Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Third Person POV
Whispers spread around the pit quickly. The Luna is here. What is she doing? Isn’t her brother-in-law racing today?
Lance was standing with his manager, but other members of his team were starting to make their way over. He could feel their confusion, although they all stayed quiet, watching the tense scene unfold.
Lance could feel people starting to look at him. He knew this must look bad. He was obviously robbed of his victory, but it still looked bad for his powerful relative to show up immediately and start demanding action on his behalf.
He considered telling her to back off for a moment, but there was something about the way she was standing there, glaring with those bright eyes of hers, made him freeze. He wanted to see how this was going to play out.
“She’s not the Luna,” Lance muttered to himself as he watched Ellie stand before the officials, her eyes blazing with anger.
There was no faking that. She was genuinely angry, and it confused him deeply.
She cared enough to stand up for him? She hated him… didn’t she?
“It’s obvious who won that race,” Ellie said hotly. “The fact that you’re trying to give the prize to someone else is absolutely shameful. Everyone with eyes-everyone in this stadium-knows that Lance won fair and square p>
The official smiled, clearly uncomfortable. “I don’t make the call, I just p>
“Make excuses,” Ellie cut him off.
There was a moment of tense silence. The official looked around at the others, then took a step back, putting some distance between himself and Ellie.
“We’ll review the footage of the race and ensure that our decision is the correct one,” he said awkwardly.
“Yeah, you will,” Ellie snapped back, keeping her hands planted firmly on her hips as she watched him walk
away.
There was a murmur through the crowd as people tried to figure out what was happening, why the award ceremony had suddenly been disrupted. Lance could almost swear he heard the moment the fans also recognized Ellie.
A flutter of activity swept through the crowd as people gasped and called out, but Ellie didn’t seem to notice or
care.
She was tapping her foot impatiently, that angry look still on her face as she glared toward the officials, who were now huddled together around the screen, watching the playback of the final moments of the race.
Lance approached Ellie, suspicious of her motives. He stopped a few feet in front of her, cocked his head in confusion, and asked, “What do you think you’re doing? Why are you helping me p>
“I’m not helping you,” Ellie said dismissively. “It has nothing to do with you. I just don’t like cheaters p>
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Lance laughed at the comment before he could stop himself-it was obviously a shot
at Nolan, who didn’t exactly hide his affair with Felicity. He enjoyed hearing someone take Nolan down a peg and Ellie did it fearlessly.
“No, I guess you wouldn’t,” Lance said, earning a sharp look from Ellie.
While he appreciated that she was stepping in for him, and could even accept her explanation for why she was doing it, her attitude still surprised him.
When did she get this bold? To suddenly insert herself into a situation and start giving orders? She wasn’t even nervous. She wasn’t apologizing or on the verge of tears like she would’ve been in the past.
She was standing there like she owned the place, and she was angry that her time was being wasted. Lance had noticed the changes in her the last few times he’d seen her, but it was unmistakable now.
There had been a lot of talk among the upper levels of society about Ellie’s accident and the rumors surrounding her memory loss. Lance wasn’t sure what to make of it all.
Some people were convinced that it had to be the truth. She seemed so different it was hard to argue it was all an act. But others weren’t convinced.
He’d asked Nolan about it and had been told that Ellie was faking it, that this was all some game of hers. But looking at her now, that didn’t seem possible.
There was no way she could just flip a switch and change from the sniveling, cowering person she had been before into someone this confident and commanding. This couldn’t just be an act.
Lance’s thoughts were cut short by the race officials returning to the podium, sheepish looks on their faces as they motioned for him to step forward.
He stepped back up to the podium beside the other two racers, and the official leaned toward the microphone.
“Terribly sorry,” he said awkwardly, “but we need to issue a correction. It’s been brought to our attention that we incorrectly named the winner of this race. After reviewing the footage, it’s clear that the first-place prize belongs to Lance p>
There was a roar through the crowd. Lance could hear a couple of boos from supporters of the other racer, but that didn’t bother him at all. He smiled that charming smile of his as the first-place medal was placed around his neck.
He had earned it, and he knew it.
There was a celebratory energy among his team as he stepped down from the podium. After the cameras had cut, his manager ran up to him, clapping his shoulder with a bright smile.
“I told you it would all work out p>
“No thanks to you,” Lance said, but there was no heat to his words. All of his earlier anger was replaced with excitement.
“We need to celebrate,” his manager said, ignoring the jab. The rest of the crew agreed, nodding and voicing their desire to party.
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Chapter 35
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“Of course we do,” Lance replied. “I’m definitely throwing a party tonight. You know the boat is always stocked and ready to go. As a matter of fact, I should p>
Lance’s eyes drifted back to Ellie. She was standing off to the side with her redheaded friend Rae. The two of them were talking, having some kind of animated conversation. This win was thanks to Ellie in some ways, and Lance didn’t like feeling like he owed people.
Lance walked over to where Rae and Ellie were still standing, that same charming smile still plastered on his face.
Ellie gave him a suspicious look. “You’re still here p>
Lance ignored her cold tone. “You didn’t have to do that for me. I appreciate it,” he said begrudgingly. “So, I thought it would only be fair to invite you to our celebratory party-on my boat tonight p>
There was a moment of silence where Ray and Ellie exchanged a look, and then Ellie laughed out loud.
“What’s so funny?” Lance asked, crossing his arms.
“That you think I would voluntarily spend time with you,” Ellie replied.
Lance’s smile faltered. “You know, most women would kill for the chance to attend
one of my parties. They’re legendary for a reason p>
“Well, most women are blinded by your status and money. I know better,” she replied, looking him over with
distaste.
Lance could hear his friends behind him chuckling at her remark. It was a knife to his pride and his gaze on her
hardened.
“Look princess, all I’m saying is that if you had any interest in actually getting
Nolan’s attention, this is your best opportunity p>
“Are you joking? You really think a line like that would work on me p>