Chapter 57
Chapter 57:
Phillip stormed up, yanked the car door open, and dragged her out. “I told you to ease off! Are you brainless? You kept pushing it through that curve and then hit the brakes? Didn’t I explain the tire wear situation to you clearly p>
Stacey hadn’t expected him to snap in front of the whole crowd. Her cheeks burned.
“I just… I just didn’t want Rylie to pass me. I thought I could hold the line! You’re the one who didn’t check the tires properly. That’s why I lost control out there p>
Phillip’s face turned red. “You’re blaming me? After all this time, you’re still driving like an amateur! You’re the reason we lost p>
Stacey’s anger flared. She shoved him back and started to walk away.
From the stands, soda bottles flew. The crowd shouted insults.
People had bet big. Phillip’s team had always been the favorite. For years, they held the top spot. This time, expectations had turned into outrage.
Now that they weren’t even in the top three, fans who had lost money were furious. One bottle hit Jake square on the head. He stood up, seething. “This whole race was a setup! Someone from our side gave Britton’s team everything—our strategies, our driving habits! That’s the only reason they won. There’s no other explanation p>
“I’m reporting this! This isn’t fair!” Phillip, still furious, took Jake’s words to heart. The idea struck him quickly. Maybe he could get Rylie’s results thrown out by the committee.
Hearing the commotion, fans started shouting too. They now demanded an investigation.
News spread quickly to Britton’s team, and Rylie heard it too. She let out a sharp laugh. “They want to investigate me? I haven’t even dealt with what they did back then p>
Out on the racetrack, the judges and drivers had already gathered. As Rylie arrived, someone from Phillip’s team pointed at her. “She was our racer. She’s been a key part of our lineup for years. She knows our system inside and out p>
Rylie crossed her arms, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “Is that so? Then how come my name’s not listed among your champions p>
The judges went through the records, finding nothing. “In the official race entries, the only female member from your team was Stacey Kirk,” one of them said. “Rylie appeared only as a substitute. She wasn’t even technically qualified to race under regulation p>
In the crowd, fans from Phillip’s side started shouting for an explanation. They demanded answers from both the judges and Rylie. Some even threatened to have Britton’s team disqualified.
The noise grew louder. Rylie grabbed the nearest microphone. A loud feedback screech cut through the tension, all eyes turning to her.
She looked at Phillip’s team without flinching. “Yes, I raced with them. Every season. I was there from their very first win. But why is it only today, after I switched teams, that I broke a racing record? The truth is, I never got to finish an official race. I was always subbed in, just to stall for Stacey, so she could cross the line and take the win. They got the titles. They stood on the podium. I wasn’t even allowed in the photo p>
Her voice remained steady as she continued, “The trophies were earned with my laps, but never meant for me. So why is it a crime to leave? Why should I stay loyal to people who never treated me like a real teammate? Britton gave me a real spot. I ran the final leg, I crossed the finish line, and I won a race that actually counted. If you were me, would you stay with Phillip’s team, or would you choose someone who saw your worth p>