The race had a dedicated rescue team to handle such accidents, ensuring that both the competition and the award ceremony proceeded as planned.

So my car plunging into the sea did not in any way hinder the championship presentation.

Alanna seemed about to ask something, but held herself back.

A staff member answered instead, “It’s still unclear what happened, and the live broadcast didn’t have time to switch to his feed.

“But from the video just now, it seems the car that fell was number thirteen.”

Alanna exhaled and shifted her gaze.

I realized the truth then.

Last night, I had mentioned to Alanna that I was assigned number fourteen, the last driver, but before the race, I was suddenly given the thirteenth spot.

The driver’s car had a problem and needed emergency repairs, so he wanted to swap positions.

I agreed without hesitation.

It had been abrupt, and I hadn’t told Alanna.

Yet the large screen had already been refreshed. Anyone paying attention could have realized that number thirteen was me.

The staff hurried away, and some reporters rushed to cover the accident live.

Alanna and Jack, following the reporters’ instructions, posed for photos before returning to the lounge.

As soon as she entered, Alanna pulled out her phone.

She frowned, perhaps noticing I still hadn’t contacted her.

Usually, after every race, we sent each other a message to ensure the other was safe.

Most of the time, I texted first, and she would reply only after a long delay.

Jack seemed aware of this habit.

Seeing her hesitation, he asked softly, “Did Lewis contact you?”

Alanna shook her head. “It’s been nearly an hour since the race ended, and there’s still no news from him.”

“Could he be angry?” Jack asked.

“After all, it’s because of me that he didn’t win the championship.”

“I’ll explain to him later. You helped me with this—I can’t let it harm you.”

Then he pretended to murmur to himself, “But on the other hand, Lewis has already won so many championships.

“Even if he failed this time, he shouldn’t be so angry that he doesn’t contact you. After all, you’re his fiancée.”

Alanna stiffened. It was clear his words had struck a chord.

Jack took out his phone. “Should I apologize to him first?”

“Apologize for what?”

Alanna snatched the phone and slammed it face down on the table.

“Let him be angry if he wants. We won’t get married then.

“Weren’t you going to take me out for dinner after the race?”

“Sure, let’s go then.”

Alanna grabbed her bag and moved to leave.

At that moment, I saw clearly the triumphant smile on Jack’s face.

I felt nauseated and didn’t want to watch, yet my soul remained tethered to Alanna.

On the way out of the race venue, I saw that the wreckage of my car had been recovered and was parked on the open ground.

The car had been mine for eight years, from my earliest days in racing, through more than sixty competitions, large and small.

It should have appeared as usual in glossy photos on the champion wall.

Now, it lay scattered, pitiful, and lonely under the gaze of the crowd.

Just like me.

Alanna glanced at it, hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Why do I feel like that car belongs to Lewis?”

Jack glanced over.

“No way. You must be mistaken.”

Then Jack lowered his voice, “We only tampered with Lewis’s gearbox.

“It would slow the car down, nothing more.”

Alanna nodded. “That’s true.”

She took out her phone again, unlocked it, and opened our chat window.

I still hadn’t sent her a message.

A passerby returning from the scene walked past them, his face pale with shock.

“It was horrible. That driver died so miserably.

“His whole body shattered. Falling from two hundred meters…He looked like someone who had been thrown into a compactor.

“There’s barely anything left that resembles a person.”

Unease flickered across Alanna’s face.

“Should I drive over and take a look?” Jack asked.

Alanna struggled inwardly, then answered coldly, “No. Why would we look? It’ll ruin my appetite later.”

Their car sped away, and the two of them pushed the matter out of their minds.

They finally stopped in front of a restaurant.

The owner seemed familiar with them from the moment they entered, greeting Jack with a warm smile.

“Brought your girlfriend again, I see. We’ve got a new dish today—your girlfriend will probably love it.

“Want to try it?”

Alanna said nothing.

She seemed completely used to being called his girlfriend.

Jack replied, “Sure, man. And bring two bottles of the good liquor. We’re in a celebratory mood today.”

“And the kind your girlfriend likes, right?”

“Right.”

“Just a moment.”

Smiling, the owner asked a server to lead them to a private room.

The ease with which they moved suggested they had visited more than once or twice.

Yet when I once suggested eating here, she resisted, telling me the food was mediocre.

What had she been thinking then?

Was she afraid the owner would see us together and realize her fiancé was me?

