At the training facility, Kurt''s speed was improving by leaps and bounds under Juniper''s guidance. In his final practice run, he finally broke the ten-minute mark, which all but guaranteed him a spot in the top five.


    "Ms. Payne, here''s some water for you," Ghoul said, holding a cup with both hands, his back bowed in a show of utmost respect. His face was stered with a fawning smile.


    Seeing Kurt''s incredible transformation, Ghoul had finally recognized the girl''s talent. His initial disdain had morphed into reverence, and now he was practically sucking up to her.


    Juniper took the water. "You didn''t poison it, did you?" she asked nonchntly.


    "Of course not," Ghoul said, lowering his head in shame. “I was blind before, aplete fool. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, Ms. Payne.”


    He exined that he had just been anxious about Orient Country''s racing future and frustrated with that scoundrel, J. He insisted he meant no harm.


    “Oh," Juniper said with a slight lift of her brow before taking a sip. It tasted fine.


    "Allow me, Ms. Payne," Ghoul said, smoothly taking the cup from her and offering a box of tissues. He grinned. “Anything you need, just say the word."


    With her training, Kurt had broken ten minutes-a result they hadn''t even dared to dream of before. With a day and a half left until the race, a little more coaching could push his speed even further. It was only natural to treat her like royalty.


    Just then, Juniper''s phone vibrated. A message from Shanley popped up: [Juniper, I''m at the gate.]


    A smile spread across her face. He had understood her perfectly. When she told him she was leaving at seven, she knew he woulde to pick her up.


    "That''s enough for today," Juniper said, ncing at Ghoul.


    "You''re leaving already, Ms. Payne?" Ghoul''s face fell, and he scurried to keep up with her. With the race just two days away, he was hoping for every extra minute of training for Kurt.


    "If I keep watching him, Kurt''s nerves will snap," she said with a slight smirk. "You stay and have him run a few moreps. Record it and send me the video."


    Her presence made Kurt too tense to perform at his best. Without her watching, he might do even better.


    “But there are still so many areas where Kurt needs—"


    “Just do as I say," Juniper stopped and fixed her gaze on him, her tone serious. "With me here, Orient Country will not lose."


    Her confident words and


    unwavering expression made Ghoul swallow hard. With J still missing, all their hopes were riding on Kurt. Ms. Payne clearly had skill... if she said they wouldn''t lose, he would believe her. It was a long shot, but wh?t other choice did they have? The rest was up to fate.


    ...


    Outside the training grounds, Shanley leaned casually against his sports car,


    holding a milkshake in one hand and his phone in the other.


    "Shanley," Kurt''s voice came through the phone, sounding agitated. "That guy Melvin has been staring Juniper the whole time, te''so definitely up to no good."


    Shanley listened, his eyes narrowing dangerously.


    "If Melvin actually finds J, what''s going to happen to Juniper?" Kurt worried aloud.


    At that moment, Shanley saw her emerge from the facility, with Melvin following close behind.


    "He won''t find J,” Shanley said, a cold smile touching his lips, his voice filled with certainty.


    "How can you be so sure?" Kurt asked. "I heard he hired Cybeic Shadows. They''re supposed to be legendary. They said that for the right price, they can dig up your family''s entire history."