Everyone turned to Tedmond at the same time, eyes wide in shock. The guards looked as if they had just been dunked into a bucket of ice, standing frozen in place.Kanis's lips curled into a grin. He had been wondering why Tedmond tolerated all those insults without a word, but now he couldn’t wait to see Tedmond talk back.The saleswoman stood there, stunned. “Did you just speak to me?”Tedmond replied, “I can see this is hard for you to process, but I’m here to buy a car, not to film some prank video.”Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him. “Dressed like that? How dare you!” she spat. “You’re just a broke nobody trying to act cool, pretending you can afford an expensive car!”“That’s right! How dare you talk to her like that?”"Have you no shame? You should have the money before coming here!""Did you think we'd believe your lies? You son of a bitch."“Even if you worked your whole life, you wouldn’t be able to buy a car here,” she added, sneering. “Try a secondhand dealer or a repa

Looking around, Kanis reached for his face mask but paused halfway. Kiera was still in front of them, leading them to where they would find the car.A few staff members walked past, flashing Tedmond and Kanis a smile.“Hello.”“Welcome to Lilies Automobile.”“We are glad to have you here.”One even went as far as to ask, “Would you like a cup of tea?”Tedmond and Kanis did their best to respond to everyone’s greeting but shook their heads in polite refusal to the woman who had offered them tea. She nodded and left.“It’s her job to serve tea to our customers,” Kiera informed them. “I hope you’re comfortable.”“We are,” Tedmond replied.The Jadii staff were not as friendly as those he met at Lilies. Although he hadn’t met all the staff at Jadii, the hostile treatment from one employee and the guards gave him an impression of the company culture.Kanis reached for his hoodie, pulled it off, then removed his face mask, shaking his head to set his hair without touching it. He threw the ho

Tedmond looked at Linn, tilted his head to the side, and thought. He hadn’t seen the man before, nor had he heard his voice. This was clearly the first time.“Am I supposed to know you?” Tedmond questioned.Linn gritted his teeth in frustration and turned his gaze from Tedmond to Kanis. “Is he trying to mock me?!” he demanded. “Do something about your driver, or you will regret it.”Kanis frowned at him. “Why do you think he’s my driver?” he asked, wanting to understand what made Tedmond look like a driver. From what he could see, Tedmond had a powerful aura he’d never sensed in anyone else.“Isn’t it obvious that he’s a driver?” Linn questioned. “He’s your driver who came with you to pick up a cat and then drive you home. Now that he’s seen me, he’s pretending not to know me to get my attention. Is he trying to get me to hire him instead?”Tedmond and Kanis scoffed at the same time. They had no idea what he was talking about but could feel the stupidity in his words.“What are you tal

The race arena buzzed with excitement, engines roaring and chatter filling the air. The professional-grade track on the city's outskirts featured sharp turns, treacherous curves, and a long stretch for speed enthusiasts—a fitting stage for the showdown.Spectators packed the sidelines, some on elevated platforms, others leaning over barriers with phones ready to capture the action.Under the glare of floodlights, two identical sports cars gleamed—sleek, custom-detailed machines chosen by Linn to ensure his edge. Their engines growled, radiating power and daring the racers to conquer them.Reporters clustered near the starting line, their lenses fixed on Linn and Tedmond.Linn, in a flashy racing jacket and cap, basked in the crowd’s adoration. He strutted around his car, his grin wide as he exchanged words with fans and took jabs at Tedmond.Tedmond, in contrast, stood calm and composed in a simple black shirt and jeans. His steady gaze and relaxed demeanor exuded quiet confidence, dr

“I will make sure you regret this, kid,” Linn said, making sure to repeat it loud enough for Tedmond to hear. “Not only did you make a fool out of me in front of everyone, but you also made it so embarrassing.”Tedmond’s brows arched, and a slow grin spread across his face as he leaned closer, ensuring only Linn could hear him. “Didn’t you say I couldn’t win?” he asked, his voice taunting. “You even messed with my brakes and steering. Aren’t you shameless, blaming me for your failure?”Hearing Tedmond’s words, Linn’s annoyance was evident in the rhythmic twitch of his brows. “How dare you talk to me like that? You’re nothing but a cleaner. How dare you call me shameless?!”Tedmond’s grin widened, satisfied with Linn’s reaction. “Isn’t what I’m saying true?” he pressed. “You forced me into this race, even though I’m not a racer. You sabotaged my car, had tons of cheat sheets—and still lost.” Leaning closer, he whispered, “Isn’t that enough reason to call you shameless?”“You!” Linn yel