The engine roared as I pressed the accelerator down on the empty race track.

I kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel, my eyes locked on the long stretch of asphalt ahead. The new Verran Quantum car was sleek, fast and of course, beautiful.

120 km/h... 160... 200.

"Don't push it too far on the first run," My secretary's voice came through my Bluetooth earpiece.

I kept my focus forward.

"I need to know what it can do," I said, pressing down on the accelerator.

Ahead, I saw a sharp turn coming.

I adjusted my grip and entered the turn at high speed.

The tires screeched against the asphalt as I gripped the steering wheel, taking control of the turn. Once I was done, my secretary's voice rang again.

"You never listen," she said.

"I do," I replied. "I just don't take orders from my secretary, Helen."

The road straightened again. Pressing the accelerator once more toward the final stretch, I headed for the finish line.

Finally, I stepped down and took off my helmet.

"The engine still needs to be worked on. Tell the engineers about what needs to be fixed and have them do it. I've sent a voice note to your email." I said, watching Helen nod before looking down at my wristwatch.

My eyes widened slightly.

6:30 pm.

I turned and started walking toward the building.

Helen hurried after me like she still had something to say, but before she could speak, my phone rang.

I looked at the screen. For a moment, I almost ignored it.

Then I stopped.

Lyra.

"You finally picked up. I thought you wouldn't, considering I've been calling you nonstop for five days," Lyra said. Her voice was firm, the same strong tone I remembered.

We had both been reborn.

We had both died at the hands of people we trusted the most.

And now, we had a second chance to fix everything.

"You promised you'd come to Sophia's three-year birthday party. How could you forget that? You didn't even send a gift. She is going to be so mad at you." she continued.

I reached my car and opened the door. The system lifted it upward, giving me space to get in.

"I'm so sorry. I know I promised but...today is the day Elijah brings Blossom back as his fiancee. I need to stop their wedding." I said as I fastened my seatbelt and started the engine. "It's the only way to save her."

There was a brief pause on the line.

"You still haven't forgotten her," Lyra said quietly.

"Never." I answered back before stepping on the accelerator. "I'll find a chance to make it up to Sophia so..don't worry. Take care."

" Be careful." Lyra said and I nodded even though I couldn't see her.

The line went off.

A pang of guilt came over me as I reached up to my ear to pull my Bluetooth out.

Sophia was my goddaughter and she was a damn pretty angel.

"I'll make it up to her," I repeated again as if I was implanting it.

The drive was a long one but soon I reached the gates of the mansion. I stayed still waiting as the house's system scanned my car and recognised my face.

Once it was done, the gate pulled open.

I drove in without hesitation and brought the car to a smooth stop in front of the main entrance. The engine went silent, but my thoughts did not. For a brief moment, I remained seated, my fingers resting on the steering wheel as I steadied my breathing.

This was it.

If I couldn't save her this time, everything would have been in vain.

I stepped out of the car and walked toward the door with firm, controlled strides. The staff at the entrance greeted me but I barely acknowledged them as I pushed the door open and walked inside.

My eyes scanned the living room.

It was empty.

Relief hit me at once, easing the tightness in my chest. Letting out a quiet sigh, I closed my eyes.

"Thank God she isn't here yet," I muttered, my voice low.

I didn't linger. I turned and went straight to my room, pushing the door open before stepping inside and shutting it behind me. The moment I looked around, a familiar unease crept in. Everything was exactly where it used to be yet it made my skin crawl.

I pulled my clothes off in a hurry and headed straight for the bathroom, my mind already racing ahead of me. I needed to be quick. Every second mattered, and I couldn't afford to waste any.

My hand reached for the handle. I pushed the door open without thinking and walked in.

A girl was inside.

Water ran down her body in thin lines, tracing her back before falling to the floor. Her long hair was soaked, clinging to her shoulders as drops slid from the ends. She stood there, completely unaware I was right behind her.

For a second, I couldn't move.

Couldn't breathe.

I just stared at her, watching as her tanned hands moved across her body.

Just then, she turned and tried to reach for more soap. My hand instinctively reached out and touched hers.

She turned fully to face me and our eyes met.

It was her.

The woman I've been searching for.

"Who are you?" Blossom yelled angrily.

My eyes darted to my room door.

" I said who are you?" Blossom asked again, grabbing the towel when all of a sudden she slipped.

Instinctively, I reached out trying to catch her but my legs gave out as I slipped too falling to the ground.

My back hit the ground with a loud thud, knocking the air out of my lungs. For a second, my vision blurred, the ceiling spinning above me.

But I barely felt it.

Because she had fallen right on top of me.

Blossom froze the moment she landed, her breasts pressed against mine as water dripped on me.

We were too close.

And I couldn't stop my body from responding.

Blossom's eyes widened as she felt it. "You pervert!"

Seeing her cute angry gaze was the best thing ever. I'd loved her for two lifetimes, of course I couldn't control myself.

" Blossom?" Elijah's voice echoed as he opened my bedroom door, catching us off guard.

Blossom's eyes widened.

"Blossom, are you here?" his voice echoed again.

A smile formed on my lips as I watched her panic silently. Her hand rested on my mouth, stopping me from talking.

I pretended to be stunned, pulling her hand away.

