Chapter 46: road to gold (part 1)

Russell's POV
I heard that, but I keep on dashing toward the end and make sure that I won't be distracted. I know the emergency team will help that man if he didn't continue to compete throughout this round.
The whistle is the sign that the first round had ended. We have 16 events and I’ll make sure I will give my best. I raise my head and inhaled deeply.
"Congratulations everyone! Let's all see the result!" We turn around and look at the scoring monitor.
They already aligned the top 3 of our batch. I smiled and I feel proud of what I have achieved. My time is 30.7 seconds.
"Congratulations to Mr. Maxwell! I guess his wife's finger heart is the lucky charm, eh?" they tease. That made me laugh. We all step out of the pool and we bow to each other.
I ran towards them and smile at her. We have a high five and then I face coach Fallon.
"Good job," he says. I smiled.
"Thanks, coach. I know you have worried yourself and yet... you are still here cheering for us," I stated. He laughs.
"No problem, I'm coach Fallon. I won't back down," he says. That made me smile.
"Congrats, son." I smiled at my dad. They all congratulated me. When everyone had finished.
"Congrats, love. You are still number one. You will be moving for the next round!"
Simone says and gives me a kiss. It was caught by the camera and she hide behind my back after that. Everyone laughs, but for me? This is my best competition throughout my journey as a swimmer athlete.
We all eat together in an expensive restaurant. "Here," Haven said. I move my face closer to Simone's ears.
"They are dating, right?" I mumbled. She laughs.
"You already know the answer. Why are you even mumbling?" she asks.
"Oh, I’m sorry." Steven and Haven laugh because they knew it was them who he's talking about.
"Cheers for today's competition!" dad proposes a toast. We all raise our glasses and had a toast.
"Cheers!" we all said. We drink our wine and the dinner was filled with sweet laughter.
"At last, home!" I whispered and jump onto the bed. I was startled when she hold my feet and takes off my shoes. She also grabs my coat and takes them off me.
"Thank you, Simone." She smiled.
"Go and take some rest. Good night, love." She gave me a quick kiss and my eyes closed on their own. I'm really tired.
I moaned, and the sun's light hurts my eyes as soon as I opened them. "Good morning," she murmurs and kisses my jawline.
"Morning, love." I turn around and saw that its already 7 am.
"We're late!" I whispered. She laughs.
"Your dad will take care of the company and all you have to do is to rest and get ready for your competitions. Relax," she says.
"I see. I will do that then. I will bring the gold for the country and my cheerleaders," I remark.
"Of course, you should." That made me laugh.
"You and your arrogance," I stated. She laughs.
"I will make breakfast. What do you want?" she asks.
"Anything because you're a good cook anyway," I replied.
"Alright then."
She stood up and left me in our room. I took a shower, and that's when I saw Vivian's name on my phone. She's calling. I answered, and I heard her voice yelling to a maid.
"What a noise," I spoke.
"Oh, at last! Tell me, did you send a doll with blood on it?!" I laugh.
"Why would I? Maybe your ghost had come to kill you," I mock. I know it's Simone.
"I haven’t watched the flash drive yet, but whoever gives it, I will send black roses in his or her coffin!" I rolled my eyes.
"Shut up! You're calling me for nonsense."
I ended the call and flip my phone. I don't care even if she calls a thousand times. What a stupid psycho! I put on my shirt and left our room. I better help my wife instead.
Simone's POV
When I saw Vivian's message on me and to coach Fallon, I can't stop smiling. It looked like my childish prank had gotten on her nerves.
"You deserve it, bitch!" I shouted on my screen.
I continued working and went off when Russell's competition had come. For the next events, he flawlessly wins them. He maintained that 30 seconds in every meter dash. I'm really proud of my husband’s success.
"Congratulation, love!" I hug him. He laughs.
"We are now in the semi-finals!" I jump off as I hug him tightly.
"Congratulations, son-in-law." I smiled at daddy Alberto.
"Thanks, daddy Alberto. I'm so proud of you, son." I hug my mom and smiled at her.
"I know, mom. I love you," I mumbled.
"I love you too, son." Dad look at me and he hugged me first.
"I'm happy I listened to your wife and mom. Thank you so much for making me a proud dad, son." I smiled and finally, I heard those words from daddy.
"Thank you, dad. Finally," I stated. Coach Fallon looks at me.
"Let's grab the gold this time," he says. I smiled and nod.
"Of course, coach. We will grab that gold," I stated.
They smiled. In the parking lot, I decided to talk to Mrs. Fallon and my coach.
"Is there a problem, Russell?" Mrs. Fallon asks. I look at them.
"I know Vivian had been bugging you guys because of my family issues, and I feel bad about it. I hope everything is okay in your household?" I ask.
"Don't worry about us. Thanks to your wife, we are secured and we know that Vivian won't hurt our son. Just focus on the game, okay?" she says. I smiled.
"Thank you, Mrs. Fallon. When we fixed everything, I will repay you for the sacrifices that you guys gave for us," I promised. They laugh.
"We are family, Russell. Don't think about it. Plus, you are not a burden to us. No matter what happens, let's prove your talent to the world, okay?" he says. I nod and smile.
"Thanks, coach. Be safe on your way home," I say. We turn around when we saw my car was blasted like what you can see in movies.
"Simone!" Haven screamed and we all run and my body starts to feel numb.
"What happened?!" I ask.
"She started the car and all of a sudden!" Haven is trembling and Steven holds her.
"No! This is just a joke!" I screamed.
"Simone!" I called. My mom passed out.
"Alma!" dad called.
"Uho! My goodness! I never realize that grass can be this disgusting!" a voice from our back caught our attention. We turn around.
"My daughter!" daddy Alberto says and Simone holds her when he almost fell to the ground. His knees must have become jelly because of shock.
"I'll hold dad, big sister. But... how can you scare us like that!" Jackson exclaimed as tears fall on his cheeks.
"I start the car and felt like something was wrong and I heard a ticking sound. I jump off and that's when the car blasted," she says.
"I think we should call 911!" Zyril says.
"Simone, that man!" Dana says. She turns around, and they saw a man who looks suspicious, and... they rip the skirt off their dress and take off their heels.
"Catch him!" she says. The three of them jump off the hood of the cars and dash as if nothing happens. I grasp my fist.
"You better not be behind this shit, Vivian!" I roared and punch the hood of dad's car.
"Wait, I have a call... from her," coach Fallon says.
My dad grab the phone and answered. He didn't speak and put the call on speakerphone.
"Have you seen that coach, Fallon? I told you, don't make me pissed! Make sure to lose the next games and do what I say! Drugged him so he can't perform well! Next time, it will be you or your family! Remember that!" she says and ended the call. My jaw tightens in anger.
"Do you want to play fucking dirty?! Wait for it, bitch!" I say and grab my phone. I dialed that number and he answered.
"Hello, it's me. I have worked for your team. Make sure you will do it," I mumbled.