Chapter 6
Josiah picked up the racing suit, his expression cold. He said, “A deal’s a deal.”
The moment everyone realized that he was serious about the race, the group of guys around him started panicking, trying to talk him out of it. One reasoned, Josh, that guy’s been racing for years! You’ve never even been on a real track. You can’t beat him. Don’t risk your life over this!”
Another chimed in, “Yeah, you’re married now! You don’t need to throw everything away for Brittany. What if something happens to you? What about Priscilla?”
But Josiah did not hear a single word of it. He tuned them out completely, even pretending he had not heard Priscilla’s name. Instead, he locked eyes with Brittany, who was standing off to the side.
He said firmly, “I won’t lose. If Britanny wants a thrill, I can give her that too.”
Priscilla’s eyes shimmered at his thunderous declaration, and her fingers instinctively curled into tight fists. The guys noticed her arrival and immediately rushed over, pleading with her to talk some sense into him. They even nudged her toward the prep room.
As she stood before the door, her heart surged with emotion. She did not understand racing, but she understood enough to know that Josiah did not stand a chance. Going head–to–head with a professional racer on a whim could very well mean that he would not walk off the track alive.
Even though she had already decided to let him go, watching him walk straight into danger was something she just could not do. After a long moment of deliberation, she raised her hand to push open the door.
But just then, Brittany stepped out. The moment she saw Priscilla, a sly smile curled on her lips. With a glint in her eyes, she asked, “Are you here to talk josh out of racing? Don’t bother. He’ll never listen to you.”
She continued, “Do you know how much he loves me? Back then, I joked about running away together, and he didn’t even hesitate. He got on a plane with me that same day. Even when he got dragged back home and punished, he never snitched on me.
“In high school, I received tons of love letters, and he tore up every single one. He bullied my admirers into switching classes or dropping out altogether, and once, he got into a nasty fight over me and ended up hospitalized, covered in blood.
“To him, you were always second place, nothing more than a backup plan. Do you really think he’d give up on me just because of something you said?” The smug gleam in Brittany’s eyes felt like loves in Priscilla’s chest.
The latter then asked, “He loves you that much, huh? Then what about you? If you’re really with him now, and you know that he’s going to lose–maybe even die- why aren’t you stopping him?”
Brittany laughed like she had just heard the world’s funniest joke, then gave a condescending little shrug. “Why would I stop him? Isn’t it fascinating to watch a man abandon all logic and throw himself into danger just to prove his love for you?
“If I choose to be with him, I want him to prove that he’d die for me. This is the perfect chance to test that. Naturally, I don’t expect you to understand. Josh would never go to such lengths for someone like you.”
Each word dug into Priscilla like a life, dragging her heart deeper into a pit of despair. Her insides twisted with pain, and though her throat filled with things she wanted to say, her lips parted without a single word coming out.
Seeing her stunned silence, Brittany casually reached for Priscilla’s phone and dialed Josiah’s number. “Since you’re still unconvinced, let’s prove it again. Call him and say that you were in a car accident and are about to head into surgery. Let’s sue if he’ll give up the race for you.”
The long dial tone echoed down the hallway. After a few rings, the call connected, and Josial said flatly, “Celia, I’m in a meeting. Whatever it is, we’ll talk when I get back
He did not even give her a chance to speak before ending the call.
Priscilla stared at the screen as it dimmed, her hand slowly dropping to her side. She lowered herhead, a soft, bitter smile tugging at her lips as she whispered, You win again.”
