All Chapters of SHATTERED ICE:One rink, bound by betrayal : Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

Anthony’s POVThe courtroom felt impossibly cold, even though the air was heavy with tension. The kind of cold that sinks into your chest and makes your bones ache. I sat at the defendant’s table, staring down at my hands. My lawyer, Mr. Daniels, was beside me, flipping through papers, calm and methodical. Across the room, I could see her, Celeste. She looked composed, flawless even, like nothing in the world could touch her. But her eyes were sharp, calculating, full of purpose, and for the first time in a long time, I felt that knot in my stomach tighten.The judge entered, rapping the gavel once. “Court is now in session. We will hear the case of Celeste Harrison versus Anthony Vale.”I exhaled slowly, trying to calm the tightness in my chest. The whispers of the courtroom settled as the clerk read the claim.I turned to look at Isaac who was seated at the back, his posture straight, his expression calm in that way that always made it seem like he was ten steps ahead of everyon

Anthony’s POV I could see Celeste’s lips curl slightly, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She was confident, assured, ready for this to go her way. I had to stay calm. I had to hold steady.Mr. Daniels continued with care, “Mr. Carter, is it not true that any fall in figure skating, particularly during high-risk throws, carries inherent risk for both athletes? That even the most careful execution can still result in injury?”“Yes,” he said, though Carter added quickly, “but proper timing reduces risk.”“Correct,” Daniels said, nodding slightly. “And is it possible that Anthony was fully prepared, performing as trained, but the risk inherent to the maneuver still resulted in an accident?”Mr. Carter paused again, then nodded slowly. “It is possible.”I allowed myself a tiny exhale, just small, almost unnoticeable. Another small crack in the wall of accusations.Daniels pressed on, softly, deliberately, “Mr. Carter, you mentioned watching the footage and noting that Anthony’s reactio

Anthony's POVCeleste sat rigid in her chair, her face pale but her eyes hard, unyielding.Mr. Daniels leaned slightly toward me and whispered, “Anthony, the evidence is clear. Stay calm. Let the truth speak.”Then the final piece of evidence was introduced: the official record of the performance. The timestamped footage, the exact angles, and the slow-motion playback. I leaned forward, watching as the panel followed along.“The critical moment is at 2:43 of the routine,” Daniels explained. “You can see Celeste adjusting the jump. Anthony reacts as fast as possible. The landing is altered by her movement. This is not a failure of Anthony’s skills, but a result of the split-second adjustment.”The panel members nodded, murmuring quietly among themselves. The judge scribbled notes. My chest loosened. This was what I had been hoping for. The truth was visible, undeniable in the video.“Based on all evidence, it is clear,” Daniels concluded, “that Anthony Vale performed as expected under

Anthony's POVAnother reporter spoke up, raising his voice just enough to cut through the noise.“You both recently attended a festival in Paris. How was that experience, especially with everything happening around you? There were a lot of eyes on you during that time. Did the situation affect your focus at all?”Samantha answered this one.“It was an honor to represent our country,” she said. “No matter what is happening outside the rink, when we step onto the ice, we focus on our performance. That is what we did in Paris.”She spoke smoothly, like she had already decided what mattered and what did not. Like nothing had shaken her.I nodded. “We gave our best,” I added. “That is always the goal. Every time we step out there, we are not thinking about anything else. Just the routine. Just the execution.”Another reporter leaned forward quickly.“Are you satisfied with your performance there? Do you feel you delivered what was expected despite the pressure?”For a brief second, my mind

The television in Isaac's office was too loud.Samantha could hear it from the hallway, the sharp voices of sports commentators filling the small space like water filling a tank. She stood just outside the door for a moment, her hand resting on the frame, her skating bag still hanging off her shoulder. She had driven to Westview Arena on autopilot. She didn't remember three of the four traffic lights she had passed on the way here.She pushed the door open.Isaac was behind his desk, phone pressed to his ear, two fingers raised at her in greeting without looking up. His other hand was moving across a notepad, scribbling something fast. He was in his element. That much was clear. Isaac was always most alive when things were about to happen.Coach Cole stood near the window with his arms crossed. He was a tall man and he always looked slightly too big for indoor spaces. He gave Samantha a small nod when she came in. She nodded back.Anthony was already there, sitting in the chair clos