like never before.

I’d thought I had grown immune to his words but hearing him profess his love for another woman sent waves of hurt crashing over me.

Tears fell as I couldn’t help but ask, “If you love Ms. Marilyn, why have you been acting like you love me all these years?”

Deep down, I already knew the answer.

It wasn’t that Cameron was a great actor; it was that I had been in denial.

He would bring me roses but forgot that I was allergic to shellfish.

He would gently help me into high heels but couldn’t see the blisters they left on my feet.

He’d make wild love to me on Valentine’s Day but always missed my birthday.

If he truly loved me, how could he overlook those details?

Only now, witnessing how he loved Marilyn, did I feel fully awake and utterly heartbroken.

“Don’t worry,” I told the drunken version of him, “Ms. Katherine isn’t proposing anymore; she’s going to marry someone else.”

Then, suddenly, a distant voice yelled an insult.

“Marilyn, you bitch!”

Marilyn’s name seemed to strike a chord, and Cameron rushed out the door without a second thought.

From afar, I saw Marilyn being choked by Brad, and a slap was thrown.

What was happening?

I hurried over, but before I could reach them, I saw Cameron storming in, throwing a punch at Brad.

It would be a serious matter if team members got into a fight like this!

If things escalated, some could even get suspended!

“Cameron, Mr. Brad, don’t be rash!” I yelled desperately.

Brad ignored me and fixed his gaze on Cameron, lashing out even harsher. “Cameron, only you treat this woman like gold. She’s been used up; you’ve been played!”

“No, I haven’t! Cameron, I swear!” Marilyn cried out in despair. “Make Brad shut up!”

Cameron, in a fit of anger, lunged at Brad.

Before long, they were locked in a scuffle.

Other team members rushed in to separate them.

Finally, after much effort, they pulled the two apart, but Marilyn had fainted, for reasons unknown.

Cameron panicked and rushed to catch her.

“Get her to the hospital!”

At that moment, Brad, having picked himself up from the ground, noticed me.

He suddenly grabbed a bottle and swung it at me. “If you’re going to try kill me, Cameron,” he snarled. “Then I’ll just take your girlfriend out with me!”

“Cameron!” I shouted in terror as I saw the raised bottle and bolted towards him, yelling, “Cameron, help me!”