<b>Chapter </b><b>484 </b>


    “Still as handsome as ever!”


    Yates couldn’t help but pull Sebastian into an enthusiastic hug.


    “Mr. Vanderbilt!”


    Abel stepped forward to greet him, hand extended for a handshake–only to bepletely ignored by Sebastian, who didn’t even spare him a nce.


    “So, what kind of race are you nning?”


    Sebastian’s eyes swept coldly over the two men.


    “We’re just here to have fun, no pressure. A friendly race,” Yates replied, throwing an arm over Abel’s shoulder.


    “Yeah, just a casual game,” Abel added with a smile.


    Sebastian didn’t say much in response, nodding slightly. “Alright. Keep it casual. I need to take a call.”


    He stepped away to answer the ringing phone.


    Meanwhile, at the entrance of the racingplex, Connor Jackson of The Jackson Family arrived with his girlfriend, Yasmin.


    The moment they stepped in, Yasmin’s gaze locked on a figure by the cars–Sebastian, standing tall in his racing suit. She froze.


    “Yasmin? What is it?”


    Connor followed her line of sight and spotted Sebastian too. His tone turned a bit excited. “That’s Sebastian? He’s here today? Is there a race


    happening?”


    “I don’t know.”


    Yasmin’s expression was unreadable, though the sight of Sebastian clearly stirred something in her.


    “You go find us a seat–I’m going to ask if I can join! If there’s a race, I’m not missing this chance.”


    Connor had always wanted to prove himself against Sebastian. Last time he had heard Sebastian would be racing, but he’d never shown up. Today might


    be his shot.


    At the track, the men were still chatting before <i>the </i>start of the race when Connor jogged up.


    “Mr. Vanderbilt! Are you guys racing today?”


    Everyone turned toward the voice. Seeing who it was, Sebastian nced at him indifferently. “Private race. What, you want in?”


    “Yeah, if it’s cool–can I join? I’d love to race with you guys!”


    Connor could act arrogant in other circles, but in front of Sebastian, he was all deference.


    Sebastian didn’t respond immediately, but Yates chimed in. “Why not? Let him join. The more, the merrier!”


    “Fine,” Sebastian said.


    Connor beamed, practically bouncing in excitement. He was already itching to prove himself on the track.


    Abel frowned at the unexpected new yer. Another personplicated things–but maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. If something went wrong<b>, </b><b>it </b>would be harder to trace it back to him,


    Chapter 484.


    <b>Just </b>then, more people arrived outside.


    <b>Zora </b>had invited Jillian toe watch the race, and Jillian had brought Reese along. As fate would have it, they ran into Yasmin at the venue. Since <b>they </b>all knew each other, they sat together in the stands.


    “Miss Harris! I heard you’re taking over XEG–impressive!” Yasminplimented her.


    Zora smiled, brushing it off. “Just keeping things afloat. What about you? Here alone?”


    “No, I came with my boyfriend.”


    She gestured toward the track, where the men were gathered.


    When Jillian spotted Sebastian among them, she immediately shrank back, hiding behind Zora.


    If Sebastian saw her, she’d be doomed.


    Zora nced toward the group as well. Seeing Abel standing with the others, she couldn’t helpparing him to Sebastian.


    Abel wasn’t bad–looking–until you stood him next to Sebastian. Then the difference was ring. Connor didn’t even count<b>; </b>his short height was a fatal w. Yates was okay, butcked Sebastian’smanding aura.


    When it came to masculinity, charm, and sheer presence, Sebastian was unrivaled.


    What a shame… he was the one man she could never have.


    Reese spotted Sebastian in his ck–and–white racing suit and gasped. “Who is that guy? He’s insanely hot!”


    Jillian rolled her eyes. “You don’t recognize Sebastian? Don’t even think about it. You’ve got no shot. Caitlin would end you.”


    Jillian had learned firsthand not to cross Caitlin and wasn’t about to try again.


    “What? That’s Sebastian?”


    Reese’s excitement turned sour. She hadn’t forgotten how scary he could be–especially when protecting Caitlin.


    “The guy’spletely blind if he picked Caitlin,” Reese grumbled.


    Yasmin added fuel to the fire. “He really was blind–literally. That’s how Caitlin wormed her way in.”


    “What a waste,” Reese sniffed in disgust, still bitter about her past encounter with Caitlin at the VERA boutique.


    The mention of Caitlin had all the women fired up. United in envy, they dove straight into gossip.


    “She’s definitely had work done. No way she used to look like this. I don’t buy the ‘glow up‘ story,” Reese muttered.


    “I don’t think she’s had surgery. Her skin is wless, though. Honestly, she’s kind of enviable,” Jillian admitted, though her tone was reserved.


    “Come on, Jillian, you’re just as pretty! You don’t lose to her in looks at all,” Reese said, then added with a sneer<b>, </b>“Girls like Caitlin only care about getting men. She probably has dozens of them wrapped around her finger.”


    “Oh, for sure. She even went after my brother once! Almost ruined his marriage,” Yasmin revealed dramatically.


    Reese gasped. “Seriously? That’s textbook homewrecker behavior. I bet she’s got a whole stable of sugar daddies.”


    “Or maybe she’s more into toyboys. A woman like her? She definitely can’t handle being alone,” Zora said, smugly.


    As the gossip escted, Jillian began to check out mentally. She wasn’t sure she believed any of it anymore. After <b>what </b><b>happened </b><b>with </b><b>the </b><b>design </b><b>fiasco</b><b>, </b>her brother had warned her about trusting Zora too much.


    <b>213 </b>


    <b>09:22 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>18 </b><b>Aug </b>


    Now<b>, </b>she just listened quietly, not adding fuel to the fire. Deep down, she knew most of this was petty jealousy.


    The trash talk kept going until a cold voice dropped from above.


    “Well, would you look at that?1 arrive and immediately hear a bunch of gossiping hens pping their tongues.”


    Caitlin’s voice cut through the air like a de, making every woman in the group freeze.


    “Ah! Caitlin!”


    They looked like they’d seen a ghost. The color drained from their faces.


    Had she heard everything?


    When did she get there?


    “Who are you calling a gossiping hen?”


    Reese was the first to snap, unwilling to back down.


    The others looked away, shame and panic on their faces. And to make matters worse<b>, </b>Caitlin <i>looked </i>stunning.


    She wore a tailored ck–and–white outfit–sharp, sleek, and effortlessly powerful. It wasn’t a racing suit, but it coordinated perfectly with Sebastian’s, looking like they were wearing couple’s outfits.


    It was infuriating.


    She had definitelye here just to show off.


    After learning Sebastian would be racing today, Caitlin hade to support him. She hadn’t expected to walk into a full–blown gossip session about herself.


    “Of all of you, Miss Nguyen seems to have the biggest mouth. You must’ve died from strangtion in yourst life to be reborn with a tongue that long.”


    “You–Caitlin!”


    Reese was so furious she could barely speak. Did she really just say that?!


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