"Full throttle, left turn."Right three. Downhill coming up, ease off the gas!" Theodore said.Elara had tried to memorize as much of the off-road course as possible through the route book, but there was no time to think at this speed.At this moment, Theodore was her brain.His commands were sharp and precise. Mount Clockwork's complex terrain had unfolded like a 3D model in his mind.Like a grandmaster surveying the chessboard, he guided Elara through every twist and turn."Harvey! Go for it!" Niamh noticed Harvey picking up speed and shouted in excitement.She had long forgotten where she had thrown the co-driver's route book. At this point, she was just along for the ride.Harvey didn't need a co-driver anyway. He only trusted his own judgment.He had personally helped design and plan the Mount Clockwork racecourse, so he knew every treacherous turn better than anyone.Black Hole raced alongside the other competitors in the second pack, while Corona had already left them
Theodore mentally mapped out the entire off-road track once again. A smirk played at the corners of his lips, and there was a flash of amusement in his eyes."The road ahead is clear. Luna, floor it!"Corona, still racing at full speed in complete darkness without headlights, surged forward. Elara trusted Theodore completely, and at last, they broke through the blackness and caught sight of the light.The roaring engines grew louder as the race cars approached. Spectators at the finish line craned their necks, anticipation thick in the air.After entering the blackout zone, the large screen behind the grandstands had also gone dark. It left everyone in suspense—no one knew which car would be the first to emerge from the darkness and hit the final stretch.Beau stood on the railing. His tiny frame was bracing against the cold wind as his wide eyes fixed on the distance.Suddenly, a sleek black race car burst into view. The massive screen flickered back to life, and the crowd erupt
When Corona crossed the finish line, Elara remained in a daze.Her hands still gripped the steering wheel, and she struggled to process what had just happened for a moment."Luna! You won!"Elara turned her head in a daze. Her gaze landed on Theodore, who had removed his helmet.His sharp, fox-like eyes gleamed with a triumphant light, and his smile was dazzling like scattered stars.He reached out, gently removing Elara's helmet. As he lifted it away, her dark, silky hair cascaded down like a waterfall.Elara tried to steady her breathing, her chest rising and falling from the intensity of the race. She looked up, meeting Theodore's gaze—his jewel-toned eyes reflected only her."Luna, welcome back!" She was a treasure in Theodore's eyes."You've always been the champion in my heart!" His tone was firm and unwavering.He was still high from the adrenaline rush, and his chest heaving. Even the temperature in the car was steadily rising.Elara studied him seriously and asked, "
Beau, who was raised under the careful guidance of the Fisher family, had seen plenty of powerful figures and grand occasions. Yet, as he stood by Corona's door to greet Luna, his heart pounded with nervous excitement.However, the person inside the car remained silent."Luna?" Beau called out as he stood on tiptoe, craning his neck curiously to peek inside.Niamh stepped out of her car and immediately felt a sense of crisis upon seeing both father and son standing by Corona's door.She strode over. "Luna, right? I've heard so much about you. I also ride heavy motorcycles. How about a one-on-one race? Let's see what you've got."Harvey had lost to Luna, so Niamh wanted to win back some dignity for him. She knew Luna was a professional race car driver, and she had heard that Luna also rode motorcycles.Yet in Niamh's mind, Luna's skills on a bike couldn't possibly be at a professional level.Plus, considering how much stamina Luna had burned during the off-road tournament, Niamh
Beau's voice barely registered in the chaos, but Niamh scoffed dismissively. Harvey didn't take his son's words seriously either.Beau stared at Luna's back, blinking in disbelief. This had to be a mistake! Confusing Luna with his attention-seeking mother? That was an insult to Luna!As soon as Niamh announced her challenge, a group of young elites crowded around Luna, each eager to offer their own bike."Luna, ride mine!""Luna, take my bike!"Elara recognized every single one of them. If she removed her helmet, their enthusiasm would evaporate in an instant.These guys were a part of Niamh's closest circle. When Elara returned to the Jones family at 18, they had all been openly hostile toward her.Later, they should have at least shown her some basic respect for his sake when she married Harvey. But Harvey's attitude toward her had set the tone—if he didn't care, neither did they.Niamh then rolled out her prized motorcycle, her fingers tightening around the handlebars. Watch
So much for the so-called number one female racer in Eucon—Luna was nothing special after all.Tonight, Niamh was determined to defeat Luna. Tomorrow, she would be the one making headlines!The first turn was approaching fast.Then, a sleek black motorcycle shot past Niamh with ease, leaving her in the dust.Niamh was stunned. How had Luna overtaken her in an instant?She cranked the throttle, pushing her bike to its limit in an attempt to catch up. But with each sharp turn, the gap between them only widened!"Holy shit! Luna didn't even slow down for the corners!""Unreal! This is her first time on this track—she didn't even warm up!""That's the skill of Eucon's top female racer! She's absolutely terrifying!"Niamh gritted her teeth so hard she thought they might crack. There was no way she could catch up to Elara on her own.She needed help.Just then, a plastic water bottle suddenly came flying through the air from the spectator stands, landing directly on the track.Ev
Niamh had been riding motorcycles for years, but for the first time, she truly understood what it meant to be powerless—what it meant to be utterly left in the dust.She and Luna weren't even in the same league. This was a one-sided demolition as Luna had utterly crushed her.Beau had been staring at Luna for so long that he only just now noticed Niamh lagging behind. He crossed his arms and puffed up his cheeks in dissatisfaction."Niamh is so slow! She's crawling like a turtle!"Harvey sat in his chair, still wearing his thick racing suit. The front was unzipped to reveal his solid, heaving chest as he caught his breath.His deep, knowing gaze remained locked on Luna. No one had ever held his attention like this before. Maybe this was the allure of extreme sports—the kind of thrill that made it impossible to look away.Elara had finished her third lap first, pulling up at the finish line before flashing Theodore a quick signal. Theodore immediately gestured to the event staff.
