Chapter 6 The Cost of Protecting Me

“The person who changed that report wasn’t trying to protect the medical team, Zennika. They were trying to protect you.”

Orren’s words followed me into his office, where I stood beside his desk, clutching the documents Rhydan had given me. I wanted to believe there was a reasonable explanation, something that would make sense of the past two years, but every new piece of information seemed to create another question. If someone had altered my medical records to protect me, why had I spent two years being blamed for an injury I might have avoided?

“Then perhaps you should start explaining instead of expecting me to understand everything from a single sentence.” I placed the documents on his desk, making sure he could see both versions.

Orren closed the office door and motioned toward the chair opposite him. I remained standing, unwilling to get comfortable in a room where I suddenly questioned everything.

“Five days before your championship final, the medical department issued a precautionary report recommending further assessment before you competed. The concern was your hamstring, and they wanted additional imaging before giving you final clearance.”

“I know what the report says. Rhydan showed me the original.”

He nodded slowly before continuing. According to Orren, the national programme had been under considerable pressure that season. My qualification was important to the team, and several sponsorship agreements depended on athletes remaining eligible for the championship. If I were withdrawn, I would lose my position on the competition roster, and there was a possibility that my funding would be reassigned.

“So someone decided my career was worth more than my health?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.

“That’s not how they saw it. The programme director believed withdrawing you at that stage would destroy an opportunity you’d spent years working toward. He was convinced the medical concern could be managed until the championship was over.”

I stared at him, almost unable to believe what I was hearing.

“And you agreed with him?”

“I disagreed with the decision to rush things. But I was told the medical department had completed another assessment and that you were cleared to compete. I accepted that information because I wasn’t authorised to make the final medical decision.”

“Yet you never thought to tell me there had been a warning in the first place?”

Orren lowered his eyes. His silence answered the question before he could find the courage to speak.

I walked toward the window, trying to process everything. For years, I’d believed my biggest mistake was trusting my body too much. Now I was discovering that the people responsible for protecting me had made decisions about my future without giving me the opportunity to make an informed choice.

“Who changed the report?”

“The programme director requested the amendment after the medical department issued its updated recommendation. I wasn’t involved in editing the document, and I never authorised anyone to sign your name.”

“Then why does the amended version say I was informed? Those are my initials, Coach. Someone made it look as though I knew about the warning and accepted the risks.”

“I don’t know who did that.”

I turned toward him, searching his face for any indication that he was hiding something else.

“Do you understand what that document did to me? When the investigation started, everyone believed I’d been warned and deliberately ignored medical advice. My sponsors abandoned me, journalists called me reckless, and people who had never met me spent months discussing how I had ruined my own career.”

“Zennika, I know.”

“No, you don’t. You watched me struggle through rehabilitation, and you knew there were unanswered questions. Yet you allowed me to believe I was responsible for everything.”

My voice cracked toward the end, and I hated myself for allowing him to see how deeply his silence had affected me. I’d come to Northbridge hoping to rebuild my career, not discover that the people I once trusted had been involved in decisions that changed my life.

Orren moved around his desk, but I raised a hand before he could approach.

“Please don’t. I don’t want another apology right now. I want the truth.”

He stopped and nodded.

“I still have some of the correspondence from that period. I’ll make copies of everything and send them to the Integrity Office. You deserve to know exactly what happened.”

“Good. Because I’m no longer interested in protecting anyone’s reputation at the expense of mine.”

I collected the documents and headed for the door. Before I could leave, Orren spoke again, his voice noticeably quieter.

“There’s something else you should consider. The person who approved your final clearance wasn’t the programme director. It was someone from the medical department, and that person’s signature appears on both versions.”

I paused.

“Who?”

“Dr. Corvin Hale.”

The name meant nothing to me at first. Then I remembered the physician who had examined me during my rehabilitation, the man who had repeatedly insisted that my injury was an unfortunate sporting accident.

I left the office without another word.

Rhydan was waiting near the entrance to the training facilities, leaning against the wall with his phone in one hand. He looked up when he saw me, and judging by his expression, he’d been expecting me to return with questions.

“Well? Did he explain anything?”

“Apparently, everyone was trying to protect me. It’s comforting to know I had so many people making decisions about my health without bothering to involve me.”

Rhydan slipped his phone into his pocket. He didn’t attempt to defend Orren, which was probably wise considering my current mood.

“He told me the programme director wanted to keep you on the championship roster. There was pressure from sponsors, and withdrawing you would’ve affected your funding.”

I stopped walking.

“How do you know that?”

“Because I was around when some of those discussions happened. My coach was involved in the national programme, and I heard people talking about the possibility of losing their sponsorship agreements if certain athletes were withdrawn.”

I studied him carefully. He’d already admitted withholding information, but I was beginning to suspect that his involvement in the events surrounding my injury went further than I’d initially understood.

“Did you know they had changed the report?”

“Not at the time. I only discovered that when I compared the original document with the version submitted during the investigation.”

“Then why didn’t you come to me when you found out?”

He looked away briefly.

“Because I was still afraid of what would happen if I spoke up. I know how pathetic that sounds, but it’s the truth.”

“At least you’re finally becoming familiar with that word.”

His mouth twitched, but he wisely decided against responding. We continued toward the reception area, where I needed to confirm my next assessment appointment.

Just as we reached the doors, my phone rang. Helena Ward’s name appeared on the screen, and I answered immediately.

“Hello, Miss Ward. I’ve received the documents you requested, and I’ve discovered something else.”

“That’s good timing, Miss Marlowe. We’ve reviewed the preliminary information submitted by Mr. Cross, and we’d like you to attend an interview tomorrow morning. We’ll also need the original and amended medical reports.”

“Is there something else?”

There was a brief pause.

“Yes. We’ve contacted the medical department responsible for your clearance, and Dr. Corvin Hale has agreed to provide a statement. However, he’s raised an important issue concerning the original report.”

I glanced at Rhydan, who was watching me.

“What issue?”

“He claims the medical warning was never intended to prevent you from competing. According to his account, you were personally informed of the risks and accepted the decision to proceed.”

My stomach dropped.

“That’s impossible. I never received that warning.”

“I understand, which is why we’re requesting your attendance. There’s also a signed acknowledgment attached to the amended report.”

I closed my eyes briefly, preparing myself for whatever fresh disaster was waiting.

“Whose signature is on it?”

Helena hesitated before answering.

“Your former coach has confirmed that the signature belongs to someone who was present during your final medical assessment.”

I looked at Rhydan, then at the documents in my hand. Two years ago, I’d trusted everyone around me to make sure I was safe enough to compete. Now I was discovering that someone had apparently signed away my right to know the truth.

“Miss Marlowe, are you still there?”

“Yes. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

I ended the call and remained silent for several seconds. Rhydan asked what Helena had said, but before I could answer, another notification appeared on my phone.

It was an email from the Integrity Office containing the signed acknowledgment.

I opened the attachment.

The first page displayed my name, the date of the assessment, and a statement confirming that I had been informed of the potential risks associated with competing.

At the bottom was a signature.

I recognised the handwriting immediately.

It belonged to someone I had trusted more than almost anyone else.

Tessira Bell.