"That woman who stole your spot on the National Racing Team is now the talk of the city, and they’re treating her like some kind of hero. I can’t stand it," Milly said, her voice trembling with frustration as silent tears fell down her cheeks.


    "It feels so unfair that you and the others were pushed aside, and everything you worked so hard for was just handed to her on a silver tter. It’s just not right."


    The other former members of the Racing Team sat with them, casually eating and hanging out.


    Their schedules had be strangely free ever since they quit, a sharp contrast to the time they used to spend on the race track or at headquarters, training or strategizing how to beat theirpetitors.


    Now, without those routines, they felt lost. Their decision to quit had been an impulsive move, meant to show Hera who really held the power in the team.


    After all, they were the ones out there racing and setting records, not the manager or the coach.


    But what they hadn’t expected was for the manager and coach to let them go so easily after their outburst.


    The whole group was upset and at a loss. None of them had expected things to turn out this way.


    Their pride, however, wouldn’t allow them to go back and beg the manager and coach for another chance after everything they had said.


    Deep down, they thought the manager and coach were trying to bend them, waiting for an apology.


    But right now, their onlyfort was the belief that those "two old fogeys" would eventually crawl back, begging them to return.


    This belief kept them going, and it was the only reason they felt okay enough to hang out with Michael, their ace racer, and his sister today.


    They had always treated Milly like a sister, and some even harbored silent crushes on her.


    It was partly because of these feelings that they acted so impulsively, trying to show off.


    Now, hearing Milly say that Hera was being embraced by the public, showered with love and support, stung deeply.


    They had once been the ones receiving that admiration.


    So, it wasn’t a lie to say that they felt resentment and envy.


    But with no one to me but themselves for their rash decision, they didn’t know where to direct those emotions.


    To cope, they kept telling themselves that sooner orter, the manager and coach woulde crawling back, especially after Hera inevitably messed up.


    They pictured themselves swooping in to save the day, using Hera’s failure as a way to boost their own image and regain the spotlight.


    But despite trying to convince themselves otherwise, they couldn’t resist reaching for their phones, checking social media to see thetest trends.


    And there she was—Hera. From the top spot all the way down to the tenth, every trending topic was about her, effortlessly pushing everyone else down thedder.


    Seeing the sour faces and grim expressions around him, Michael felt a twinge of nervousness.


    He and his sister had been the ones to stir things up and react so strongly against Hera, especially Milly.


    Deep down, he knew his decision had been impulsive, driven by the need to show his support for his sister, ensuring no one would dare to bully her—especially not in his presence.


    But now, looking back, everything seemed like a blur. He couldn’t quite remember how it all started or how it escted so quickly.


    It was like the whole situation slipped out of his grasp, and he couldn’t figure out why.


    Yet, deep down, he knew the truth. He just didn’t want to confront it, as doing so would mean acknowledging that the me rested squarely on his shoulders—and on Milly’s as well.


    The reason he and his team sat in the restaurant with gloomy expressions was painfully clear: they had let their greed cloud their judgment, chasing the allure of a ten-million-dor prize.


    They had gambled their money and lost to a girl they had initially dismissed as nothing more than a pretty face.


    It was a blow to his pride, especially since he was supposed to be the ace of the team.


    He took immense pride in being the ace of the team, the focal point of admiration and love from both theizens and his teammates.


    His words had always carried the weight of a verdict that the entire National Race Team would rally behind.


    But now, look where they were: adrift and uncertain. He felt the most lost of all, yet he couldn’t allow it to show on his face.


    He feared that revealing his turmoil might hurt his sister, who had instigated the fight with Hera.


    They had all tried to cover up the fallout, but deep down, the reality was inescapable.


    Michael took a deep breath and chuckled nonchntly.


    "Don’t worry about her. Have you forgotten that we signed contracts with various sponsors? Our entire team did, especially since our cars are sponsored." He shed a wicked smile as he took a sip of his water.


    "Just imagine what would happen if our sponsors found out that our manager and coach kicked us out for a woman they’re trying to butter up for some beginner’s luck after beating us?"


    Everyone on Michael’s team perked up at the thought, especially Milly, who felt a surge of joy.


    This meant Hera was in serious trouble.


    Once the sponsors discovered that the entire team had been reced by a single woman, they would undoubtedly be furious.


    They might pull their sponsorship, leaving the National Team to face penalties for breaching the contract.


    On top of that, the sponsored cars would be reimed, leaving Hera with nothing—an empty garage and no equipment to her name.