Chapter 37
Andrey (POV
I adjusted the rearview mirror, noting only two cats remaining behind me. This was the fifth round of the day our original field of over a dozen narrowed to just three: myself, Felix Thompson, and another driver whose name I hadn’t caught.
“Last turn,” whispered to myself, easing onto the gas. Everything crystallized in that moment of cornering. I could feel every fraction of grip between thre and asphalt, every degree of the car’s tilt.
Cheers erupted as I crossed the finish line. I pulled off my helmet, catching sight of Astrid jumping up and down by the checkered flag. Moments later, Felix’s car rolled to a stop beside mine. His smile was brighter than the summer sun as he climbed out.
Another win!” He removed his helmet, offering me a bottle of water. “Ready for round six?”
I accepted the water, noting the natural grace in his movements.
“Of course! Astrid’s voice bubbled with excitement. “I’ve lost plenty here over the years – but with my best friend back, I’m winning everything back today! Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
A skeptical voice cut through the crowd: “Miss Wilson, is she really just your friend? Or did you hire a professional to help recoup your losses?”
I felt Astrid tense beside me, ready to snap back, but Felix beat her to it.
Audrey’s skill might match a professional’s,” he said, his defense surprising me, “but you can see she’s unfamiliar with the track. She hasn’t raced in years. Less professional racer, more retired prodigy. Right, Audrey?”
The whispers started immediately:
“Ooh, first–name basis already? Getting cozy, aren’t we?”
“The Thompson heir’s European charm showing through!”
“Should we start calling her Mrs. Thompson?”
Felix’s face flushed slightly. “They’re just joking,” he said quickly. “Don’t mind them.”
I calmly screwed the cap back on my water bottle, my gaze steady. “I won’t mind. However… linking an eligible bachelor like Mr. Thompson with a recently divorced woman like myself isn’t quite appropriate.”
The silence that followed was absolute. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Every face around us registered shock, including Felix’s. He looked like someone had just thrown ice water in his face.
“Why bring up divorce now?” Astrid sighed. “Such bad luck.”
I smiled faintly. “Better to say it now than have people discover it later and embarrass Mr. Thompson.” I patted his shoulder and headed back to my car.
As I slid into the driver’s seat, I caught Felix still standing there, his expression a complex mix of emotions. Sorry, Mr. Thompson. Some things are better made clear from the start.
‘Round six!” I called out, letting the engine’s roar punctuate my words. The savage growl of the engine matched the wild freedom surging through my veins, For once, I didn’t care about maintaining the perfect image. Today, just for these precious moments on the track, I would let myself be free.
My foot pressed down on the accelerator. The world blurred into streaks of color and light as the car leaped forward, carrying with it all the passion and ski” I’d buried for so long.
Blake’s POV
The changing room door had barely closed when Laurel’s discomfort became apparent. One hand shielding her eyes from the sun, the other clinging to my arm. ‘Blake, darling, it’s too noisy here. I don’t like this atmosphere… couldn’t we go somewhere quieter?”
1/2
<d
vds from five years ago suddenly echoed in my mind. Back when my injury kept me?
Hemeinber Rachel, your sister, saying you loved racing. I watched her face carefully, that your skills rivaled professional Since when did ve
Laurel’s face darkened for a moment, panic flashing across her features. But she quickly recovered, arranging her expression into a regretful – well. I did… I did love racing before, but… Blake, darling, you know I was very ill… many things changed after that, don’t you remember?
She tightened her grip on my arm. “But… if you like it here, if you want to race and relax, I can stay and cheer for you! Men who race are quite attractive.
Watching her put on that sweet smile, trying so hard to look stunning – just like she does in front of the camera, I only felt the confusion inside me growing deeper. Five years ago, I told you I personally don’t enjoy such extreme sports due to my disabled body… did you forget that?”
Memories seeped into my mind, taking me back to that time five years ago. After the accident that left me temporarily blind, I was rescued by a kind woman in that small village the woman I believed to be Laurel. Rachel had been there too, witnessing everything. During those peaceful days of recovery, while that mysterious savior tenderly cared for my injuries, Rachel would spend hours by my bedside, telling me stories about her sister.
–
“You should see her on the track, Blake, she’d gushed, her voice filled with pride. ‘Like a professional – the way she handles those turns, it’s something else. Those conversations became my window to the world during those dark days, painting vivid pictures in my sightless mind of Laurel’s supposed ing. prowess.
I’d used my injury as an excuse then, claiming extreme sports weren’t my thing. What else could I say? My doctors had made it clear I’d never race again.
Now here we were, finally at the track, and Laurel wasn’t just showing zero interest – she was suggesting that I, with my history of injuries, should be the one racing? To impress her?
The woman beside me seemed a far cry from the fearless racer Rachel had described. Either Rachel had been wildly exaggerating, or…
Laurel suddenly froze beside me. Following her gaze, I felt myself go still as well.
By the pit lane, Audrey, my wife, was there with Felix Thompson and Astrid Wilson. I watched as she laughed with Felix, playfully tugging his ear. This vibrant version of Audrey was a stranger to me.
In three years of marriage, I’d never seen this side of her- sunny, radiant, and alive. Was it because of me that she had hidden her glamorous side?
“She…” Laurel’s voice shook with shock. “How can she…”
I didn’t respond. In that moment, I realized how little I knew about the woman who’d been my wife for three years. A question began forming in my mind: Did I ever really know her? Or had I never even tried?
‘Blake! Felix’s voice sounded.
