?Chapter 124:


    Katie smirked, soaking up all the dismissive chatter about Christina with smug satisfaction.


    “Oh my god, Elliott is just ridiculously hot!” Katie squealed, grabbing Ynda’s arm in a lovestruck daze.


    “Yeah, totally…” Ynda almost echoed the sentiment but then hesitated, shooting Katie a sideways look. “Or maybe you’re just hopelessly obsessed?”


    Blushing, Ynda sneaked a nce at Brendon and let out a dramatic sigh. “Brendon is obviously the hottest guy here. It’s not even close.” Katie rolled her eyes butughed, conceding with a yful shrug. “Whatever. Elliott is wless out there.” Her voice dropped to an awestruck whisper, cheeks burning as she giggled.


    But her starry-eyed smile vanished in an instant. “What in the actual fuck? How did that happen?”


    A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. “Is this for real? What on earth just happened?”


    Everyone’s attention snapped to the track, breath caught in their throats as they witnessed the unthinkable.


    . Elliott’s drift around the bend was already clean enough to drop jaws. But then Christina came in hot—her drift was pure madness, the kind of move that made the crowd collectively forget how to breathe. She was even quicker than when she’d dusted that second-ce racer earlier, her car practically flirting with the edge of control. It wasn’t just driving—it was a death-defying ballet on asphalt.


    The spectators were buzzing, their nerves on fire, their scalps prickling with the rush. And since it already felt like this from the sidelines, what kind of chaos was exploding inside that car?


    The instant Christina snapped out of the drift, sheunched forward like a missile, obliterating Elliott’s lead in seconds.


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    “What the hell? No way in hell!” Bruno growled, his eyes popping like they might fly out of his skull. He couldn’t process it. Christina had just overtaken Darknight.


    Most didn’t know who Darknight really was—but Bruno did. His cousin, Elliott. Only Skybreaker could ever manage to rival him.


    “Mr. Happer, you think he’s holding back just ’cause she’s a woman?” one of Bruno’sckeys whispered, not daring to raise his voice.


    “Obviously!” Bruno’s voice cracked like a whip. “Of course he’s holding back! No damn way that woman beats my cousin’s car unless he’s letting her. If he were serious—hell, she wouldn’t even catch the shimmer of his taillights!” He spat on the ground, fury sizzling in his chest. “Goddammit! We are not letting this bitch take the win!” Bruno’s re seared into the giant screen, silently begging his cousin to stop holding back and put an end to her at once.


    Nearby, the second-ce racer parted his lips like he might speak up, but thought better of it. Bruno wasn’t ready to hear the truth.


    The second-ce racer hadpeted against Christina not long ago. Earlier, he had told himself she simply got lucky, that his own missteps handed her the win. He’d clung to excuses. But watching her now, slicing through the track with Elliott on her tail, it hit like a punch to the gut. Losing to her hadn’t been chance. It was inevitable. And for once, he wasn’t even mad.


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