Single Mom Warned The Boxing Champion 3 Times "Don't Try Me" On Live TV — 5s Later Silenced Studio
Chapter 22
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Neither Sadie nor Colton seemed to hear her. Their attention remained locked entirely on each other; the rest of the room faded into background noise.Colton's composure cracked further. Frustration bled through the polished veneer: he turned away from her, seeking an easier target, the way cornered men often do. His eyes swept the room and landed on Ruth again."Maybe the real problem here," he said, his voice rising now, "is a couple of bitter old-timers clinging to some washed-up gym story. Big Joe couldn't even keep his own doors open," he added. "That tells you something, doesn't it?"A sharp gasp moved through the diner. Peggy pressed a hand to her chest. Hank's jaw dropped slightly, disbelief plain on his face. Ruth's eyes went bright and hard at once."You take that back," she said, voice shaking now with anger."Why should I?" Colton shot back. "It's the truth! Some people just weren't built for the top. Big Joe wasn't. Guess it runs in the family."The words landed like a slap across the whole room.Sadie's expression did not change outwardly, but something in her eyes went very still and very cold. Guess it runs in the family, he had said. She filed that particular phrase away: quiet and deliberate, the way a fighter remembers an opening.Walt stepped forward, jaw tight, hand raised slightly. "That's enough," he said firmly. "You don't get to talk about him like that.""Or what?" Colton snapped, rounding on him. "You going to referee me too, old man?"Denise stepped in quickly, alarm plain in her voice now. "Colton, let's take a breath here. This is getting out of hand.""I'm fine," Colton said, though his voice suggested otherwise. He was breathing hard now, chest rising and falling visibly beneath his jacket.Reggie, watching from the sidelines, made a small cutting motion across his throat: he was silently begging Colton to stop. Colton either did not see it or chose to ignore it entirely. The security guard shifted his weight near the door; he sensed something building that might need his attention soon, his eyes fixed on Colton now, alert in a way they had not been all morning.Colton ignored him entirely, still riding the momentum of his own anger. His eyes landed on the robe, still folded over Sadie's arm."You know what?" he said, voice rising further. "Let's talk about this thing! This precious relic everyone's so worked up about!"He reached out fast before anyone could react. He yanked the robe from Sadie's arm. This time, there was no hesitation in the motion, no pretense of curiosity—just raw, ugly frustration finally breaking loose.He threw the robe to the floor. Then, deliberately, he stepped on it. He ground his heel slightly against the faded fabric."There," he said, breathing hard. "That's what all this fuss is really over! Some old rag from a gym that couldn't even keep its own doors open!"Gasps rippled through the diner. Denise froze mid-word, microphone forgotten in her hand. Peggy pressed both hands over her mouth; Alma had gone rigid beside her, eyes wide with disbelief. Dale, still filming through the window outside, lowered his phone slightly; even he seemed to understand some things should not be captured lightly.