Chapter 7
Wren and Yvette only realized they were too late when they rushed to the scene.
Several of Kade’s friends were watching the live stream of the race on the big screen. Their hearts palpated with anxiety.
“You’re too late! They’re already on the track. How will we explain it to Kade’s dad if things go awry?”
“Shut it! Don’t say such an awful thing!”
“I knew that idiot, Kade, would act like a fool whenever Charlotte’s involved. Not even an army can stop him! He would only get into fights and risk getting punched before, but now, he’s putting his life on the line over a bet! He’s too obsessed with Charlotte!”
Wren was still panting from running. However, he elbowed his friends when he heard their complaints.
The group turned around, noticed Yvette, and finally shut up.
1/1
Two car engines roared from afar after 20 minutes. Their noises seemed to draw closer.
Yvette watched the two cars overtake each other several times on the big screen. She also noticed the men had a mile left on the race track, her brows furrowing deeply.
A few minutes later, the two race cars came into everyone’s view, which meant the race was about to end.
Kade’s car took the lead, but there wasn’t a big gap between him and his opponent.
During the last half–mile, one of Kade’s friends cursed aloud after seeing the ever–changing numbers on the screen. “Do you have a fucking death wish, Kade?”
Yvette looked in the direction of their stares and realized the black race car bolted through the tracks at lightning speed. It was so fast that one could only see its faint shadow as it moved.
The screen showed the remaining distance of 60 miles. It lessened to 30 miles, 6 miles, and so on.
Kade never once decelerated, so he crossed the finish line first. That said, he had to pay a price to guarantee his win. His car ended up crushing the shock–absorbing equipment outside the finish line. Then, his car flipped over with him inside it.
The race ended after that.
Kade’s friends had been waiting at the finish line. They sprinted to rescue a bloody Kade from the car.
Kade coughed up big mouthfuls of blood, and he was slowly losing consciousness. “Dude, g–get the earrings and give them to Charlotte. D–Don’t tell her anything about t–today…” Those were the only and final things Kade said before he passed out. He had done all that for Charlotte. It had nothing to do with Yvette, who had been waiting aside.
Kade’s left hand was nearly crushed from the impact during the race, and it would have ended his career for good.
He was still unconscious after his surgery, yet he kept murmuring Charlotte’s name.
Yvette silently looked away from him when she saw how anxious and afraid of losing Charlotte he was in his dreams.
The night went by, and the effects of the anesthetic wore off.
Kade opened his eyes, taking in the exhausted person beside his bed. His heart softened at once. “Have you been taking care of me all night that you didn’t get any rest?”
Yvette massaged her brows and let out a soft hum.
Kade noticed the bags under Yvette’s eyes. His heart ached for her, so he petted her head. “Thank you. It must’ve been hard on you.”
Only a calm tone came from Yvette. “It wasn’t hard at all. You’re my brother’s best friend, so it’s only fair that I look after you.”
Kade found that odd. Shouldn’t she have said she took care of him because she was his girlfriend? Why did she say she looked after him because he was her brother’s best friend?
At that moment, he realized Yvette was probably upset because he had risked his life in a car race for someone else. He wanted to explain himself. Yet, he couldn’t quite justify his actions, no matter how he tried.
Fortunately, Yvette didn’t ask him about it. So, he changed the topic. “Who else has visited me while I was unconscious?”
“Your of friends and your manager from the club.”
Kade’s smile tightened into a harsh, flat line. Still, he refused to accept the truth. He flashed a half–smile as he asked, “Just then? Are you sure nobody else came?”
Once Yvette nodded, his expression turned cold, and he no longer spoke for that entire morning.
Yvette knew who he was waiting for but didn’t bother confronting him.
In the few days Kade was hospitalized, Yvette remained close by his side.
The day Kade got discharged, he noticed Yvette’s cheeks had hollowed out due to weight loss. His eyes narrowed as he felt bad. “Thanks for taking care of me these past few days, Yvie.” Yvette only had a calm expression as she picked up the suitcase. “No need to thank me. You’ve always looked after me since my brother asked you to when I came to study in Jurbane City. Just think of this as me expressing my gratitude.
“I know my efforts these days can’t compare to the years you’ve cared for me. However, I haven’t given you much trouble while living in Jurbane City these years either. Let’s call it even.” That was the second time Yvette verbally distanced herself from Kade.
Kade felt something was amiss upon hearing that. He couldn’t help but glance at her. “We’re a couple. Why are you talking about calling things even? Don’t I still have to look after you in the
future?”
Yvette avoided his gaze and spoke with the softest whisper of a voice. “There won’t be a future anymore.”
