Elliot stepped into the ring, his bare torso glistening under the dim lights, fists wrapped in worn bandages. The crowd roared, but his attention was on the sponsor seats. That’s when he saw her—a new face. She sat with calm confidence, her sharp eyes locked on him, a faint, almost amused smirk tugging at her lips.

The bell rang, and Elliot’s focus snapped back to the fight. His opponent lunged, but Elliot moved with precision, dodging every strike and landing punishing blows. Within moments, the match was over, his opponent on the mat. The referee raised his arm in victory as the crowd erupted.

Sweating and breathless, Elliot glanced up at the sponsor seats. She was still watching, her smirk now slightly deeper, her gaze cutting through the chaos as if she saw right through him. Elliot turned away, unease settling in his chest. He didn’t know who she was, but her presence felt like the start of something he couldn’t escape.