Xavier, who was still struggling to break free, froze mid-step. Alexandre, too, stopped in his tracks just outside the garage. Both men stood breathless, stunned. The words were clear, each one, but together, they didn’t dare believe what they meant. Were they mishearing? Could it be true?


    The firefighter finally reached them, panting, eyes wide. "I didn’t find any body inside," he said again, excitementcing his voice.


    But then he paused, the realization settling in like a weight. If there was no body inside...


    "Then—where is she?" he whispered, the question hanging heavy in the air.


    "Find her!" Xavier barked, his voice sharp with urgency, but nowced with a flicker of hope. The moment the firefighter’s words registered, the four men restraining him instinctively loosened their grip, and Xavier broke free.


    He rushed toward the charred wreckage, his eyes scanning every ckened inch. There were no remains. No signs of anyone being trapped or burned inside. Alexandre was right behind him, catching up quickly. Their eyes met for a brief second; no words were needed. They both understood.


    They needed to find her.


    Without hesitation, they split off in different directions, each scouring the area withser focus. Around them, the crowd remained in a daze, stunned by the sudden shift from despair to uncertain hope. It took a moment before the others snapped out of it.


    Seeing the determination in Xavier and Alexandre’s movements, the police and firefighters quickly joined the search, fanning out across the area, calling Hera’s name, scanning every possible hiding spot.


    Then, the crash cushion moved, and Xavier froze. He heard a weak groan. "Ugh..."


    He bolted like lightning, moving so fast it was as if he almost dove headfirst into the cushion. With trembling hands, he began pulling it apart, and there she was. Hera, wedged between the heavyyers of the crash cushion, was buried but alive.


    The cushion, thankfully, wasn’t made of hard material; it was thick and weighty but designed to absorb impact. Still, being trapped beneath it without air could’ve suffocated her. Xavier dug frantically, his voice hoarse as he called her name. Alexandre, seeing what was happening, sprinted over and joined in. A momentter, police officers and firefighters rushed in to help lift theyers off her.


    There she was, buried beneath, alive but motionless. Hera’s limbs were twisted unnaturally, her body bruised and battered, but her helmet remained intact. She hadn’t suffered any head trauma. Just broken bones, a dislocated shoulder, a fractured arm, and a leg, but she was breathing. Alive.


    Judging by her position, she must’ve jumped out of the car just in time, aiming directly for the crash cushion. And they realized that the crash cushion hadn’t been ced for the vehicle, but for her. A desperate, perfectly-timed escape. Without it, she would’ve died on impact if she jumped out or burned alive in the explosion.


    What she pulled off was nothing short of a miracle.


    The medic quickly crouched beside Hera as the others continued removing the remaining crash cushions. With practiced hands, the medic gently removed her helmet and began checking her condition. She winced in pain, but stayed conscious, a promising sign.


    After a quick assessment, the medic confirmed she had a fractured rib on her left side, but thankfully, it hadn’t punctured any organs. Her arms and legs were also fractured, though not severely enough to require surgery. A full recovery was possible with proper care, a few casts, and a few months of rest and monitoring in the hospital.


    The team of medics collectively sighed in relief. Despite how dire the crash had looked, she had survived. It was a miracle of timing, instinct, and sheer will. And as they looked at the bruised but breathtakingly beautiful girl lying there, still alive against all odds, some couldn’t help but think how tragic it would’ve been to lose someone like her.


    When the crowd heard that Hera was alive, a wave of cheers erupted throughout the circuit. Relief swept over everyone like a tide, and joy lit up the faces of racers, spectators, and staff alike. The once-tense atmosphere turned electric with celebration, and everyone rejoiced at Hera’s miraculous survival.


    Everyone... except one.


    The mastermind behind the attempted murder was watching from the shadows, their ns unraveling before their eyes as the target lived.


    Meanwhile, Hera was carefully ced onto a stretcher, ready to be transported to the hospital. Only one person was allowed to apany her in the ambnce, and without hesitation, Xavier climbed in. Alexandre, Athena, Liz, Antoine, and Minerva followed closely behind in their own car, unable to leave her side for long.


    Back at the circuit, Danny Coleman remained to cooperate with the police investigation. He answered questions while overseeing the garage and ensuring no one left without clearance. Everyone involved, team members, mechanics, and witnesses, was temporarily detained for questioning.


    Due to the chaos earlier, the award ceremony was postponed until the police investigation concluded.


    As soon as Hera arrived at the hospital, she was rushed through a series of tests, X-rays, MRIs, and full-body scans to check for any internal injuries that the medics at the scene might have missed. It wasn’t just protocol; it was also to give Xavier peace of mind. He needed to know, absolutely, that she wouldn’t suffer anysting damage orplications.


    Only after confirming that there were no internal injuries, no damage to her head or spinal cord, and that her condition was stable, did the doctors proceed to reset her fractured bones and apply the casts.


    By the time everything was done, several hours had passed.


    Outside the treatment room, Xavier sat with red, tired eyes, the worry written all over his face. Alexandre, Antoine, Liz, Athena, and Minerva were with him, all tense and silent, their anxiety hanging thick in the corridor air as they waited for news.


    Then Minerva’s phone rang.


    She nced at the screen, and her throat tightened. "Hello?" she answered, her voice catching as she spoke. "Brother..."


    Rafael’s voice came through, gentle and concerned. "I saw online... is it true? Hera’s alive?"


    "Yes... Yes, Sister Hera is alive," Minerva choked out, nodding even though he couldn’t see. "She’s in the room with the doctors right now. She just finished a full round of tests to check her condition, and they’re putting her fractured leg and arm in a cast. Aside from a broken rib on her left side and some bruises... she’s okay."


    Her voice cracked, and suddenly the dam burst. Minerva broke down in sobs, as if all the fear and tension she’d been holding in since the crash finally overflowed. The image of the car exploding had frozen her heart with terror. In that moment, she’d realized just how much Hera meant to her, how much she already thought of her as family. The thought of losing her had shaken her to the core.