Chapter 389:
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Coltonâs brow furrowed at her condescending tone, surprised by the sharpness of her words.
âSome people arenât in it for the money, Melany. They do it for the adrenaline, for the thrill,â he said.
For a long time, Colton had secretly yearned to be like the racers below, free to unleash himself fully.
But something always held him backâmaybe fear, maybe something else. So, he remained a spectator, stuck on the sidelines.
Melany blinked, her expression softening. âColton, I know. Itâs just that Iâm not as brave as they are. Sometimes it scares me,â she said, her voice taking on a more vulnerable tone, her eyes pleading for reassurance.
Seeing her like this, Colton reassured himself that he was reading too much into it.
Perhaps Melany was just nervous, genuinely afraid. After all, even from the stands, the intensity of the race could set hearts pounding.
âItâs okay. Iâm here,â he said, wrapping his arms around her protectively.
Unbeknownst to them, Mose Craig, the CEO of Craig Group, had just exited the racetrack.
He had finished competing in the top-tier race and was preparing to invite Colton for a business discussion. However, hearing Melanyâs dismissive words about the race and seeing the two of them being affectionate in the stands gave him pause.
âYou there, inform Mr. Stevens that the collaboration is off. Thereâs no need for us to do business with him,â Mose said to his assistant, his eyes fixed on the couple.
Mose had earned his reputation over decades, cutting his way through the business world with sharp instincts. Just from observing Colton and Melanyâs interaction, he could tell they werenât the right kind of people to partner with.
After wiping the sweat from his brow, Mose sat down elsewhere, clapping politely for the racers while casting occasional glances at Colton out of the corner of his eye. He shook his head, muttering under his breath, âItâs true what they say, âThe apple doesnât fall far from the tree.â How could Mr. Stevens, such a sharp man, have descendants like this?â
He didnât intend to lecture the younger generation, but as he observed Melany and Colton, he couldnât help but feel they were too narrow-minded.
It was one thing to be unfamiliar with the joys of a different industry, but to be openly disdainful showed a lack of maturity and perspective. Worse still, they couldnât even mask their contempt in public.
âThis kid of Stevens is a lost cause,â he lamented.
As Mose sighed in quiet disappointment, something on the track caught his eye. Turbo, who had been dominating the race with a significant lead, was suddenly being caught up!
The crowd gasped in unison as cameras were raised to capture the dramatic turn of events.
âLook! That rookie, Sweety, is overtaking him!â
âThree⦠two⦠one⦠Theyâre neck and neck!â
âWhere did that woman come from? Sheâs incredible!â
âSheâs no rookie, for sure. Her speed and technique scream seasoned pro!â
Even Melany, who had been indifferent about the race, now stood in anxious anticipation.
Were those two crazy?
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