Harvey had always done things his way—everyone else had to play by his rules."I want the Black Hole, the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, and the Aston Martin Valkyrie."Elara spoke in Melcinian as she listed the three cars she wanted. These were the most expensive cars in Harvey's garage.The sharp glint in Harvey's eyes turned icy cold in an instant, as if he were trying to see through the helmet covering Elara's face."How do you know I have the La Voiture Noire and the Valkyrie in my garage?"His presence was so overwhelming that most people would have been trembling under his glare. But Elara had lived with him for years—his oppressive aura had long since lost its effect on her."A man capable of building a car like Black Hole must be a true car enthusiast. It wasn't hard to guess that these two high-performance hypercars would be in your collection. Mr. Fisher, are you willing to part with them?"Luna's explanation sounded reasonable—as a professional racer, she could easily ded
Theodore was truly a frightening man! Yet Elara didn't find this off-putting.Wasn't this exactly the sort of thing he would do? She had sensed this man's calculated advances from the moment he began appearing frequently in her life.Soon, Cassie left, and Elara sat in her office chair, moving back slightly."You can come out now," she commanded.Her voice had regained its composure. "You should have recovered by now, right, Mr. Snapp?"Theodore emerged from under the desk, which had been relatively cramped for someone of his size. He blinked at her, his eyes brimming with amusement as he asked, "Was that fun?""I almost fell for you," Elara blurted out, her voice carrying a more teasing tone.The man looked slightly disappointed. "So, you didn't fall for me after all?"Persistent, he leaned forward and lowered his voice to ask, "Did it feel good when you touched me earlier?"Elara's bright eyes sparkled with light as she had to admit, "I didn't expect you'd feel so nice to to
If one word could describe Theodore, it would be "insatiable!"The spasms emanating from Elara's abdomen made her aware of the unusual sensations in her body. In the warm early summer afternoon, even the air in the office seemed to grow heavy and humid.She felt as if an electric current had struck her, sending a tingling sensation up from the base of her spine. Her lips parted slightly, and she couldn't help but feel an intense curiosity about Theodore."Why would someone like you be interested in someone like me?" Elara's voice fell from above him."Hmm? Someone like me? What kind of person am I?"Theodore looked up at her with an expression that seemed completely vulnerable, as if offering himself to be commanded by her.Seated in her office chair, Elara lowered her gaze. As she looked down at this man, a strange and subtle thrill arose in her chest.She finally understood what it meant to gaze down from a position of power. It felt as though butterflies were dancing wildly i
Harvey was annoyed by Ethel's interference in his love life. Elara's decision to divorce him undoubtedly had something to do with Ethel's meddling."I recall that Uncle Leonard has been looking after the Shelton family. Didn't the Sheltons' daughter go abroad to study with Uncle Leonard's letter of recommendation?" Harvey asked."That's ancient history," Ethel replied. "I hear she has done quite well for herself in Melcina. She's returned and taken a position at Quantum Tech under Price Nation."Harvey was about to leave, but he stopped in his tracks when he heard a certain phrase from Ethel."What position does Ms. Shelton hold at Quantum Tech?"Ethel was delighted—Harvey was showing interest in Angie.She described enthusiastically, "I heard she's highly regarded by Priscilla. Since she's joined Quantum Tech, she must be in a top position.""Isn't Elara the one in charge?" Harvey thought. He quickly realized this meant Elara's position at Quantum Tech wasn't secure.Harvey re
Perhaps it was because he had spent recent days shoveling manure for fertilizer, cleaning pigpens, and herding cattle and sheep, but Harvey's germaphobia seemed to have been cured.He crouched down and began searching through the pile of garbage.Seeing Beau standing idly nearby, he sternly commanded, "What are you standing around for? Help me look! If we don't find the stethoscope, you won't be eating dinner!"Beau finally understood the gravity of the situation. With fear and trepidation in his heart, he looked at the garbage scattered on the ground with a miserable expression."Daddy, can I at least have a pair of gloves?""Look!" Harvey roared. "If we don't find it, I'll throw you in the trash can!"For the first time, he had completely lost patience with his son. Flames seemed to shoot from his eyes, and the features of his face were tense and sharp.Beau trembled, held his breath, and crouched down. With a disgusted expression, he began searching through the garbage while