Or was she afraid that sitting across from me would taint the sweet memories she held with Jack?

I didn’t know, and most likely never would.

After eating and drinking their fill, Alanna grew tipsy and began sharing everything that had happened lately.

She rambled about small things, like how I bought a new game console for the house, and large things, like our arguments, and how I refused yesterday to give up the championship for her.

I had never known she could talk so freely.

Jack listened patiently, then looked at her gravely.

“I didn’t want to say this, but I don’t think Lewis loves you,” he said quietly.

Alanna froze.

Jack continued, “No one understands men better than another man. Only when a man doesn’t love enough does he hesitate between a championship and the woman he loves.

“If she were truly the one he cared about, what man would choose the trophy?

“As for me, I never would. If I liked someone, forget the championship—even if it cost me my entire life or my future, I’d choose her without hesitation.”

Alanna’s gaze wavered. “Anyone you like must be very lucky.”

Jack reached across the table and took her hand.

Their eyes locked, and in the soft, smoky atmosphere, Alanna’s face flushed as red as a boiled lobster.

“Alanna,” he said, “don’t marry him. Be with me.

“You helped me win the championship, even if it meant betraying him.

“Maybe he won’t say anything now, but after you marry, he’ll definitely use this against you again and again.

“But I’m different.

“We’ve come all this way together, and you’ve helped me so much.

“I’ll treat you well, no matter what it costs me.”

Alanna hurriedly covered his mouth with her hand.

“Don’t say such things.”

Yet, I saw the look in her eyes.

Jack grinned, still holding her hand.

“Then I’ll take that as your agreement.”

Alanna was about to reply when her phone suddenly rang.

As soon as she answered, the anxious voice of my former teammate, Lionel Schumacher, came through.

“Where are you? Lewis is in trouble! The driver who crashed into the sea during this rally? It’s him!”

Alanna froze.

Then, as if realizing something, she let out a scoffing laugh.

“Well, that’s perfect. I don’t have to bring up the breakup anymore.

“Aren’t you his friend? Just handle his affairs. I have nothing to do with him anymore.”

Then, she hung up.

Jack’s eyes darted around.

“What’s wrong, Alanna?”

She looked triumphant, a knowing smile on her lips.

“I was worried Lewis might have gotten into real trouble, but when Lionel called, I already knew. He’s using the same old trick.”

Jack nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. If that really was Lewis, why hasn’t the organizer contacted you yet?”

Hearing this, Alanna’s suspicions only grew stronger.

She pulled out her phone and sent me a message.

[Lewis, I see through whatever you’re trying to do.

[I know you’re angry, but I’ve said it before: I hate being deceived.

[This is the last time. I’m ordering you to come back right now, or our engagement is off!]

I smiled helplessly.

She had forgotten that, to avoid affecting her race, I had already changed my emergency contact to Lionel.

Years of familiarity had made her increasingly indifferent to me, and, instead, she trusted Jack’s words completely.

Yet, the result didn’t change.

As the two of them prepared to leave, the police arrived to take Alanna in for questioning.

At that point, they didn’t yet know that news of my death had spread across the internet.

Alanna, still confused, asked why they wanted to detain her.

The officer answered politely, “Upon inspection, we found your fingerprints on Mr. Senna’s car. We hope you will cooperate with the investigation.”

“Did Lewis report it?” Jack asked in feigned surprise.

Before the officer could explain, Alanna’s confusion flared into anger.

“Where is he? I already promised to marry him after the race, and now he fakes his death and calls the police!

“What does he want?”

The officer looked at her with slight suspicion. “You are Mr. Senna’s fiancée?”

Alanna nodded.

The officer studied her carefully.

“Then you know that Mr. Senna…”

He didn’t finish his sentence before a young man suddenly appeared.

He shoved Alanna down, his eyes bloodshot, screaming in madness, “Bitch! Lewis is dead because of you!”

The police immediately restrained him.

But upon hearing the commotion, several other onlookers rushed forward.

“So it was you!

“Lewis should have been the champion! You tampered with his car, and not only did he fail to finish the race, but he also got killed for it!

“How could you be so vile?”

Several fans shouted, trying to push towards Alanna.

She hadn’t yet processed the information and asked in a small, stunned voice, “Who’s dead?

“Who are you saying is dead?”

Her voice was quickly drowned out by the yelling.

The police struggled to maintain order.