Chapter 4

After some communication, a French team’s coach agreed to help me assemble a top-notch team. I was going to share this good news with Lachlan. But when I arrived at the training ground, I found the garage engulfed in flames.

I checked Lachlan, who was blocked outside the police line, from top to bottom. Fortunately, aside from being a bit disheveled, he was unharmed.

"What happened?"

"I don’t know. I was fixing the car in the garage when I heard a noise from the back door."

"But when I went to check, I only saw a figure running away, and then the garage caught fire."

Lachlan’s face was smeared black from the smoke, looking lost. But I knew in my heart, this was most likely Finn Beckett’s doing.

After Lachlan was taken by the police to give a statement, I decided to demand an explanation.

However, I was stopped at the gate by the manager of the former team’s training ground. He shoved me hard, completely lacking the previous respect and flattery. I was about to argue with him when Finn Beckett swaggered over.

"Oh, here to beg for mercy?"

He was smug, his eyes full of ridicule. Thinking of how he almost got the innocent Lachlan killed, I was furious.

"If you have a grudge, come at me! Why target Lachlan? Does human life mean nothing to you?"

"What evidence do you have to say I harmed anyone? Be careful, I might sue you for defamation!"

Finn Beckett poked my shoulder hard, his face full of a sleazy smile.

"How about this, come back and be my racing assistant, then I won’t..."

"You think trash like you deserves to keep working with me?"

I cut him off, and his eyes turned vicious.

"I see, you’re just asking for it!"

"I’m just waiting for you to exit the industry and crawl back begging me!"

I looked at his back, thinking, let’s see who begs who then. On the way back, I contacted the sponsors. Lachlan’s car was destroyed in the fire, and we needed new racing cars.

"You got any proof I harmed someone? Watch out, or I might just sue you for defamation!"

Finn Beckett jabbed me hard in the shoulder, flashing a sleazy grin.

"How about this, come back and be my race assistant, and then I won't..."

"You think trash like you deserves to work with me?"

I cut him off, and his eyes immediately glinted with malice.

"You're really asking for it!"

"Just wait till you're begging me to help you when you leave the industry!"

Watching him walk away, I thought to myself, who's going to be begging whom?

On my way back, I contacted the sponsors. Lachlan's car had been destroyed in a fire, and we needed a new racing car. Fortunately, all the sponsors are brands invested in by the Quinn family and are always ready to assist me.

Besides, I devised a brand-new plan.

Three days later, I picked up Lachlan and headed to the Quinn family's expansive private training ground on the outskirts. It not only had professional tracks but also various rally simulation terrains.

Lachlan's jaw dropped when he saw the training ground, the team from France, and the brand-new top-tier racing car.

"Did you arrange all this?"

I nodded and then announced my new plan in front of the entire team.

"Lachlan, you and I will compete in the race a month from now."

"You'll be the driver, and I'll be your navigator."

"Aren't you afraid I'll lose? If I lose, you'll have to leave the industry." Lachlan asked, surprised.

I just smiled and reassured him.

"No one knows you better than your opponent. After competing against you for the championship for so many years, who else is more suited to be your navigator?"

After hearing this, Lachlan also smiled.

"Then I'm counting on you, my navigator."

Training commenced quickly. Lachlan's driving skills didn't disappoint me, and I was indeed well-suited to be his navigator.

Turning, accelerating, braking—every move he made affecting the car was just as I expected.

After a few days of working together, Lachlan even said my instructions were far better than his previous navigator's.

Training proceeded smoothly.

Until, half a month later, we were invited to participate in a charity race.

When we showed up on the track without any team members, all the media thought I had really hit rock bottom.

"Nora Quinn used to be so glamorous, now she doesn't even have a team?"

"Not only no team, but she's also teamed up with her former defeated opponent, how embarrassing!"

Reporters loudly discussed my "downfall" for everyone to hear.

Finn Beckett and Eloise approached, surrounded by a crowd.

He started with sharp and sarcastic remarks, clapping mockingly.

"I heard your cars got burned, no cars, and you still have the gall to come?"

"Afraid you'll never get another chance to race, so you don't care about your reputation anymore?"

"What a piece of junk to show up with?"

He pointed at the old racing car we borrowed temporarily.

Lachlan's former team members jeered along with him.

"Luckily we joined Finn! Otherwise, we might have ended up in a fatal car accident!"

My former teammates stood by, their faces dark with anger.

I gave them a reassuring look, signaling them to hold on a little longer.

As we prepared to enter the track, Lachlan stopped me.

"Your hand isn't healed yet, let me do it."

Before I could respond, he was already in the car with his helmet on.

The race began under the expectant gaze of the crowd.

But at the first turn, Finn maliciously cut in front of Lachlan's car.

The two cars scraped closely, sparking a series of sparks.

He repeated the same tricks at several more turns.

What was supposed to be a charity race turned highly competitive under his provocation.

After winning first place, Finn deliberately walked to the stands, shaking sweat from his hair in front of me.

Like a dog just out of water.

"Teaming up with such a second-rate driver, Nora Quinn, how do you expect to beat me?"

Finishing his words, he snatched the reporter's microphone in a self-assumed suave manner.

"I'm sure everyone knows about the bet between me and Nora Quinn, but for old time's sake, I don't want to bully her too much!"

"So I've decided to let my new girlfriend, also a popular actress, Miss Eloise, be my navigator!"

In a rally race, a navigator is like the driver's eyes.

Choosing someone who knows nothing as a navigator is like driving blind.

He's trying to tell everyone that no matter what, I can't possibly win against him.

Looking at his smug face, I couldn't help but laugh coldly inside.

"Those who act unjustly will bring about their own downfall."

After that day, all the media rushed to report on the sensational romance between Finn Beckett and Eloise.

Their shipper fans quickly grew in number.

As for me, I was said to be unsuccessful on the track and in love.

With support from various forces, the bet between me and Finn Beckett received unprecedented attention.

However, no one expected that on the day the bet was fulfilled, I showed up alone at the track.

In stark contrast to Finn Beckett and Eloise, surrounded by admiration, I looked like a solitary, pitiful figure.

Even the reporters looked at me with a hint of pity.

I ignored it and calmly tapped the microphone.

"Finn Beckett, how about we raise the stakes on our bet?"

"If I win, both you and Eloise leave the industry."

Finn Beckett reacted like he'd heard the funniest joke in the world.

"A racing driver without a navigator, still dreaming?"

I curled my lips into a mocking smile.

"Navigator? Are you blind? I'm standing right here."

I stepped forward, staring into his eyes.

"Do you believe it, the legendary racing driver was me before, and the top navigator will be me in the future.

"As for you, as long as I'm here, you'll always be number two."

Finn Beckett's eyes widened with rage, raising his hand to hit me.

But suddenly, his gaze shifted to the entrance behind me.

Then, the scene erupted in exclamations.

My racing team had arrived!

5

Three top-tier racing cars entered one after another, followed by my team.

Everyone present was stunned.