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Lyra realized she had been a bit too defensive and softened her tone. "I'm sorry, Chloe. I got a little worked up. But could you please, for my sake, try to be a bit nicer to Victor? You don't have to love him, but don't look like you’ve swallowed a lemon every time he’s around, okay?"
Chloe sighed, offering a small compromise. "I’ll try."
"You have to," Lyra insisted with a firm nod.
Half an hour later, Chloe stood in the high-level executive suite of the Grayson Group, carrying the warm food containers and holding Liam Jr.’s hand. The secretaries in the outer office were absolutely smitten with the boy, gushing over how handsome he was. Unfortunately, the little guy lived up to his reputation as the "Demon's son"—he wore a thunderous scowl and glared at anyone who got too close, sending the staff scurrying back to their desks in a hurry.
Chloe led Liam Jr. into the main office. Xavier Grayson had just returned from a marathon of meetings and was back behind his desk, staring at his computer screen. His expression was grim, though to be fair, his "iceberg" face rarely looked welcoming.
"Xavier, it’s time to eat," Chloe said softly. She ignored his coldness and began unpacking the Cantonese dishes, arranging them neatly on the side table.
Xavier acted as if she were invisible. He didn't lift his head or acknowledge her presence, his fingers continuing to fly across the keyboard as he processed company data.
Chloe finished setting the table, but seeing that Xavier remained unmoved, she caught Liam Jr.’s eye and gave him a subtle, knowing look. The boy, who had been curiously inspecting the office, understood her instantly. He hopped off the sofa and marched straight over to his father.
Xavier felt a tug on his expensive suit jacket. He looked down into the carved-from-porcelain face of his son. Liam Jr. wasn't intimidated by the "Great Demon" in the slightest; he gripped Xavier’s sleeve and pulled with all his might until he forced his father to stand up.
Xavier finally sat at the dining table. As Chloe placed a bowl of rice in front of him, the atmosphere became heavy and stifling. Desperate to break the tension, she searched for a topic. "I went to the West City Racetrack today."
Xavier didn't even blink.
"Liam Jr. was amazing," Chloe continued, trying to keep her voice light. "I took him for a few laps around the track, and he wasn't scared at all. He actually seemed to love it."
This time, Xavier glanced at his son. The boy nodded enthusiastically in confirmation. Xavier said nothing and returned to his meal in silence.
Chloe knew he was listening, so she pressed on. "Have you heard of Team Swift?"
Still no response.
Fine, she thought, if he won't talk, I'll just keep talking. "That’s where Ethan came from. His father, Coach Lee, was the first-generation 'Racing God.' Team Swift used to be legendary, but it fell into ruin after Ethan’s death."
"Ethan was a good man," Chloe mused, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "He mentored me once. It's such a tragedy that he died in that accident while trying to save a child. Now, Team Swift is so broken that people feel they can just bully them..."
"So, you want to join Swift?" Xavier suddenly cut her off, his voice sharp.
Chloe nodded vigorously, her eyes bright with excitement. "Yes! I don't think a hero’s story should end like this. Coach Lee is a legend; the fact that he raised a hero like Ethan proves he’s an incredible mentor."
"Swift is an institution," she added, looking at Xavier expectantly. "It carries the dreams of two generations of champions and countless fans. It shouldn't just fade away into nothing, don't you think?"
Xavier set his chopsticks down with a deliberate click. He looked up at her, his dark, piercing gaze locking onto hers with a terrifying intensity. A cold, suffocating pressure filled the room.
"Are you sure," Xavier asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous, icy register, "that the real reason you're joining Swift isn't because Coach Lee is a cripple—just like Liam Martin?"
The air in the office turned frozen. Chloe’s heart skipped a beat as the hidden meaning behind Xavier’s words hit her like a physical blow. He wasn't just questioning her career choice; he was accusing her of seeking out a substitute for her ex-fiancé.
Will Chloe defend her passion for racing, or will Xavier’s jealousy lead him to ban her from ever setting foot on the West City Racetrack again?
- Writer
