Chapter 5
Once everything was set, the racers prepared to start.
I sat in the driver’s seat, calmly relaxing my fingers.
A few seconds later, the signal lights turned off, and the race began!
The cars sped off, gliding smoothly on the track, leaving afterimages in their wake.
The roar of the engines electrified every part of my body; I could feel the blood burning in my veins.
The stands erupted in excitement.
The cheers of the crowd mixed with the engine noise, pushing the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
The race was intense, and in no time, we reached the final lap.
I was in the lead, taking corners, drifting, and sprinting seamlessly.
As I crossed the finish line, I glanced at the finish line flag.
Joanne was waving the red–and–white checkered flag, jumping up with excitement.
The screen flashed with the results. Isla’s name stood out at the top.
Amidst the cheering and screaming, I stepped out of the car, took off my helmet, and shook my long hair.
“Oh my god, it’s really that girl who won! Isla? Who is she, I’ve never seen her before?”
“She’s the one with the incredible talent, didn’t you hear about her?”
“Aha, so cool, I’m going to chase her!”
The stands were in a frenzy, whistles and cheers filled the air.
“It’s Isla! It’s really her? I thought it was just a name coincidence!”
Charlie’s friends stood out the most, they stood up, pointing at my direction, their faces full of disbelief.
Joanne, still holding the flag, froze when she saw my face, her expression darkening as if she couldn’t accept this harsh reality.
“Isla?”
Charlie got out of the car, removed his helmet, and walked toward me.
“You…” he hesitated, his face pale, staring at me with empty, confused eyes.
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1 ignored him, and amid the crowd’s cheers, I walked up to the podium to accept the trophy.
Champagne sprayed everywhere, and someone handed me a large bouquet of ice blue roses,
A note in the bouquet caught my attention.
“Congratulations! You’ll always be the best. – Daniel
After stepping down from the podium, I looked around but couldn’t find Daniel anywhere,
I took out my phone and sent him a message.
“Where are you? Did you come to watch the race?”
It took him about ten minutes to reply.
“Sorry, I’m on a business trip and haven’t returned yet. Did you like the bouquet?”
I couldn’t help but smile slightly.
I really like it, thank you.”
Isla?
A familiar voice came from behind.
I turned around and saw Charlie slowly walking toward me.
He said, “I didn’t expect it to really be you. When I saw your name on the screen before the race, I thought it was just a coincidence.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you would like me this much.” He looked guilty. “You actually learned racing just to match my preferences.”
I know this sport is difficult. To reach this level, you must have spent a lot of money hiring a private coach.”
I sneered, “For you? No, that’s not the case.”
Charlie frowned, “Not for me?”
“No, I got my racing license two years ago.”
“No, that’s impossible. How come I never knew?”
He froze, realizing.
Yes, back then he was overseas. When would he have paid attention to me?
I held the bouquet in my hands and walked around him.
Just a few steps, and he caught up again.
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“Stop kidding around. I know you’re still angry with me. But you also know my parents have always seen you as their daughter–in–law. Give me some time, let’s not cancel the engagement, alright?”
He really succeeded in making me sick.
I stopped in my tracks and stared at him intently,
“Charlie, how did I not realize earlier that you were such a scumbag?”
He raised his eyebrows and suddenly smiled, “Go ahead, curse me. The more you curse, the more it means you like me.”
Ridiculous.
I couldn’t be bothered to respond, so I quickened my pace to leave, but he grabbed me tightly.
He yanked my arm just as the card in the bouquet slipped to the floor.
Charlie bent down, picked it up, looked at the words, and slowly stopped smiling.
“You know Daniel?”
I snatched the card back. “What’s it to you?”
The next moment, he suddenly sneered with sarcasm in his voice, “Just playing around, huh?”
“You think someone from his family would be interested in you?”
“Do you know what his family’s status is in Las Vegas? Can people like us even compare? Business tycoons, noble families–do you understand?”
Charlie thought he had hit a nerve, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
“Isla, who doesn’t know you spent three years serving my family like a maid? Who would want you, except for me?”
Slap!
Charlie’s head received a solid hit.
But this time, it wasn’t me who hit him.
He had been so focused on annoying me that he hadn’t noticed Joanne had quietly stood behind him.
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Kiss in the Cloud Palace
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
