Love Begins with Deceit

Three days after things ended badly with Julian, I went to the club.

My day job was coaching at the motorcycle racing club.

That was where Julian and I first met.

"What's wrong? Where's this coming from?" Bobby Gomez, the club manager, asked. He seemed nervous, avoiding eye contact as I cornered him.

"I don't know who owns the club," Bobby said, glancing at me before trying to shift the topic, "How's Julian doing these days, by the way?"

"I broke up with him," I stated coldly. His skeptical frown told me he didn't buy it.

After a long pause, Bobby concluded, "You loved him so much. There's no way you could just break up."

"It's true," I insisted.

In front of him, I took out my phone, pulled up Julian's contact, and firmly hit delete. Without hesitation, I also blocked him on WhatsApp.

It was only after seeing this that Bobby seemed to accept that Julian and I were really done.

Raising his eyebrows, he seemed still surprised. "So you finally let go?"

Silently, I just lowered my head and pocketed my phone.

Half a year ago, right after Julian's accident, he had brought up breaking up.

At that time, I was already on my way to the airport, set to compete overseas.

When I came back to the club, Julian was freaking out.

He didn't want me going abroad to compete because if I moved on to the next round, I'd be overseas for over six months.

Seeing him so helpless in his wheelchair, I decided to stay, at the cost of a large penalty fee.

Bobby gave me an earful for that decision, and had no choice but to send Ellie in my place.

Ellie seized the opportunity, and her value skyrocketed overnight, while I gradually disappeared from the scene.

As he recounted these old stories, Bobby couldn't help but sigh. "You've been with the club since you were eighteen. I've watched you grow. Listen to me, now that you've let go, steer clear of them."

He couldn't say much more, but I knew what he meant.

Julian had staged that whole scene just to please Ellie, which conveniently handed my chance to compete abroad to her.

Honestly, Julian's scheme was full of holes. But back then, blinded by love, I was willing to do anything for him.

From my reaction, Bobby could probably tell what I was thinking.

He didn't say much else, just handed me a flyer. "The new season of international races is starting soon. If you want it, I won't tell Mr. Carlson."

"Mr. Carlson?" I repeated under my breath.

If I was right, this club was actually Julian's. This whole thing was a trap set by him.