Chapter 2

Zack's POV

Rebecca looked extremely panicked as she threw herself into my arms. "Were your old leg wounds acting up again?" she asked.

I didn't answer her question. Instead, I stared into her eyes and asked, "Do you want to have a child?"

Rebecca's eyes flashed for a split second before she answered, "With the current condition of your body… It's not the right time to talk about these things."

I wondered if she didn't want to be intimate with me because the current condition of my body made it ill-suited to engage in such activities or because she was actually pregnant with Hayden's child.

I pushed her away and threw the photos that I had taken in front of her. Tears streamed down my face as I gritted out, "Don't you think that you owe me an explanation about what's going on between you and Hayden?"

Rebecca was briefly stunned before her gaze turned cold. "You were following me?"

She seemed to recall something at that moment. Her eyes were full of mockery as she asked, "Did you call me today because of this? What do you want me to explain? That I cheated on you and fell for your apprentice?

"What happened in the past was an accident. Hayden's still so young. I can't ruin his future.

"I admit that the child was an accident, but I won't abort it. If you're willing to accept it, I can tell the child to call you 'Dad' too. Hayden's a reasonable man, and he respects you as his former mentor. He has never bothered you, but you just insist on causing a fuss."

Rebecca's calm criticism was like a sharp blade that stabbed itself into my heart, making it ache terribly. She reflexively offered some medicine to me when I frowned in pain.

I swatted her away, shouting, "Drop the hypocritical act! You disgust me!"

Rebecca's face twisted into an upset expression. She was just about to speak when her phone suddenly rang, prompting her to pick up immediately. She shot a cold look at me before saying, "I have to go. You should take this time to calm down."

She then left in a hurry.

I tailed Rebecca and watched with wide eyes as she entered a luxury goods shop and picked up a pair of custom-made wristguards.

I thought about how clueless Hayden had been when he first joined the racing industry. I was the only one who was willing to take him under my wing. Rebecca had even told me to chase him away with a disdainful expression.

"I can tell with a single glance that he's a useless piece of trash," she said. "You're a racing genius. Don't let him get in the way of your career."

My turbulent emotions finally reached a breaking point as I watched Rebecca enter a villa in Southport and personally put the wristguards on Hayden. I impulsively ran toward the villa and slammed open the door that had been left ajar. I then aimed a punch at Hayden.

"Have you lost your mind, Zack Wilson?" Rebecca roared, her eyes shining with disdain as she stood in front of Hayden. "Take out all your frustrations on me instead! Hayden's innocent!"

I stumbled two steps backward, unable to believe the words that just came out of her mouth. I remembered the first time I won first place in a race. Rebecca had ecstatically thrown herself into my arms while ignoring everyone's gazes around us.

"You're amazing, Zack!" she exclaimed. "You're my number one!"

It had just been a provincial-level race, but Rebecca had given everyone in her company my merchandise. She said that she wanted all her employees to know that she had an outstanding husband.

However, everything had changed.

"Don't tell me that you want Hayden to make amends with his life?" Rebecca demanded, her voice rising sharply.

She lowered her voice again when she noticed my bloodshot eyes, saying, "You're Hayden's mentor. You'll get to bask in his glory too when he wins first place."

My heart shattered into a million pieces as I watched Rebecca defend Hayden.

Meanwhile, Hayden clapped his hand on my shoulder. He ruthlessly dug his nails into my flesh as if he wanted to tear the entire chunk out. "I've always felt so sorry about what happened all those years ago. I hope that you can forgive me…"

"Don't touch me!" I hissed in pain, batting his hand away.

I didn't expect him to crumple to the floor.

"My leg…" Hayden moaned as he clutched his leg with a pained expression.

Rebecca's expression twisted. She shot a furious look at me and screamed, "You know what it's like to have your legs broken! Are you really going to hurt Hayden and force him to experience the same pain that you went through?"

She shoved me aside before helping Hayden to his feet, keeping him steady as they hobbled toward the door.

My tailbone collided harshly against the floor when I lost my balance and fell down. Excruciating pain exploded at my knees and spread through the rest of my body.

"Save me, Rebecca… My legs…"

Rebecca used to look at me with gentleness overflowing from her beautiful eyes. However, at that moment, her eyes were completely devoid of warmth.

"The doctor said that your legs would never be like they were before, but they won't get worse either. Drop the act, Zack. You're just making me dislike you more."