Dreams Beneath Racing Skies

"No need."Through that voice recorder, I already knew everything. My family and Ryder's family had known each other for generations.When I was eighteen, my mother, Eleanor Hawthorne, fell critically ill. Ryder's mother, Portia Calloway, donated a kidney that saved Mum's life.Before the surgery, Mum lay in the hospital bed crying. "How are we ever supposed to repay something like this?"Mrs. Calloway half-joked, "If you really want to repay me, then let Lyra marry my son someday."I stood there at a loss, unsure what to say.Ryder answered first, "Then it's settled, Mrs. Hawthorne. I like Lyra. I'll definitely marry her in the future." He spoke with such certainty as if he would never go back on his word.So, three years ago, Ryder and I got engaged. I stayed in the country, while he went abroad.Perhaps out of gratitude, I deliberately picked up cooking and basic nursing care. Whenever I had time, I would go to Ryder's house to take care of his parents.The rumors outside

"Why?" I shot to my feet, confusion written all over my face.Ryder rubbed his temple, clearly not planning to lie. "I remember putting it in the box. But somehow it just disappeared."What did he mean by "disappeared"?That was the only thing Mum had left me. Even if I had to tear the ground apart, I would find it.Nova, however, paid no attention to the conversation between Ryder and me. She had stood up and was reaching for the bottle of red wine in the center of the table.When she bent forward, the pendant around her neck slipped into view.It was my ruby pendant."Wait!" I immediately stopped her and pointed at her neck. "That pendant you're wearing right now belongs to me."The entire room went silent.Everyone stared at the two of us.Nova turned to Ryder, completely calm. "Ryder, Lyra says it's hers. But how can she prove it?"Ryder had no answer. He had never truly cared enough about me to examine the engagement token carefully.Nevertheless, I remembered it perfe

Ryder gave Nova a casual wave before turning his attention back to adjusting his racing suit.Once everything was ready, the drivers lined up, engines rumbling as they prepared to launch.I settled into the driver's seat and flexed my fingers calmly.A few seconds later, the signal lights went out. The race began.One car after another shot forward like bullets, streaking across the track in blurs of motion. The roar of the engines ignited every nerve in my body. It felt like my blood itself had caught fire.The grandstands erupted. Cheers from the crowd blended with the thunder of engines, pushing the atmosphere to a fever pitch.The race was tight, and in the blink of an eye, we were already on the final lap.I held steady in the lead.Cornering, drifting, accelerating—each move flowed seamlessly into the next.As I crossed the finish line, the corner of my eye caught sight of the grid girl standing near the track. Nova was waving a red-and-white flag, jumping up and down in

Mrs. Calloway kept shaking her head, looking dispirited even while eating.The gala had been underway for quite a while when, to everyone's surprise, Nova suddenly appeared. She was dressed in something bold and revealing, her makeup completely out of place for the formal setting. Without the slightest hesitation, she strode straight over to our table.Mrs. Calloway gasped."What are you doing here?" She glanced around nervously. "Where's Ryder? And what kind of security does this family have, letting just anyone walk in?"Nova dropped into an empty chair beside her, her tone immediately hostile. "You can't say that. Ryder said he plans to marry me. That makes me part of your family. Of course I belong here."All the women at the table paused, frowning slightly at Nova's brazen attitude.Mrs. Calloway felt utterly humiliated. Forgetting about maintaining decorum, she snapped back immediately, "Who do you think you are? You think you deserve to marry into our family?"Bang!Nova