Harvey froze in shock. He pulled back the covers, finding nothing on the bed. He spun around and darted out of his room, leaving a sharp, cold breeze in his wake.Outside his room stood a bodyguard assigned by Leonard. Harvey then grabbed the bodyguard by the collar."Where's my stethoscope? Who told you to touch my stethoscope?" he demanded.The bodyguard was bewildered. He gripped Harvey's hand in displeasure. "Mr. Fisher, please calm down. I don't know what you're talking about."Hostility flashed in Harvey's eyes as he breathed heavily and questioned, "My stethoscope that I put under my pillow—who took it?"The bodyguard thought for a moment. "I did see Mr. Beau playing with a stethoscope this morning. I'm not sure where he got it from."Harvey's pupils constricted sharply. Beau had entered his room and taken his stethoscope?That little brat!Beau, dressed in a gray monk's robe, was surrounded by visitors who had come to the chapel to pray. These past few days, he had been
This time, Harvey very clearly saw Elara's face deepen from a light pink to a rich, blooming rose—visibly, and in real time.Her beauty blossomed like a peony in full bloom. Her long lashes trembled several times, and her dark eyes shimmered as if brimming with tears.She looked as if… She was lovestruck. The moment that phrase crossed Harvey's mind, he was so stunned that his eyes widened in disbelief.Was Elara suddenly getting shy because of him?A strange flutter rippled through his chest. He sat at his desk, staring at the high-definition monitor in front of him, where every detail of Elara's face—even each individual eyelash—was crystal clear.He shifted his gaze to the upper-left corner of the screen to glance at the small preview of himself.After Leonard had driven him up to the mountains, the priest at Atkina Church had given him a haircut. Since he was neither a monk nor formally ordained, it was just a close-cropped cut, not a full shaving of the head.He looked at h
Theodore's eyes gleamed like sunlight shimmering over a lake. He looked like a large dog trapped in a cage, gazing at Elara with unwavering intensity. If he had a tail, it would have been wagging wildly like a windmill spinning at full speed.Elara screamed internally. This had gone a little too far! Her eyes then dropped to the tip of her own shoe. The place she had kicked… had grown!"Oh!" She quickly jerked her foot back, only to feel her body tip backward uncontrollably.Just as she was about to fall, Theodore reached out and grabbed her ankle.The moment his fingers touched her skin, her heart skipped a beat. Theodore pulled her back toward the desk.Elara froze in place like a statue. Her entire body was tense, her eyes were wide, and her pupils were unfocused."Elara, what's wrong?"Harvey had seen her suddenly lose her balance and fall backward. It startled him so badly, he looked as if he wanted to jump through the screen.A wave of helplessness washed over him. Luckil
Elara looked under the desk. What on earth was going on?Meanwhile, Harvey observed Elara in her formal women's suit on the computer screen—an attire he'd never seen her wear before.Her hair was pulled back into a bun secured by a simple ebony hairpin. A few strands, gilded by sunlight, curled against her porcelain cheeks.Though she appeared to be looking down at something, Harvey's gaze and thoughts remained completely captivated by her face. Only months had passed since their divorce, yet seeing her now felt like encountering someone from another lifetime.Had time stretched endlessly during his days at Atkina Church?"El—" Harvey's throat tightened as if stuffed with paper.But he quickly regained his usual composed tone. "Elara—no, I should address you as Ms. Jones now. Had Sam not called me, I wouldn't have known you'd assumed Quantum Tech's CEO position."His voice carried that innate condescension of the privileged, laced with unmistakable mockery."Why are you hiding
Elara stood still as she gazed at the tall, distinguished man before her. Meanwhile, Theodore looked up and smiled at her against the light."Why are you so far away?"Elara stepped toward him, teasing lightly, "I wanted a good look at you.""Then you'll need to come closer." Theodore leaned forward, closing the distance between them.Though she stopped a step away, their faces nearly touched. Elara instinctively held her breath as her eyes locked on him."Can you see clearly now?" Theodore asked."Mm," Elara replied."And?""So handsome." Elara praised him sincerely. "You're one of the most attractive men I've ever seen!"She truly meant it. Theodore chuckled through his nose. She'd seen plenty of handsome men in her life—Finnegan, Harvey, and Leonard. Especially Leonard, whose looks even made Theodore feel somewhat threatened."My face is the least remarkable part of me." He declared confidently.Images of those shirtless photos Theodore had sent flashed through Elara's mi