He''s berating himself... for Victoria''s sake?


    Violet parted her lips, wanting to say something more, but the call had already ended.


    "Boss, it''s time we''re up."


    Wade''s reminder snapped her back. Violet handed her phone to the team manager, feeling an inexplicable weight lodged in her chest, a breath caught that just wouldn''t release.


    Curtis used to be one of her admirers-when did that change? When did he stop caring?


    She pulled on her helmet, but couldn''t help ncing toward the stands.


    McNeil was sitting in the best seat with Gwh beside him, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on her.


    Whatever sting Curtis had left her with vanished instantly.


    Gwh, perched next to McNeil, followed his gesture to spot Violet out on the track. She jumped up in excitement.


    "Daddy, it''s Violet! She looks so cool-so beautiful!"


    To Gwh, Violet was the most amazing woman in the world-far outshining even her own mom. Not only was Violet striking, she could also race cars. Gwh had always thought Violet was exaggerating, like her mom sometimes did, but now she realized every word had been true.


    McNeil kept his eyes on Violet, quietly agreeing, "She is."


    Violet pulled her gaze from McNeil, a smile tugging at her lips.


    No matter how impressive Curtis was, he could never measure up to McNeil. If Curtis really was interested in Victoria and managed to win her away, maybe it wouldn''t be so bad after all.


    By now, the racers were all maneuvering their cars into position. Violet took her ce on the track.


    As her car rolled into view, cheers erupted from the stands-louder and louder. Female drivers were a rare sight in the circuit, and a beautiful one like Violet was


    even rarer.


    Osborn''s car entered the lineup, drawing a fresh wave of apuse from his own fans.


    But then, beside his car, someone caught the audience''s eye-a woman in a mechanic''s jumpsuit, her ponytail swinging as she moved through the pit. People stared, taken aback.


    A female mechanic?


    Maybe it wasn''tmon knowledge here, but in international circuits-especially in F1 rally events—a legendary female engineer had once led her crew, checking cars before the race. Six years ago, some had even seen her themselves.


    They weren''t imagining things. That was unmistakably the woman from the global stage.


    "The news said that genius mechanic Vivian is back. Is that her?"


    The crowd''s attention, which had been entirely on Violet a moment ago, now shifted. Osborn''s pitne was suddenly the center of spection.


    "Wait-Vivian the mechanic, and Violet the racer-aren''t they the same person? Why are there two?"


    Someone in the stands caught on to the contradiction, just as Osborn''s car rolled up. The starting g dropped, engines roared to life, and the cars exploded onto the track, tearing around the circuit like streaks of lightning.


    Victoria, her ponytail pulled high, stood with her hands in her jacket pockets, eyes locked on Osborn''s car as it sped by with the team. Every member of the crew was tense, alert for any sign of trouble on the course. With luck, their drivers would finish safely and ce well.


    The grandstands were alive with energy-some fans waving gs and singing, others holding up banners for their favorite teams. Violet''s supporters were the most enthusiastic, waving signs with her name, some even shouting out for "Vivian" as Violet''s car shot past, their excitement spilling over.


    Victoria, though, focused only on Osborn. He handled nearly twenty wlessps. But then, on the twenty-fifthp, something went wrong.


    "Boss, something''s off with Mr. rk. His car''s in trouble."