Chapter 502
502:
As she leaned in for a closer look, Jade blocked her path with a firm stance. “Why are you staring at my car?”
Jade understood that Brenna’s mechanical prowess could decode any unauthorized tweaks easily.
“Catch you on the track,” Brenna said, pivoting toward her own vehicle.
Jade watched Brenna go to the area where the crimson-accented racer was parked, its custom alloy wheels and aerodynamic curves captivating every photographer’s lens.
“Style over substance,” Jade muttered begrudgingly, slipping into her car. Memories of their last competition flooded her mind—how she had pushed her machine to the brink, sacrificing it in a desperate bid to catch Brenna’s taillights. In the end, her car lay in ruins, nearly totaled, and she had still failed to defeat Brenna.
That defeat had always festered like a thorn in Jade’s side.
Each subsequent race had found her scanning entry lists for that alias “Night.” Years had passed since she last saw it, and she had doubted Night would ever show up again. But today, her worst nightmare returned.
Doubt gnawed at her. Then, she caught sight of her cockpit’s illegal modifications. It struck her that victory might demand some dirty tactics. Even if it meant tarnishing her own reputation, she was determined to take down Brenna this time.
Officials lined up the racers for staggered starts, one-minute intervals separating each vehicle, with final rankings determined by lap times.
Cars launched one by one. Brenna held the ninth starting slot. Brenna realized that Jade had inexplicably secured permission to start at the same time as her. Because of the Hewitt family’s clout with the organizing committee, this blatant rule violation had slipped through the cracks.
The two striking vehicles surged ahead at the starter’s signal, accelerating like arrows released from a bow. Within moments, they vanished from the oval track’s view, maintaining identical speeds.
Brenna skillfully maintained her position, a car length behind Jade, steering one-handed while casually taking in the scenery and her rival through the window. In stark contrast, Jade fought to keep her grip. Her white-knuckled hands clutched the steering wheel as she drove, her eyes darting frequently to the rearview mirror to see Brenna’s car.
gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝗈n – 𝓶𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻
Sweat slicked her palms; the engine’s roar drowned out all other sounds as she zeroed in on the road. The gravel section loomed ahead, notorious for sending racers into spins and rollovers.
Yet, she noticed Brenna still held her ground, a car length back. Five minutes in, and Brenna had not closed the gap.
It appeared to her that Brenna’s skills had waned; she felt a fleeting moment of relief.
Confidence surged through her.
As she approached the notorious gravel section, its reputation held strong. Despite passing three competitors, her car shuddered violently, speed ebbing away as the tires struggled.
She poured every ounce of strength into controlling the steering wheel, fighting to keep the vehicle steady. But a sideways glance shattered her composure— Brenna had caught up with her, and her car glided alongside hers with ease. Panic surged, and Jade slammed the accelerator, disregarding the punishing terrain beneath her.
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