THE MYSTERIOUS DIVA RACER (Ditched by the Racer, Adored by the Lawyer)

LYRA’s POV The roar of thousands of racing engines usually sounded like music to my ears. Tonight, inside the VIP lounge of the Grand Palm Hotel, it was replaced by the clinking of expensive champagne glasses and loud, cheerful laughter. Everyone was here to celebrate Darwin’s victory. He had just won the national Racing Championship, and the entire room was buzzing with excitement. I stood near the edge of the room, holding a glass of apple juice. I wore a simple white dress and kept a quiet smile on my face. Looking at me, no one in this room would guess who I really was. To the world, I was just Lyra—Darwin’s supportive, quiet girlfriend who always stood in the background while he shined under the bright lights. They did not know that I was also the only daughter and sole heir of the multibillion-dollar car company sponsoring Darwin’s team and ‘The Mysterious Diva Racer’. My father and I had kept my identity a secret for years to protect me from fake friends and bad press. When Darwin started his racing career three years ago, he was just a talented boy with big dreams and zero money. I loved him so much that I went to my father in secret. I begged my father to sponsor Darwin's team, pay for his high-tech racing cars, buy his expensive gear, and fund his elite training. My father agreed, but only under one condition: Darwin must never know the money came from me, and I must prove he was truly loyal to me for who I was, not for my money. So, for three years, I played the simple girl next door. Darwin believed that his team coach was the one who worked miracles to get him all those elite corporate backing. I never corrected him. Seeing him happy and watching his dreams come true was enough for me. Or so I thought. "Where is Darwin?" a voice asked from behind me. I turned to see my best friend, Maya. She was wearing a black sweater and tapping rapidly on her phone screen. To anyone else, Maya looked like a normal college student, but in reality, she was one of the most brilliant secret IT hackers in the country. "He went toward the private back rooms a few minutes ago," I said, looking around the crowded hall. "He said he needed to talk to Coach about the contract renewal for next season." "Well, he’s missing his own party," Maya said, shaking her head. "Shara isn't here either. Her dad is the coach, but she acts like she owns the whole place." I felt a small twinge in my chest. Shara was the coach’s daughter. She was loud, wore flashy dresses, and always looked down on me because I dressed simply and didn't brag about wealth. Lately, she had been sticking very close to Darwin, claiming she was helping him manage his public schedule. "I'll go find him," I told Maya. "He probably forgot the time." I walked away from the noisy party and headed down the quiet, dimly lit hallway that led to the private VIP cabanas near the hotel garden. The loud music faded into a soft hum. As I got closer to the end of the hall, I heard faint voices coming from behind a semi-open door. "You were amazing today, champion," a sweet, high-pitched voice purred. I stopped in my tracks. It was Shara. "I couldn't have done it without your dad," Darwin’s familiar voice replied, sounding heavy and slightly slurred from alcohol. "He got me the major sponsor. He made me a star." "Forget my dad for a second," Shara giggled. "What about me? Don't I get a reward for staying by your side?" "What kind of reward do you want?" Darwin asked with a low laugh. I stepped closer to the gap in the door, my heart pounding wildly against my ribs. My hand shook as I peeked through the glass pane. My whole world shattered in a single second. Darwin had his hands tightly wrapped around Shara’s waist, pressing her against the wall. Shara had her arms around his neck, and they were kissing passionately. I gasped softly, taking a step back. The pain in my chest felt like a sharp blade slicing through my heart. Three years of love, three years of quiet sacrifices, three years of pouring everything I had into his dream—all thrown away in a dirty corner of a party I helped pay for. Darwin didn't just break my trust; he proved that he was completely blind. He truly believed Shara and her father were the ones behind his success. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them back. I took a deep breath, letting the sadness turn into an ice-cold anger. I was not going to scream. I was not going to cry in front of them and let Shara laugh at me. I pulled out my phone. With steady hands, I aimed the camera through the gap in the door. I recorded a clear, fifteen-second video of Darwin and Shara kissing and whispering sweet words to each other. Once I saved the video, I turned around and walked back down the hallway, my heels clicking firmly against the tiled floor. When I returned to the main hall, Maya immediately noticed the change in my face. She pulled me away from the crowd into a quiet corner. "Lyra? What happened? You look pale," Maya whispered, looking at me with concern. Without saying a word, I opened my phone and handed it to her. Maya watched the video. Her eyes widened in absolute shock, and then her face twisted in pure rage. "That absolute trash! After everything you did for him? I am going to destroy him right now!" "No scene," I said softly, my voice cold and calm. "Not here." "What do you want to do?" Maya asked, holding the phone tightly. "Can you upload this video online?" I asked her, looking straight into her eyes. "Post it everywhere. Make it go viral tonight. But make sure no one can ever trace it back to you or me." A dark, confident smirk spread across Maya’s face. "Lyra, you are talking to the best hacker in the business. I can bounce this video through ten different hidden servers across the world in five minutes. No one will ever know where it came from." "Do it," I said quietly. "And what about your father's sponsorship?" Maya asked. I pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number. My father answered on the second ring. "Hello, my sweet girl," my father's warm voice came through the speaker. "How is the party?" "Dad," I said, keeping my voice completely steady. "You were right about Darwin. It's time to cancel the contract. Cancel everything." There was a short pause on the line, followed by a heavy sigh from my father. "Consider it done, Lyra. My lawyers will handle it first thing in the morning." I ended the call and looked out at the bright party room one last time. Darwin was just walking back out into the crowd, smiling and waving at his fans, completely unaware that his perfect life was about to hit a wall at full speed. I turned my back on him and walked out into the cool night air. The race was over, but my revenge was just beginning.