" So you're the infamous Blossom Hartford?" I asked, smirking at her. "Nice to meet you. I'm Louis Verran."

"Shush!" she signaled as the footsteps came closer.

My smile widened as I realised Elijah could catch us together. If that happened, maybe he would call off the wedding.

"Sweetheart?" Elijah called out once more as his hand wrapped around the bathroom doorknob.

Blossom froze.

The bathroom door creaked open.

Blossom moved fast, hiding behind the door before it could open wide to expose her. I tried to grab her hand to stop her but I was too late.

Elijah stepped into the bathroom, his eyes darting to my lower waist before he turned away.

"Holy heavens, can't you be decent for once in your life?" Elijah asked, his calm demeanour making him seem like he was a boss.

"You're in my room." I spread my arms out mockingly. "If you don't want to see anything indecent, don't come inside."

Elijah's jaw tightened slightly, but his expression didn't change much. His eyes swept the room again, slower this time.

"I didn't come here to argue with you," he said, his voice even. "I'm looking for Blossom, my fiancee."

Hearing him call her his fiancee made my blood boil.

Behind the door, I heard her suck her breath in meaning she was afraid of getting caught.

Good.

"Maybe she is right here." I said, walking up to the door and stopped.

My gaze held Elijah's, hoping he would buy my bluff and actually check behind the door.

For a second, none of us moved.

"Childish," Elijah said before turning away.

The room door echoed after him and clicked shut.

Once he was gone, Blossom slid out from behind the door. The white towel clung to her body like it had a life of its own, barely doing its job.

"Are you insane?" she whispered harshly, clutching the towel tighter as if it might betray her any second. "What if he checked?"

I let out a quiet breath, running a hand through my damp hair.

"But he didn't."

"That's not the point," she snapped, though her voice cracked at the end. "Just forget this ever happened."

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "What if I don't?"

She froze.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint drip of water from the bathroom sink.

Her gaze dropped, then quickly lifted again, defensive. "I should go."

"Yeah," I said, but I didn't move out of her way immediately.

Something hung between us. Something thick and electric. I knew it felt it too. The way her fingers tightened around the edge of the towel, like she needed something to hold on to.

" Move," she whispered, avoiding eye contact. "I have to get back to the fire station."

I froze.

Fire station?

By the time I came out of my thoughts, I glanced around and Blossom was already gone.

I frowned, leaning against the doorframe for a second.

*****************************************

Three days later

The conference room felt suffocating.

Not because of the space but because of the people in it.

No one spoke.

No one dared to.

I sat at the head of the table, flipping through the report in front of me, though I had already read it twice.

"They didn't just copy the exterior," I said, my voice calm but edged. "The internal system matches ours almost perfectly. Engine structure, cooling layout, even the seat designs. What does this mean?"

Across from me, Elijah exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair like none of this concerned him.

"You're exaggerating," he replied. "Similar doesn't mean stolen."

I looked up at him, my eyes narrowing slightly. "Everything's the same."

"And?" he shrugged lightly. "Maybe it's actually their design. Raven Tech is no small company. They have been in the industry for years."

A quiet scoff left me as I heard his words.

Was he really accusing me of plagiarism?

"I made those designs myself. As the CEO of Verran Quantum, do you think I would be so stupid as to copy others design and give the engineers?" I asked, standing to my feet.

The employees looked away immediately.

"I have no problem proving my innocence if that's what you want." I continued. "However, you must be ready to pay the price of accusing me falsely, Director Paul. Anyone who has dared to stain my reputation have long paid the price."

Elijah's hands clenched into a fist on the table as he stared at me but he didn't move. He and his supporters looked uncomfortable, their eyes glancing at one another.

I had called him by his maternal surname to prove he wasn't a Verran. He didn't deserve to be even if he was my stepbrother.

"Get this sorted out and find out who's the spy. If you can't do your job, you might as well resign."

The door opened and Helen walked inside, her heels clicking on the floor as she carried a long note containing my schedule.

I glanced down at my watch again.

It was almost time for the race.

Helen stood and nodded silently signaling everything was ready. Dismissing everyone, I made my way out of the room and into the elevator.

"Have the other racers arrived?" I asked, tugging on my tie as fast as I could. "What about the car I'll be using? Has it been checked?"

"The car is in perfect condition. Perfect to win you another medal." Helen said as the elevator started to move.

The room went silent for a second.

I noticed her stiff stance as she glanced up at the ceiling. This wasn't her usual self.

"What is it? Talk." I said.

" I'm just confused. You started racing because you wanted to show off Verran Quantum's cars. Now you have been champion for two years and the company is at the top. Why do you need to race again? The doctor said your hand-"

" Stop. I don't need you to worry about my hand." I said sternly.

Helen went quiet immediately but I could tell she didn't agree with me risking my life on the tracks.

Only today, I was risking it to save Blossom.

Because I knew that despite Helen's careful work, Elijah was going to mess with the cars.

The elevator dinged as it stopped.

"Tell the organisers that they should take all the safety precautions I told them too. As usual, my identity must not be exposed."

I got into the car and started it.

Pulling out into the main road, my eyss caught Elijah as he stood by the window of his office. His eyes were full of hatred and disgust as he held my gaze.

I didn't care.

Just as I did with his mother, I was going to put him in his place soon.

First, I had to save the feisty older woman who I loved so much.