He Says the Unloved One Is the Mistress

Rory's face twisted in disbelief. "Say that again."

The manager was furious too, shouting, "We were just joking. You're seriously quitting over this?"

I was done talking to them. I pushed past Malaya and headed for the door.

Malaya, ever the actress, gasped dramatically as she stumbled into Rory's arms. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she apologized, "Is it because of me? Please, don't be mad, Julie. I promise I'll stay away from Rory. You don't have to leave the team."

I stayed calm. "Don't blame yourself. You don't matter to me."

Her face fell in shock, and she began sobbing even more pitifully.

Rory followed me out and grabbed my wrist. He snapped, "We've got a race in a month. How can you walk out now? Where's your professionalism?"

I chuckled, "Are you really going to talk to me about professionalism?"

This was the same man who left work because of personal issues, nearly getting me killed in the process. He had no right to bring up professionalism.

His face turned pale, then red. He leaned in and, before I could react, pressed a quick, wet kiss to my cheek.

I flinched back in disgust.

"Come on, babe, don't do this. I was wrong, okay? Let's talk after the race, please," he pleaded.

I sneered, "Babe? I thought I was just the other woman."

"It was all for publicity," he explained, looking at Malaya for validation.

Seeing him like this, without the rose-tinted glasses of our past relationship, made me realize how pathetic he was.

My skin crawled with disgust.

I said, "Don't make me sick. We're done."

He had never been rejected like this before. His patience snapped, and his grip on my wrist tightened.

He growled, "Julie, I've already apologized. You need to know when to stop. You'll finish this race with me."

I smirked, "You think you're so good you don't even need a navigator, right? You've got the roadbook. Learn from Stanley, memorizing the whole thing and driving solo."

Rory's expression twisted even more.

Stanley was a legend in the racing world, a few years older than Rory, and had won every major championship without a dedicated navigator.

Unlike the flashy Rory, Stanley stayed out of the spotlight except for race, which made the media thrive on comparisons between the two.

Every time their names came up together, it was a storm of controversy.

Rory had never accepted being second to anyone, especially not to someone like Stanley. Now, the chance to prove himself was right in front of him.

His eyes narrowed, and he sneered. "Is that it? You've fallen for Stanley because he saved you? You're leaving me for him?"

I couldn't take it anymore. I slapped him hard across the face just as the door behind us opened, revealing the entire team. They all saw what had happened.

Rory stood there in shock, while Malaya gasped.

And at the end of the hallway, standing with an unreadable expression, was Stanley.

Our eyes met, and for a moment, I could've sworn he was smiling.

It was hard to believe.