Alpha's Brother, My Second Chance.

Chapter 14

LUCA

I stared at the tablet for several seconds, unsure if my mind was playing tricks on me. My eyes moved over the article again and again before the name finally settled in my head.

Savon Smith.

Darrel leaned closer as if he expected me to deny what I was seeing. “You saw it, right?”

I nodded slowly. “Is that really Savon Smith? Former world champion?”

Darrel exhaled. “Yes. That’s him.”

I looked back at the photo on the screen. It showed Savon leaving an airport, surrounded by cameras and fans. His expression was calm and confident, almost as if he had never retired and had been preparing for this moment.

“Why is he making a comeback now?” I asked.

Darrel shrugged. “No idea. But the news broke an hour ago and the entire sports world is going crazy.”

I sat back, still processing everything. Savon was the one swimmer nobody conquered. His time was untouchable. Even now, after all the competitions I had won, his world record remained untouched. I had come close, but close was not enough. The gap stood like a wall, reminding me of the one person whose speed I could not reach.

“Why now?” I said quietly. “He retired five years ago. What is he doing back?”

Darrel tapped the tablet. “That’s not even the worst part.”

“What could be worse than this?”

“You will be competing with him.”

I stared at him. “Who made that decision?”

“There is no information online,” Darrel replied. “The championship board has not released a statement. But several reporters confirmed it from inside sources.”

I rubbed my forehead, feeling the pressure building. Competing with Savon was something every swimmer had imagined at least once. I had imagined it many times, even after he retired. But imagining it and facing it were different things.

“Why will they set this up now?” I asked.

Darrel raised both hands slightly. “Maybe because your career is at its peak. Maybe because his comeback needs a big push. Maybe because the industry loves competition. I don’t know.”

The plane landed in Morca, and the moment we stepped out, a fresh wave of thoughts pushed through my head. I tried to focus on the schedule, but the article kept resurfacing. It mixed with the memory of Aria’s expression when Karen’s name was mentioned. None of it left my mind.

With the car waiting for us, we drove straight to our meeting with Mr Stevens, one of my biggest investors. We walked into a tall glass building, rode the elevator, and entered his office on the fifteenth floor.

“Mr Stevens,” Darrel greeted.

“Mr Morgan,” Stevens said with a warm smile as he stood and shook both our hands. “It is good to have you here so quickly.”

“It’s not a problem,” I replied. “I assumed you had something important to say.”

He gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk. “Please sit. Would either of you like tea?”

“No, thank you,” Darrel said.

“No, thank you,” I added.

“Oh please,” Stevens insisted. “I insist.”

Before anyone could object again, he pressed the button on his desk phone. “Three cups of tea, please.”

Darrel shot me a brief look, but I ignored it.

Once the call ended, Stevens crossed his hands on the table. “Now, let us talk. Luca, I appreciate your fast response. This is something we cannot delay.”

Just then, the receptionist entered with a tray of tea. She placed one cup in front of each of us, bowed her head slightly, and stepped out. We murmured our thanks.

Stevens waited until the door closed. “Luca, I assume you have seen the news.”

I kept my face calm. “Which one exactly? There are so many.”

“The one about Savon Smith.”

I nodded. “Yes. I saw it.”

“Good,” he said, leaning back. “This means you understand the position you are now in.”

I remained quiet and waited for him to continue.

“You must beat him,” Stevens said. “If not, I will be withdrawing my investment and directing it toward his comeback. And I am not the only one. Many other investors are watching to see how you respond.”

Darrel shifted beside me, but I kept my posture straight.

“You may be the world champion now,” Stevens continued, “but you have not beaten Savon’s record. That is the truth, and everyone knows it. The championship theme this year is, ‘Can Luca beat the comeback champion?’ I am sure you have already seen the tagline.”

“I saw it,” I said.

“Good. Then you understand the pressure. If you cannot keep up with him, the industry will shift its attention. Investors will shift too. You have a strong image and strong results, but Savon has a legend behind him.”

I felt irritation building inside me. Not because he was wrong, but because he spoke as though I had no idea what I had achieved so far.

“May I ask something?” I said. “Why did the board announce all of this before informing me?”

“For publicity,” Stevens replied. “Savon’s image needs the boost. He retired after a difficult divorce. His wife accused him of violence, which damaged his reputation. When the court cleared him, people still doubted him. Now she has confessed to lying. The board wants to help him start fresh.”

I exchanged a glance with Darrel. I understood the tactic, but the lack of respect annoyed me.

“So they used my name for their strategy,” I said.

“It works for both sides,” Stevens said. “Your career becomes the highlight of the season, and his comeback draws more viewers. Everyone wins.”

I held back the frustration rising in my chest. “Everyone except the athlete who was not informed.”

Stevens gave a small shrug. “It is a business, Luca. You have been in the industry long enough to know how it works.”

The conversation stretched for another twenty minutes. Stevens emphasized statistics, sponsorship numbers, and global engagement. He talked as if athletes were pieces on a board. I listened silently, giving short answers when necessary, but my patience wore thin. By the time we stood to leave, I was already done with the entire meeting.

Outside the office, I stopped and turned to Darrel. “Who does he think he is?”

“Calm down,” Darrel said.

“I don’t need his investment,” I replied. “His investment did not build my career. I built it. My work built it. My resilience built it.”

Darrel let out a long breath. “I know. But we cannot cut ties too fast. Sponsors talk to each other. We need a strategy.”

“I don’t want their pressure,” I said. “And I don’t want to pretend. If they want me to beat Savon, I will. But I am ending their contract after the championship. They do not define me. I am Luca Morgan.”

Darrel nodded slowly. “Alright. We will handle it, but let us take it step by step.”

We walked out of the building together and headed toward the car waiting for us. But even as the city lights passed by the window and the night deepened around us, my mind stayed focused on one thought.

Savon Smith was back, and everything was about to change.