Pandora's jock

Previously

…The competition was tomorrow. And Mark knew, with a sickening certainty, that while he might win, he would have lost so much more. The thrill of victory, if it came, would be tainted. The cheers of the crowd would sound like accusations. And the trophy, if he managed to claim it, would feel like a brand, a scarlet letter marking him as a cheat, a fraud, a man who had traded his integrity for a spectral shortcut. The warmth of Anna's wish, meant to be encouraging, now felt like a spotlight, highlighting the darkness he had invited into his life. He was ready for the race, yes, but he was terrifyingly unprepared for the consequences.