Zotsu_ghost

Soccer star Alex Carter has it all—fame, talent, and a dark past he’s desperate to hide. When determined sports journalist Jade Bennett begins investigating his life, she uncovers more than she bargained for. Drawn to Alex’s enigmatic charm, Jade is pulled into a dangerous romance, but their connection threatens to unravel as secrets from Alex’s past resurface.

As they get closer, an old enemy reemerges, ready to destroy Alex’s career and expose the truth. In a world where appearances can be deceiving, Alex and Jade must decide if their love is worth risking everything—or if the shadows of the past will consume them both.

Under the lights

Riley Bennett walked into the dimly lit café, the clinking of coffee cups and low murmur of

conversations creating a soft backdrop to her thoughts. Her notebook was tucked under

her arm, and her mind was focused on the task ahead. She had set up interviews with Alex

Carter's former coaches and teammates, hoping to find a lead on the mysterious past he

was trying so hard to keep buried.

Her first interview was with Coach Grant, an older man whose once stern demeanor had

softened into a gruff warmth over the years. They sat across from each other at a small

table, and Riley could see the hesitation in his eyes as she began asking questions about

"Alex was a promising young player," Coach Grant began, stirring his coffee slowly. "But he

had his demons. I remember a few incidents—nothing too dramatic, just... personal stuff

that he tried hard to keep private."

Riley leaned in, her pen poised above her notebook. "What kind of incidents?"

Coach Grant's gaze drifted to the window. "He had a tough upbringing. Something about

his family... I don't know the details. I just know he was different after certain things

Riley noted his reluctance and moved on to the next interview. She spoke with various

teammates who were equally evasive, each offering vague, half-hearted comments about

Alex's behavior. One player mentioned Alex's "troubled background" but quickly shut down

By mid-afternoon, Riley's frustration was mounting. She was beginning to feel like she was

hitting a wall, but her persistence paid off when she met with Julia Reynolds, an old friend

of Alex's. Julia was hesitant at first but eventually agreed to meet in a quiet park, away from

the prying eyes of the media. Julia was a striking figure, her face lined with worry as she spoke. "Alex went through a lot

back then. There was a terrible incident involving a rival player. It wasn't just a scuffle; it

was serious. But Alex never wanted to talk about it."

Riley's ears perked up. "What happened?"

Julia shifted uneasily. "I can't say much. Alex was very affected by it. He shut himself off

from everyone after that. I'm afraid I don't know all the details, and I've been instructed to

As Riley listened, she received an anonymous call on her phone. The voice on the other end

was distorted, but the message was clear: "Drop the story, or you'll regret it." Riley's heart

raced. The threats were becoming personal, and it was clear she was on the right track.

Determined not to be intimidated, Riley decided to follow up on a lead about an incident

from Alex's teenage years. She arrived at a run-down part of town, where the local

newspaper archives were kept. There, she combed through old articles and found a brief

mention of a violent altercation involving Alex. The details were sparse, but the article

alluded to something much darker.

Returning to her apartment, Riley felt a mix of triumph and anxiety. She had unearthed a

lead, but the threats were escalating, and the mystery surrounding Alex's past was only

deepening. As she reviewed her notes, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting

The chapter closed with Riley staring out her window into the night, contemplating the

growing shadows of her investigation. Her resolve was stronger than ever, but she knew

that the path ahead was fraught with danger.

Chapter 2: The Unraveling