The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Just a reckless little brat, thinking she could actually compete with him.noveldrama

Jonah glanced at Citrine's face and, for a split second, forgot to breathe.

Whatever. If she wanted to play, he'd be gracious enough to humor her. He had nothing better to do anyway-might as well enjoy the show.

He looked at her, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "If you're up for a game, I'll play along."

"Then let's start now," he added, turning to head toward his car.

"Wait." Citrine's cool voice cut through the air, stopping him in his tracks.

"What is it?" Jonah turned back, a smirk flickering on his face. "Don't tell me you're having second thoughts?" After all, it was Skysunder Ridge they'd be racing—the kind of place people barely made it out of alive. It was only natural for a young girl to get cold feet.

He was about to accept her retreat with a smile when Citrine spoke up, "You already burned a lot of energy in the morning race. Let's set ours for the afternoon. Fair's fair."

Then she added, "My brother will ride shotgun with me. You should find someone to ride with you as well."

Jonah hesitated for a moment, then scoffed and nodded. "Fine."

With that settled, everyone headed to the dining hall for lunch. After the meal, they made their way back to the racetrack.

Just before the race, Citrine called out to Jonah.

He raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Getting nervous?"

She let out a quiet, scornful laugh. "Mr. Griffin, since you and my brother had a wager, shouldn't we add one to our race as well?" Her tone was playful, but there was a glint of challenge in her eyes. "After all, what fun is a race without a bet?"

Jonah paused, then asked, "What do you have in mind?"

Resting her chin on her hand, Citrine pretended to think it over. “Let's see... If I win, you have to tell my brother 'I'm sorry' ten times—and from now on, every time you see him, you have to call him 'Grandpa.""

Jonah burst out laughing. "So that's what this is a little sister fighting for her brother's honor."

Citrine huffed. "Cut the crap. If you've got it in you, have your own sister fight for you."

He grinned, brimming with confidence. "Deal. If all I have to do is call him Grandpa, I'm in." Not a chance he'd lose anyway.

His smile turned cold. "But if you lose, Wade gets on his knees and apologizes to me."

Citrine was about to protest, but Wade cut in, answering for her with fierce certainty. "I agree."

She hadn't expected Wade to trust her that much. Warmth blossomed in her chest as she looked at him. "Don't worry. I won't lose."

Wade ruffled her hair, his voice gentle and full of pride. "I believe in you. And even

if we do lose, it's no big deal."

So what if he had to kneel? If it made his sister happy, his pride was a small price to pay.

These two really didn't know their limits, Jonah thought. Still, if they wanted to play, he'd play along.

"Alright then," he said seriously. "Let's begin."

Citrine took the wheel of Wade's race car, with Wade at her side in the passenger seat.

On the other side, Jonah climbed into his own vehicle, another man joining him as his co-driver.

Seatbelts clicked. Engines rumbled. As soon as they were ready, both cars shot forward in unison.

The rain pounded harder, wind

whipping the trees along the mountainside until they bent and swayed. Dark clouds choked the sky, and visibility was so poor it was almost impossible to see the road ahead.

From the very start, the race had everyone on edge, hearts pounding in their chests.

Compared to the chaos of the

morning, this was a whole different league the danger and difficulty

had been cranked up severab

notches.

It was the first time Jonah had faced such brutal conditions. Even he was feeling

the strain, forced to ease off the gas and slow down.