Chapter 8

."I can't shake off my worry, though. One wrong move on the track could mean disaster for her," Wilbur admitted,tension running through his voice.

His greatest fear was that if the Mitchell family walked away with the treatment, his friend would be left without hope.

Yet Elias sat serenely in his wheelchair, as though nothing in the world could shake him.

"You're seriously that sure she'll win?" Wilbur pressed.

At last, Elias answered with nothing more than, "Yes."

On the other side of the crowd, disbelief hung thick in the air.

Sebastian eyed Emilia suspiciously. "Do you think we're fools? Who would fall for a story like that?""Emilia, you can't just give away a miracle doctor's treatment. That kind of opportunity isn't handed out to just anyone," Violet murmured,implying that not just anyone could get the treatment from Asclepius.

"He owes me a favor," Emilia said evenly, her gaze cutting to Violet. "So stop your pathetic assumption."

"That's not what I meant. I just-"

Violet tried to defend herself, but Emilia cut her off."Enough. Stop dragging this out. Are you in or not?"

Sloane let out a sarcastic laugh. "Such scaredy-cats.If you're too scared to take the risk, then bow out now."

Back in her racingdays, people had called Emilia Racer Ace. Only one rival ever gave her a real fight-the elusive TO.

After TO had shattered her long-standing record,Emilia broke his and waited for that challenger to return. Time dragged on. TO never came back, and she eventually stepped away from racing. "Why should we trust you?" Rodger said with a scowl.

All of a sudden, a cool, commanding voice cut through the noise. "I'll vouch for Miss Harris."

All eyes snapped to a striking figure in a wheelchair-his presence alone seemed to shift the air in the room.

Although he sat apart from the action, his energy was unyielding, pressing down on everyone around him.

When Emilia caught sight of Elias, a spark flickered behind her eyes, and a subtle smile curved on her lips, gone as quickly as it appeared. She hadn't expected to kill two birds with one stone today.

"I'll put ten percent of Dixon Group's shares on the table as collateral. Does that satisfy you?" Elias's eyes narrowed, his voice cutting through the air as he fixed Rodger with a frosty stare.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. "Are we talking about the Dixon family from Anburith? Ten percent of that company is worth more than everything the Mitchell family own!"

"Who on earth is this woman? Even Mr. Dixon himself is willing to stake his fortune for her?!"

Discomfort twisted in Rodger's chest. No matter his condition, Elias always seemed to outshine him. And now, Elias was stepping in for Emilia, stirring a storm of conflicted feelings inside him.

"Still not enough for you?" Elias asked, his tone cold and merciless.

The silence stretched before Rodger finally said,"Since Mr. Dixon is willing to vouch for her, then I'll accept the bet."

The prospect of winning tempted him. Even if Emilia's claims turned out to be false, he stood to gain a treasure-ten percent of the Dixon fortune.That single move would vault the Mitchell family to the top of Oticester's wealthy elite.

No matter the final outcome, Rodger saw nothing but gain. He couldn't help tossing out one last taunt. "Emilia,this is your last out. You don't have to go through with this."

Emilia's eyes hardened as she declared, "I'm not walking away, no matter what."

Her defiance darkened Rodger's expression.

"Have it your way. If you're so eager to throw your life away, I won't stop you," sneered Rodger.

Before long, they gathered at the Death Race arena.

Rodger's gaze cut across the space, landing on Emilia. He struggled to recognize this fierce,lively Emilia as the same person he once found unremarkable.

The face was unchanged, yet everything else about her carried a force that felt worlds away.

When Emilia suddenly turned her gaze on him,a jolt of unease struck through his chest.

For an instant, he believed fear might take hold of her and she would retreat. Instead, her lips curved into a smile that dared him to test her.

Disappointment settled in Rodger's chest, twisting together with his frustration.

"You have no one else to blame but yourself for what happens next, Emilia," he said under his breath.