Three days after things ended badly with Julian, I went to the club.

My day job was coaching at the motorcycle racing club.

That was where Julian and I first met.

"What's wrong? Where's this coming from?" Bobby Gomez, the club manager, asked. He seemed nervous, avoiding eye contact as I cornered him.

"I don't know who owns the club," Bobby said, glancing at me before trying to shift the topic, "How's Julian doing these days, by the way?"

"I broke up with him," I stated coldly. His skeptical frown told me he didn't buy it.

After a long pause, Bobby concluded, "You loved him so much. There's no way you could just break up."

"It's true," I insisted.

In front of him, I took out my phone, pulled up Julian's contact, and firmly hit delete. Without hesitation, I also blocked him on WhatsApp.

It was only after seeing this that Bobby seemed to accept that Julian and I were really done.

Raising his eyebrows, he seemed still surprised. "So you finally let go?"

Silently, I just lowered my head and pocketed my phone.

Half a year ago, right after Julian's accident, he had brought up breaking up.

At that time, I was already on my way to the airport, set to compete overseas.

When I came back to the club, Julian was freaking out.

He didn't want me going abroad to compete because if I moved on to the next round, I'd be overseas for over six months.

Seeing him so helpless in his wheelchair, I decided to stay, at the cost of a large penalty fee.

Bobby gave me an earful for that decision, and had no choice but to send Ellie in my place.

Ellie seized the opportunity, and her value skyrocketed overnight, while I gradually disappeared from the scene.

As he recounted these old stories, Bobby couldn't help but sigh. "You've been with the club since you were eighteen. I've watched you grow. Listen to me, now that you've let go, steer clear of them."

He couldn't say much more, but I knew what he meant.

Julian had staged that whole scene just to please Ellie, which conveniently handed my chance to compete abroad to her.

Honestly, Julian's scheme was full of holes. But back then, blinded by love, I was willing to do anything for him.

From my reaction, Bobby could probably tell what I was thinking.

He didn't say much else, just handed me a flyer. "The new season of international races is starting soon. If you want it, I won't tell Mr. Carlson."

"Mr. Carlson?" I repeated under my breath.

If I was right, this club was actually Julian's. This whole thing was a trap set by him.

I took the flyer with trembling hands, feeling a wave of sadness.

I remembered seeing Julian for the first time at the racetrack.

He was about my age, dressed in all black racing gear, pulling off his helmet in the sunset as he ran toward me.

"You're Rachel Thorne, the ace coach here?" Julian had asked.

His gaze, full of admiration, met mine.

Surprised, I found myself locked into his tender eyes. Right then, I knew I might have fallen for him at first sight.

"Rachel, why aren't you picking up my calls?" Julian's voice snapped me back to reality.

I looked up to see Julian with Ellie, who looked calm.

It was almost comical, this pair acting like strangers just to get back at me.

"Why aren't you picking up my calls?" Julian asked again, his anger barely contained.

I stared at both of them, said nothing, and just gave a cold laugh to show my disdain.

Julian grew annoyed at my reaction. "What's with that attitude?" he snapped, frowning.

Ellie, who had been silent till now, chimed in irritably, "Hey, Rachel, what's your problem with Julian?"

"Drop the act," I said, arms crossed, eyeing the damn couple.

"Wh-What?" Julian stuttered, clearly not expecting my direct approach.

"What are you talking about? What act? What got into you?" Ellie snapped, pointing right at my nose.

"Ellie!" Surprisingly, Julian cut her off.

"You didn't come home last night," Julian said from his wheelchair, eyeing me. I could swear there was a hint of blame in his tone.

"But when did Julian and I ever have a 'home'?" I wondered.

"I've blocked you. Didn't you see?" I held up my phone. To drive the point home, I added, "That means we're done. Got it?"

"Don't you dare!" Julian's face contorted with fury. His hands clutched the armrests, veins bulging with tension.

"I ended up like this because of you. And this is how you treat me?" His voice quivered with a mix of disbelief and anger.

The old me would have rushed to comfort him, like pacifying a child. Now, he just disgusted me.

I was done dealing with Julian.

Under their watchful eyes, I kicked the wheelchair.

"Enough with the act," I stated calmly.

Julian reacted swiftly, standing up just as my foot swung toward his wheelchair.

He steadied himself, his eyes growing redder. Clenching his teeth, he confronted me, "When did you find out?"