The Boxing Champion Called Me His Caregiver Chapter 03

The Boxing Champion Called Me His Caregiver Chapter 03

The sports network studio buzzed with excitement as Logan Barrett sat beneath the lights for a live interview.

The reporter smiled at him with open admiration.

“Champion Barrett, you and Ms. Vaughn have become boxing’s ultimate power couple.”

Alyssa Vaughn sat beside Logan in an elegant dress, her arm linked comfortably through his.

“We’ve heard Ms. Vaughn made tremendous sacrifices to help you reclaim the world title. Is that true?”

Alyssa covered her mouth with one hand and laughed softly.

“The years after Logan’s accident were incredibly difficult. But when two people truly love each other…” She leaned closer to him. “There’s nothing we can’t get through together.”

She emphasized the word “together.”

My fingers tightened around the equipment case.

The hard edge dug into my palm.

Then someone in the front row caught sight of me.

“Hang on.”

A reporter pointed toward backstage.

“Isn’t that the woman who stood up at the championship gala?”

Every camera swung in my direction.

Camera flashes exploded in my face, one after another.

The reporter immediately turned the microphone toward Logan.

“Champion Barrett, what exactly is your relationship with that woman?”

“There are rumors she stayed with you through your darkest years and even helped with your rehabilitation. Is that true?”

Silence fell over the studio.

Every gaze shifted between Logan and me.

I looked at him.

Those few seconds felt endless.

Some foolish part of me was still waiting.

Not for him to call me the woman he loved.

Just…

Tell them I was there.

Tell them I never left.

Logan met my eyes.

For one brief second, something flickered in his eyes.

Then he raised the microphone.

“Tessa Monroe has worked as my paid live-in caregiver for the past several years.”

His voice echoed through every speaker in the studio.

“She’s worked hard and has always done her job well.”

He turned toward Alyssa.

His smile softened.

“But Allie’s my legal wife.”

“She’s the one who made my return to boxing possible.”

“She’s the one no one could ever replace.”

Thunderous applause erupted.

Congratulations rang out from every direction.

I stood there holding the equipment case.

My fingers had gone numb.

Even breathing hurt.

Paid live-in caregiver.

So that was what eight years had been reduced to.

Selling my childhood home.

Paying for his surgeries.

Staying up through endless nights to oversee his rehabilitation.

Nothing more than a job I had been paid to do.

How generous.

The interview ended.

Chaos followed almost immediately.

Someone dug up photos of me working as a hotel housekeeper and posted them online.

Within minutes, furious fans blocked every exit.

“So she’s just a hotel housekeeper trying to sleep her way into a champion’s life?”

“Shameless! The man’s got a legal wife. Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Someone like you is a stain on Logan’s reputation.”

The insults crashed over me from every direction.

Someone rammed a shoulder into me.

The equipment case slipped from my hands.

It hit the floor.

Boxing gloves.

Mouthguard.

Hand wraps.

Everything scattered across the ground.

I crouched to gather them.

Someone shoved me hard from behind.

I lost my footing.

I tumbled down the concrete steps.

Pain shot through my elbow.

My ankle twisted underneath me.

I gasped.

Blood seeped from the scraped skin around my elbow.

For several seconds, I couldn’t get back up.

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

Logan noticed the commotion.

He started toward me.

Alyssa caught his arm.

“Logan.”

“The reporters are waiting.”

“The sponsors are watching.”

The panic in his eyes receded.

Just like that.

He looked away.

“Security.”

His voice was calm.

“Don’t let anyone unrelated to the event disrupt it.”

Then he walked away with his wife.

Back when he couldn’t see, I’d once come home ten minutes late from buying groceries.

He’d dragged himself to the front door.

Sweating.

Panicked.

Terrified that I’d abandoned him.

Now he could run.

Stand.

Fight.

Win.

And he left me bleeding at the bottom of the stairs.

“Ma’am.”

A security guard stopped in front of me.

“You need to leave.”