Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Train According to the Original Plan
"Yes, sir!" Claire Sinclair responded and quickly ran downstairs.
When she got downstairs, the instructor had just herded the other recruits onto the running track.
Seeing her arrive, Instructor Lowell said with a dark expression, "Claire Sinclair, can you run or not? If you can, then hurry up and get in line with the others!"
"Sir, I can run!" Claire Sinclair shouted back, then stepped onto the track and started running.
Unfortunately, after just a few steps, her body began to give out. Every stride became more of a struggle.
Off the track, countless pairs of eyes were fixed on the girl.
Seeing her face, they couldn’t help but think of another girl. But she was so weak, a far cry from the person in their memories, and they couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
"How could she be so weak? What a disappointment."
"Quinn took first place on her very first day here. I thought her sister would be amazing too, but it turns out she’s just a delicate little princess."
"Yeah, I thought she’d be incredible. I never expected her to be this weak."
"Who let someone so weak in here? She’s completely disgracing Quinn!"
The group’s gossip grew more and more malicious, until someone brazenly said, "Don’t you guys know? Claire Sinclair has some serious backing. She used that face of hers—the one that looks just like Quinn’s—to cozy up to someone from Quincy Manor."
"No way! Who did she latch onto?"
"Who else could it be? Young Master Quincy, of course."
"You’re kidding. Young Master Quincy has always been my perfect dream guy. So many girls chased him before, and he never accepted any of them. He didn’t even accept Quinn, so why would he accept her sister?"
Just then, an old man quietly appeared behind the group and spoke calmly, "What nonsense are you all spouting?"
"E-Elder Roland!" As if they’d seen a ghost, the color drained from their faces.
The old man’s voice was stern. "Everyone, ten-kilometer weighted run!"
"Yes, sir!" the group shouted in unison, then ran toward a small hill in the distance.
Elder Roland clasped his hands behind his back. Age had stooped his shoulders slightly, but his imposing aura remained. He casually walked downstairs and came up behind Instructor Lowell and Instructor Carson.
"The two sisters came here together back then. In the end, only the older one passed the physical. The younger one had an irregular heartbeat and a problem with her leg. For her to be willing to come to a place like this and endure such hardship... her courage is in no way inferior to her sister’s."
Upon hearing this, Instructor Lowell and Instructor Carson turned to look at the old man in surprise.
"Elder Roland, given what you’ve said... will she be alright with us training her like this?"
The old man chuckled. "It’s fine, it’s fine. Quincy already spoke with me. You just train her according to the original plan. Don’t go easy on her."
Instructor Lowell breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s a load off my mind."
...
Lap after lap, Claire Sinclair lost count of how many she’d run. Her vision blurred until she could no longer make out her surroundings. It felt like the whole world was shaking.
Several times, she wanted to give up. But then she thought of all the people who didn’t trust her, who even looked down on her, and she forced herself to grit her teeth and push through.
To protect her sister’s honor and to escape her sister’s shadow; for his sake and for her own dignity, she had to keep going!
’I can’t give up... Claire Sinclair, don’t you dare give up!’
Driven by some unknown obsession, Claire Sinclair pushed through to the final lap. She didn’t even realize she’d finished. A few recruits had to help her walk for a while before she finally fainted.
...
When she woke up, it was already ten o’clock at night.
Her fellow recruits were all back. Some were applying face masks, some were writing, and others were on the phone.
Seeing her awake, everyone looked over. "Claire Sinclair, you’re finally awake! Are you okay?"
"I’m okay." After a pause, Claire Sinclair couldn’t help but ask, "Was I asleep for a long time?"
