Rise from Fire and Steel

Jack stepped forward, raising his voice, “She had tampered with his car!”

Alanna looked at him in disbelief.

The crowd’s eyes grew redder, their shouting louder.

But Jack continued, “She did it for Lewis’s own good.

“Before the race, Lewis modified the sway bar inside his car illegally!

“Alanna didn’t want to watch him keep making mistakes, so she altered his car.

“But she didn’t expect that he would still insist on going his own way.”

The onlookers exchanged glances, as if weighing the truth of his words.

Lionel’s body trembled with anger.

“Impossible! Lewis would never do something like that!

“In every race, he never stoops to such despicable acts.”

“Do you understand him better, or does his fiancée?” Jack sneered, turning his gaze toward Alanna.

The others also looked to her, waiting for her answer.

Alanna was my fiancée, so naturally, her words carried more weight.

Yet she looked lost.

Jack leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I’m sorry, but this is the only way. I have to protect you.

“Later, I’ll go to Lewis’s grave to apologize.”

Alanna pressed her lips together and sighed.

“Jack is right.”

Her reaction suggested she wanted to help me hide the truth, but, caught, she had no choice but to speak it aloud.

“Besides, this isn’t the first time. Alanna had no other way,” Jack added.

“Thinking she might ruin his plan, he moved up the race start time. Officer, you should have confirmed this.”

The police nodded. “Indeed, we found that Mr. Senna swapped start positions with the previous driver.”

My supporters were struck; their long-held faith was shattered by the implications.

Lionel still refused to believe it, shouting passionately, “Impossible! You’re just smearing Lewis because he’s not here!

“Alanna, look me in the eyes and tell me the truth!”

Jack shoved him aside.

Lionel lost his balance and tumbled down the stairs.

I hurried to catch him, but my hand passed through his body.

Watching him collapse in near-madness, my chest ached.

Even an acquaintance, having raced with me only a few times, screamed himself hoarse, defending me.

And the person I trusted most in life, knowing fully how wronged I was, didn’t hesitate to shit on me.

Alanna’s stance had already sparked a frenzy online.

Many burned my posters, accused me of cheating, and even attacked my company.

Alanna stared into Lionel’s eyes as if making a decision.

“I swear everything I’ve said is true,” she said coldly.

“If I lie, I will parade through the city, calling myself ungrateful and shameless!”

Fans exchanged uneasy glances, their certainty wavering.

Lionel clenched his fists but had no evidence to counter her.

The corner of Jack’s mouth curled into a triumphant smile.

At that moment, someone suddenly shouted, “Wait! The organizers just released the in-car footage!”