SWNOVELS Chapter 1128
The local chess club was a familiar haunt for the regulars.
As soon as Grayson and Brittany started their game, a crowd gathered around them.
These folks were seasoned players, not much for the latest TV shows, but they'd caught a glimpse of the previous inter-city tournament and recognized talent when they saw it.
Someone called out to Brittany, "Hey, weren't you on TV a while back?"
Brittany, who'd forgotten to wear a mask, quickly denied it, "No, sir, you must be mistaken."
As she fumbled for her mask in her pocket and put it on, the old man didn't press further, assuming his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Grayson knew Brittany well enough to recognize her modesty. Anyone else who'd beaten a star player from Welandia would've been all over the news, boasting. But not Brittany. Even faced with recognition, she shied away from it. The elder, nudged by his family to come home for dinner, couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity.
At the dinner table, his granddaughter, Mabel, was enjoying her meal when he leaned in, "Mabel, you're a journalist, right? Did you cover that match where the girl beat the Welandia chap? What did she look like?"
Pulling up Brittany's photo on her phone, Mabel showed him, "This her, grandpa?"
His eyes lit up, "That's her, alright!"
Mabel, intrigued, grabbed her camera, "Thanks, grandpa, got a scoop to catch!"
Brittany's elusive nature made her a coveted interview subject for Mabel, who had long wanted a chance to feature her.
Arriving at the chess club, Mabel caught Brittany and Grayson stepping out.
"Brittany, I'm with the Craneville Citizen's Gazette, can I get an interview?" she asked, hopeful.
Brittany, taken aback and alone, refused, "Sorry, I'm not interested."
But Mabel persisted, "You're the talk of the town, Brittany. People want to know about you. Let's set up a time?"
Uncomfortable in the spotlight, Brittany tried to turn off Mabel's camera, insisting, "I'm not a public figure. Please, no interviews."
As Brittany tried to leave, Mabel's desperation peaked, grabbing her arm, "Just a few minutes, please?"
In the struggle that ensued, Mabel's camera was knocked over. Furious at the damage, Mabel pushed Brittany, who fell hard against the steps, bleeding.
"Call an ambulance!" Grayson shouted, realizing the gravity of the situation.
As the crowd gathered, Mabel was too caught up with her broken camera to notice Brittany's injury.
By the time the police and ambulance arrived, Brittany was barely conscious.
Mabel was taken away for questioning while Grayson, shocked, looked down at the blood-stained ground, his mind racing.
...
Yuri was the first to hear about Brittany's accident.
Rushing to the hospital, he found Brittany in critical condition. He managed to secure the best doctor to ensure both she and her unborn child were safe.