Single Mom Warned The Boxing Champion 3 Times "Don't Try Me" On Live TV — 5s Later Silenced Studio
Chapter 21
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"I know how to do an interview," Colton snapped."Clearly not today," Reggie shot back. "Just follow the plan this time. Please."Colton exhaled hard, rolling his shoulders like a fighter shaking off a hard round. He nodded once, though his eyes still carried something unsettled underneath the surface calm.The security guard checked the front door once, out of habit more than concern. A few onlookers had gathered outside now, phones raised, filming through the glass.Denise took one final breath, steadying herself for whatever came next. She had hosted plenty of segments before; none had felt quite like this one.The red light blinked on."We're back," Denise said, her smile a little more careful this time. "And we've got quite the morning here in Millbrook."Colton jumped in fast, clearly determined to regain control of the narrative. He forced his most charming smile back into place—the one that had graced dozens of magazine covers, though it looked slightly strained now, cracked around the edges."You know," he said, addressing the camera directly, "small towns love a good story. Everybody's got one. Doesn't mean every story is the full picture.""Meaning what, exactly?" Denise asked.Colton hesitated a moment, choosing his next words carefully—or trying to. "Meaning people remember things how they want to," he said. "Everybody's got their own version. Meaning Big Joe Coleman was a good trainer," Colton said. "But he wasn't perfect. Nobody is. Things happen in gyms. People get hurt sometimes. That's the sport."Denise glanced at her monitor, watching viewer comments scroll past in real time: most of them were sharp, unfavorable, growing more so by the second. She said nothing about it, keeping her expression neutral for the camera.Ruth's expression darkened from across the room. She stepped forward before anyone could stop her. "That man built half this town's confidence with his bare hands," Ruth said sharply. "He never once raised a hand in anger. Not to anybody.""I remember him different," Colton said, an edge creeping into his tone. "Strict. Demanding. Not exactly the saint everyone's making him out to be.""Strict isn't the same as cruel," Ruth snapped back. "Maybe you never learned the difference."Colton rolled his eyes slightly, playing to the camera. "With respect, ma'am, you weren't in the room that night."A few customers murmured disapprovingly at his dismissive tone, though nobody spoke up directly yet."Neither were you, apparently," Sadie said. "Not according to your story just now, anyway."Colton's eyes snapped toward her; something harder flashed behind them. "You want to say what actually happened?" he asked, voice tightening. "Go ahead. Say it right here, right now."The room held its breath. Even the ambient noise from outside seemed to fade, as if the whole street had paused to listen through the glass. Sadie held his gaze, steady, unblinking."Not on your terms," she said. "Not for your ratings.""Convenient," Colton muttered."Patient," Sadie corrected. "There's a difference."Denise stepped forward, sensing the exchange needed a release valve. "Maybe we should circle back to something lighter," she offered weakly.