Chapter 57. Aftermath (2)

The flashbulbs didn’t blind her anymore. They still stung—that sharp pulse of white followed by the dull buzz behind her eyes—but now she could stand through it. Breathe through it.

Yara stood to her right, mic in hand, her voice steady as she cued the cameras.

“Today marked the official reopening of the Phoenix Foundation. Founded by Lia Chen, former middleweight champion and whistleblower, the Foundation offered free training and support to fighters from at-risk communities.”

The word whistleblower hit the air like static. A year before, it would’ve felt like an insult. Now it just sounded like a fact.

Lia smiled faintly.

The crowd was a mix—reporters, kids in mismatched gear, old fighters who had come out of curiosity. The air smelled like rain on pavement and fresh paint, with a hint of the coffee truck idling outside.

Behind her, the new gym doors gleamed—glass and steel replacing the rusted ones that used to jam halfway open.