But no matter how Cason tried to reach Aria through the radio, he received no response from her. Cason clenched his fists as Aria's image disappeared from the main screen. He worried that if anything happened to her, he could never face Rafael. He rushed over to the race committee. "I demand you stop the race! There are all these dark clouds and lightning, and we can't even see our racer on the screen. If an accident happens, we wouldn't even know if it's natural or caused by someone else!" The committee huddled together for a brief discussion. After a moment, one turned to Cason. "Once a race begins, we cannot stop it. Doesn't harsh weather better showcase a truly skilled racer?" While Cason argued with the committee, Terrence noticed the changing sky, and his eyes darkened. "Aria Carver, you won't be coming back this time. Not everyone has the right to join this race." Meanwhile, shouts of confusion spread through the audience stands. "What's going on? It was sunny just minut
People started discussing among themselves. "Why is Aria with Vextron Racing?" "Wait a minute, Rafael and Aria Carver share the same last name... Is she Rafael's sister?" "They really have incredible genes. If Aria were a man, I'd marry her in a heartbeat!" "Am I the only one who thinks the name Aria Carver sounds familiar?" The crowd wouldn't stop chattering. Hearing them, Aria turned toward the stands with a smile before walking toward the track. This simple gesture sent her excited fans into a frenzy. Indeed, Aria was such a beautiful yet badass woman. Cason approached her and said, "The race is about to start. Don't feel pressured." Aria just smiled faintly, holding her helmet in one hand. The ones who should feel pressured were her opponents. The buzz online was off the charts. Countless people flooded the Carver Group's official page with comments, trying to confirm Rafael's identity. Aria's appearance had already revealed much about the matter. The media grew e
At the racing venue, staff members hustled about while handling their assigned tasks. As the sky brightened, spectators arrived one after another. The scene was grand, buzzing with voices. In a private box above the audience seats, two men were talking. They were Virgil and Terrence. Virgil flicked his cigarette ash. "There won't be any problems with today's finals, right? I've replaced your car with a top-tier racing model, and your top competitors have been eliminated." Terrence bowed beside him. "Mr. Jastrow, rest assured. I'll certainly win the championship." His words were filled with unfounded confidence. Virgil looked at him. "Big talk means nothing. I need to see actual results." He shifted his gaze and continued, "Alright, go get ready." Terrence nodded. "Mr. Jastrow, I'll head down first then. Be sure to watch my performance later!" With that, he left the private box and walked toward the contestants' area. After Terrence left, Virgil looked toward the racet
Leif felt pretty confident. For one, his mentor and Homer went way back. Secondly, nobody in Grindham would refuse Fabien a favor. He glided upstairs with mystical poise and found Dorthan standing outside the room. "Dorthan, why are you hanging out here? Where's Mr. Bond?" Dorthan looked him over. "Why aren't you practicing at the Infernal Order? What brings you here?" Leif gave a mysterious smile. "I need to speak with Mr. Bond about something." After that, he knocked on the door. "Mr. Bond, I'm Mr. Enzo Alstone's disciple from the Infernal Order. I need a word." From inside, Homer didn't open up. His voice drifted through the door. "What about?" Seeing that he wouldn't be invited in, Leif lowered his voice. "Mr. Langford from the Chamber of Commerce wants to meet you. He hopes you'll do him a favor. Tomorrow is the founding day of the Chamber, and Mr. Langford wants to relocate the Chamber's headquarters. "He'd like you to check out the esoteric formation of the new loc
When Aria promised payback, she would always back it with real action. If they dared to scheme against Rafael, she'd make sure everyone who bet on this race would regret it. The Special Missions Unit had members investigating leads, fighting corruption, and providing protection. After Rafael was detained, someone else had slipped inside to watch over him. Aria's visit as a lawyer was just the beginning. She had to arrange proper protection before she could rest easy. Take Jerry, for instance. He thought he had hidden his intentions well, but he had no idea he'd been under surveillance the whole time. Aria was the best at playing the long game. The Special Missions Unit had everything documented, including who Jerry had contacted, what calls he'd made, and who might be pulling his strings. The bottom line was simple. Whoever tried to frame Rafael should prepare to lose their position of power. Fabien never could have predicted this outcome. After all, Aria's true identity had
Aria turned toward the voice. The speaker was none other than Terrence, the third-place finisher from the poster. He was good-looking enough but clearly incapable of saying anything decent. Every word Terrence spoke dripped with disdain for Rafael. What others did not know was that Terrence had once worked for Rafael's company, collecting paychecks while secretly participating in fixed races behind the club's back. Rafael, who couldn't tolerate such dishonesty, had fired him without making the reason public. Never would he have imagined this ungrateful wretch would show not an ounce of appreciation. Instead, he had returned to mock them in their time of trouble. Cason was furious. "Terrence, you know exactly what you did. Mr. Carver kept quiet back then to protect your future and reputation, but that doesn't mean no one knows!" Everyone nearby perked up at this, all ears to learn what had happened. Terrence noticed their interest and barked, "Don't you all have work to do?"