Chapter 6

Taryn never expected she would open her eyes again. As the anesthesia finally wore off, she felt the layers of bandages wrapped around her body. Each breath tugged painfully. The ward was empty, and she was alone. She had come so close to death that everything became painfully clear. That clarity pushed her to a decision. Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and called Eliot. She said, "Eliot, I've made up my mind. I'll take part in the Global Apex Grand Prix." Eliot's excited voice immediately burst through the speaker. "That's what I've been waiting to hear! You're the one we all believe in. Zane might have talent, but he's still a rookie. He can't compare to you. I'm glad you finally came around." The Global Apex Grand Prix was the top international competition in racing. Anyone who stepped onto that track would be in the global spotlight. Back then, Taryn had wanted to give that spot to Zane. He was gifted but lacked experience. Competing in that race would have made him a star overnight. She had thought only of him—so much so that she had been ready to sacrifice the opportunity of a lifetime. Yet, this was how he treated her. Her heart was completely broken. Now, she only wanted to reach the top for herself. The door suddenly opened. Taryn turned to see who it was and instantly felt annoyed. Zane actually had the nerve to show up. Upon meeting her gaze, he forgot to breathe. Taryn had always looked at him with affection. She had never looked at him with such hatred. He subconsciously clenched his fists, a wave of uncertainty washing over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was losing something. Nevertheless, Zane quickly returned to his senses. Forcing himself to ignore Taryn's gaze, he sat down beside the bed and handed her a check. "This is compensation for race car No. 06. I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just lost control," he said. Taryn glanced at the check—it showed 50 million dollars. She snorted and said sarcastically, "Mr. Wilder, you sure are wealthy. Bernice wrecked my car, and you think you can brush it off so easily." Zane frowned. Something in Taryn's tone pricked at him. Even when they were rivals, she had never spoken to him like this. He instinctively wanted to explain, but his phone suddenly rang. One glance at Bernice's message made him swallow the words he was going to say. In a low voice, he said, "This money is partly compensation and partly to buy your car. Bernice just joined Redline Motorsports and doesn't have a suitable one. She took a liking to yours." Taryn clenched her fists hard and stared at him. She shouted through gritted teeth, "It's my car! I'm not selling it. Get out!" Zane had spent his whole life being treated with respect. No one had ever spoken to him like this before. For a moment, he felt annoyed. He stood and towered over Taryn. "Redline Motorsports belongs to the Wilder family now," he said. "You have to sell it, no matter what. And given your injuries, it's uncertain whether you'll even be able to race again. Why not let go of the car?" Taryn was furious. A race car was a racer's second life. Zane was a racer himself. How could he say such a thing to her? She couldn't hold it back any longer. She grabbed the vase beside her and hurled it toward him. With bloodshot eyes, she shouted, trembling, "I'm not saying it again. Get out!" Zane's expression darkened, but in the end, he turned and walked out. The moment he left, Taryn collapsed onto the bed. After all the anger, sadness hit her. This was the man she had secretly liked for many years. She bit her lip as tears slid down her face. She regretted ever falling for him.