Chapter 3Her Betrayal Broke More Than Bones

This was the first time I set foot on a racetrack in the past six years.

Dennis knew I was coming. He was already waiting for me with a huge crowd of people behind him.

The moment they caught sight of me, they sized me up and laughed out loud, asking, "Why didn't you just get yourself a decent mechanic, Dennis?

"Our cars are really expensive. If he scratches or dents one, he can't possibly afford to cover any of the damages."

I was used to hearing such insults, so I paid them no heed. However, Dennis draped his arm over my shoulder in a familiar manner and said, "This is my Uncle Craig, so watch what you say. He's the man who once conquered 'Death Curve' in the past."

His sudden closeness to me made my stomach churn.

"It's been a long time since we raced, Uncle Craig," he said. "Wanna race me right now? No matter if you win or lose, I'll pay you triple the usual rate."

His gaze fell on my battered toolbox in my hand, and he flashed an inscrutable smile at me. "I bet the payout beats being a mechanic."

I tightened my hold on the toolbox and pushed him away.

"Which car needs fixing?"

Dennis was stunned for a moment. However, he burst out laughing right after, and the rest of the crowd laughed along with him.

"He chickened out! Hah!"

"Come on, Dennis, how do you expect a crippled guy like him to drive? You're making it seem like we're the ones bullying him now."

"Conquered the 'Death Curve,' you said? He's lucky to even be alive!"

"I heard that he flew right off the cliff in the race six years ago. There was no stopping him."

They kept insulting me one after another, and each word pierced into my heart like a sharp blade. But there was nothing I could do about it.

I took a deep breath and looked Dennis in the eye.

"If there's no car to fix, I'm leaving."

I didn't want to waste any more time on him. It had been a mistake agreeing to Giselle's request to come back to the racetrack.

Just as I turned to leave, Dennis grabbed the handles on my wheelchair and pinned me in place. He then leaned in and lowered his voice, speaking in a voice that only the two of us could hear.

"I know what you're most afraid of. You think that the people you cherish the most will be gone the moment you die, don't you?

"I know you have a new family now, Craig. Would you like me… to destroy them too?"

He stopped acting gentle with me as his facial expression turned vicious.

I grabbed him by the collar with all of my might, my face deathly pale. Then, all the six years of my rage and resentment erupted at that moment.

Why did he get to live on unscathed in this world while I wasn't even allowed to hold onto the last shred of my own happiness?

I raised my hand and punched him hard in the face. A sharp thud rang out, sounding like that of bone fracturing.

The rest of the crowd, who had been buzzing with chatter earlier, stopped and gasped in shock.

Dennis had been knocked to the ground by my punch. He clutched his cheek and howled aloud in pain.

My chest heaved violently as I gasped for breath. But before I could catch my breath, a searing pain shot through my chest, and I was kicked out of my wheelchair onto the ground.