Chapter 44
+25 BONUS
After seven years, Elara once again sat in Corona’s driver’s seat. It felt as if countless dormant cells in her body were suddenly reawakened, pulsing with energy in sync with the engine’s roar.
Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the wheel, and he could hear the rapid pounding of her own heart. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly alive.
Seated in the passenger seat, Theodore relished the raw power of acceleration.
Today, the Corona was different–it had been reborn in Elara’s hands.
“Go ahead, speed all you want. I’ll cover the tickets.”
Elara suppressed the thrill surging inside her. “No need. If I get caught speeding, it’s my license that’ll take the
hit.”
Corona tore through the highway, its roar drawing the attention of pedestrians.
“What just flew past?”
“Was that a swallow? It zipped by in a flash!”
“In this season? No way! I think I just saw a ghost!”
People on the sidewalks murmured among themselves.
On the road ahead, a group of wealthy young elites–Niamh’s usual crowd–were driving their flashy modified cars, blasting loud music, and glowing under the neon lights of their vehicles.
Corona weaved through the chaotic, rule–breaking traffic like it owned the road. In the blink of an eye, it had overtaken them all.
“Holy shit! What was that?” Passengers in the modified cars shrieked in disbelief.
One of them immediately checked the dashcam footage.
“It’s Corona! No way! I just saw the real Corona! The first female racer from Eucon to place in the top three at an international rally championship drove Corona as her battle car!”
Excitedly, he dialed a number. “Quick, check the traffic cameras! I need to know where the Corona is headed!”
“I thought the original owner sold it off? Didn’t it go for 70 million at auction seven years ago to a buyer in Eucon?
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“The way it just moved that had to be a pro racer behind the wheel. An amateur would’ve crashed long ago!”
“I have to see the owner! If I can just touch the Corona, my life will be complete!”
“Hey, Niamh! I just saw Corona! I swear, it’s real! My dashcam caught it!”
Back at the kindergarten parking lot, Beau sat in the backseat of Harvey’s Maybach, fiddling with his mechanical crossbow.
Niamh, still on her call, scoffed. “You must be drunk. That has to be a knockoff.”
She had named her own modified motorcycle Corona, copying the legendary car that had once made history as the first Euconian vehicle to place in the top three of an international rally race.
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Chapter 44
+25 BONUS
Seven years ago, Corona was auctioned off, and everyone in the racing circle assumed it had become nothing more than a collector’s garage trophy. No one expected it to make a comeback on the road.
“Capitol is full of imitation Coronas you definitely saw a fake.”
But just as she finished speaking, a sleek black sports car pulled into the parking lot. Though the lot was crowded, Corona reversed smoothly into a space with effortless precision.
“Corona?” Niamh blurted out.
“That car is so cool!” Beau, who had been lounging lazily in his seat, suddenly shot upright.
He lost all interest in his crossbow. His eyes were now glued to the black sports car, burning with excitement.
The doors lifted upward like wings, and Elara and Theodore stepped out.
“Mommy?” Beau gasped.
Meanwhile, Niamh’s expression changed instantly.
“Mommy’s the one driving that awesome car!”
“You’re mistaken! She wasn’t the one driving!” Niamh snapped, her voice rising. “Cars like that are all imported
the driver’s seat is on the opposite side.”
Her gaze darkened as she took in the scene. Why was Elara stepping out of Theodore Snapp’s car?
“I want to see that car up close!” Beau squirmed to get out of the Maybach.
Niamh quickly intercepted him. “The owner of that car is a good friend of mine! You can see it whenever you want!
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Her eyes flickered with calculation before she suddenly smiled. “Beau, at this time of night, rats start coming out. Want to use your crossbow to shoot some? Do the world a favor?”
“Yes!” Beau nodded eagerly.
Niamh then led him out of the car.
Meanwhile, Elara hurried straight toward the kindergarten building.
Chapter 45
