Chapter 96
When Adrian announced that he’d brought Luna along, Felicity kept up a bright, plastic smile that never reached her eyes.
“No wonder you were the top female racer in Aldonia–look at you, still acting like royalty!” Felicity joked, but inside, she was fuming: Luna had been retired for five or six years, yet she still carried herself like she ruled the racing world.
“She’s not going to lose,” Adrian said, his gaze sweeping the group before lingering pointedly on Harrison. A sly smile played at his lips. “There’s not a single one of you who can beat her.”
With that, Adrian turned and headed toward Solarius.
Felicity crossed her arms and called after him, “If Luna doesn’t take first place, you’ll let me take Solarius for a spin, won’t you?”
When Adrian paused mid–step, Felicity felt a little triumphant.
But as Adrian turned back, the easy charm dropped from his features, replaced by a cold, cutting look. The mountain wind swept past, and Felicity felt goosebumps race up her neck.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” he said, not even bothering to look at her.
“What was that?” Felicity asked, confused, but the people around her doubled over laughing.
“Ha! Mr. Shaw just said you’re way out of your league!” one of her buddies howled.
“Shut up!” Felicity snapped, kicking her friend in the shin.
Adrian slipped a hand into his pocket, tilting his head as he addressed Harrison. “Now that Luna’s here, Mr. Vaughn, care to sweeten the pot?”
The prize for this race was already a Lamborghini Veneno, worth a small fortune–eight million, to be exact.
Harrison didn’t mind Adrian using Luna’s return to squeeze him. “If Luna wins, she can pick any three cars from my garage,” he answered coolly.
A ripple of excitement went through the other rich kids. “That’s generous, Mr. Vaughn!”
Adrian let out a derisive snort. “Three cars, plus one time where Mr. Vaughn himself has to hand–wash the winner’s car. How about that?”
Chapter 96
Felicity immediately jumped to Harrison’s defense. “That’s pushing it, don’t you think?”
Harrison, of course, knew Adrian was targeting him, but he had his own reasons. “Deal,” he agreed without hesitation.
Felicity gaped at him. “Harrison! How can you lower yourself to washing someone else’s car?”
But Harrison simply strode toward his custom–built racer, the Dark Hole.
Adrian smirked, then turned toward Selene, who was already seated in Solarius’s driver’s seat. Through the windshield, their eyes met. Selene flashed him a subtle thumbs–up.
They were both dressed in racing suits, earpieces clipped on for easy communication, so Selene had heard every word Adrian said to Harrison.
Felicity trailed after Harrison, still indignant on his behalf. “Adrian’s out of line. He’s trying to humiliate you! Harrison, why did you agree to that?”
Settling into the driver’s seat, Harrison fastened his helmet and replied quietly, “Luna’s the one Natalie always dreamed of meeting.”
That stopped Felicity cold. The words she’d meant to protest with died in her throat. She muttered, “But Luna’s been retired for years. The one Natalie idolized was the queen of the track in her prime.”
Harrison didn’t respond. Clad in his racing suit, he adjusted his heavy helmet.
The truth was, he didn’t dislike racing. But as head of the Vaughn family, he’d long ago decided to avoid anything that could send his adrenaline surging. He needed to stay sharp, always in control. He knew how addictive racing could be, so he’d given it up.
But Natalie–his free–spirited little sister–loved it, especially after Luna’s meteoric rise. She’d begged him to help her become Luna’s apprentice.
She had the freedom to chase dreams he’d denied himself.
Harrison had sunk a fortune into modifying a car to rival Solarius, christening it Dark Hole. He’d planned to gift it to Natalie for her eighteenth birthday.
Instead, when the day came, all he received was Natalie’s cold, lifeless body.
From that moment on, Dark Hole was locked away in the garage, gathering dust.
08:52
υπαρισι 30
Until today–Natalie’s birthday, and the day of the race.
Felicity slid into the passenger seat, buckling herself in. With a determined look, she rallied Harrison, “Let’s win this race and show Natalie just how incredible her big brother really is!”
Chapter 97
