Chapter 2
After thanking Ayrton, she turned to Walter, tears brimming in her eyes as she pleaded, “Walter, please don’t go racing. It’s dangerous, and I worry about you”
Seeing Claire break into a smile, Walter hastily agreed, “Alright, alright, anything you want, my dear! As long as you’re happy, I’m all ears!” Watching them descend the stairs, Lucille stood at the doorway, feeling as if she were in a waking dream.
She remembered a time, long ago, when it was she who stood between Ayrton and Walter.
Lucille had been a sickly child, plagued by asthma, and the damp, rainy climate of Axelvale City wasn’t ideal for her health. So, at the age of five, her parents sent her to Sea City, a place known for its mild weather, to recover under the care of her aunt, a doctor.
It was then that Lucille met Ayrton and Walter, who lived next door to her aunt. The three grew up together, inseparable childhood friends. From the very first moment they laid eyes on her, the two boys were smitten, sticking to her side and playing the role of her protectors. When they were kids, they would escort her to and from school, buy her breakfast, and tear up any love letters she received, forbidding any boys from getting near her.”
As they grew older, one took over the family business and became a CEO, while the other became a renowned racecar driver. Despite their busy schedules, they bought the houses on either side of Lucille’s, knocked down the walls, and lived with her, insisting on cooking meals for her every day.
Even when her health improved and her family urged her to retum to Axelvale City, they had tearfully begged her to stay, promising to drop everything and follow her if she left.
They always said, “Wherever Lucille is, that’s where we’ll be.”
Thanks to them, Lucille’s condition improved, and she delayed her return to Axelvale City
But everything changed when Claire appeared.
Claire was Lucille’s intern. On her first day at the company, Claire hesitated to join the group for lunch, a pattern that continued until Lucille found her nibbling on a peanut butter sandwich in a comer. Upon asking, Lucille learned that Claire had come from a small town in the mountains and was trying to save every penny.
Lucille, the eldest daughter of the affluent Simpson family, had never known such hardships. Her heart went out to Claire. And then, Lucille, being kind–hearted, took her under her wing.
Occasionally, she would bring Claire along when dining with Ayrton and Walter.}}
And so, Claire met Ayrton and Walter.
Ayrton, who had always been reserved and aloof, never attended such noisy gatherings. Yet for Claire, he made an exception.S Walter, who lived for racing and couldn’t be swayed by anyone, found himself abandoning his passion at Claire’s mere suggestion.” This pattern repeated itself countless times over the past month.
In the past, Ayrton and Walter never hid their affection for Lucille, often creating dramatic scenes where they pressured her to choose between them. Lucille had even entertained the thought of selecting one of them as her life partner.
But now, the prospect of an arranged marriage set up by her family seemed appealing.
Lucille smiled wryly and set a countdown on her phone for her departure.
From now on, she decided, she wouldn’t interfere with the three of them anymore.
Chapter 3
