In the makeshift grandstand, Leland eased his coat around Davina's shoulders with practiced tenderness.

"You love watching races. I could've booked the whole track just for you," he murmured, brushing a thumb over her sleeve. "You didn't need to come out here—especially after just recovering. And without any progress on Divine Cure yet, I can't risk you catching a cold."

The way he cared for her—with such soft affection—stirred a low wave of envy through the crowd.

With a rosy flush coloring her cheeks, Davina tapped lightly against his chest. "I'm really not that delicate. While I was overseas, the medication your uncle's lab developed did wonders for me."

Leland's face tightened, shadows cutting sharply across his features. "He owed you that much. If not for him, we never would've spent those three years apart."

A thin curl of satisfaction lifted Davina's mouth.

Three missing years meant nothing. Everything tied to the Morgan family was destined to fall into her hands.

While she laughed lightly, a flicker of movement drew her attention, and she spotted Kaelyn at the edge of her vision. A breeze swept across the mountain road, teasing Kaelyn's long hair until it drifted around her like a silken veil, making her look effortlessly alluring.

A faint pinch tightened in Davina's chest. She let out a delicate cough and gestured downhill with a hesitant finger. "Leland… isn't that Kaelyn? Did you ask her to come? Should I… maybe give you two some space?"

She pushed herself to her feet with an unsteady grace, feigning frailty as uncertainty clouded her expression.

Leland's head snapped in the direction she pointed. There, he caught Kaelyn mid-laugh, her bright smile dazzling as she chatted with the people around her.

The curve of her waist flashed beneath her top, a sliver of skin that gleamed like an unintentional tease.

Something fierce and unnameable clawed up his chest. His eyes darkened, stormy with a rage he couldn't quite explain.

"I didn't ask her to come."

Before the words settled, a faint pull tightened at his sleeve.

Davina eased closer, her voice dipped in soft concern. "Leland, the people around these racing teams are a mixed crowd. It's really not a place Kaelyn should be wandering. If someone with bad intentions snaps a photo and twists the story, it could damage the Morgan family."

A bitter little chuckle rose from his chest, as though the outcome hardly surprised Leland. Kaelyn clearly had no intention of making this divorce easy for him.

She acted so detached, signing the divorce papers without blinking—yet here she was, appearing right where Davina would notice, as if she meant to spark trouble on purpose.

Such calculated malice clung to Kaelyn's every move.

"Davina, hold on a second." His voice dropped low as he broke away, hurrying down the steps.

Leland closed the distance in long, cutting strides and clamped a hand around Kaelyn's arm without warning.

A biting frost rolled off him, sharp enough that people nearby felt it prickle across their skin.

"What the hell are you doing here? Wasn't five million supposed to be plenty? How much more are you trying to squeeze out of me now?"

The riders nearby went still, exchanging stunned looks for a beat before the pieces fell into place.

Was this the woman Leland had dumped? Was she unhappy with the breakup payout and now here to cause a public scene?

She looked devastatingly gorgeous, leagues above the delicate woman on the grandstand who seemed ready to swoon at every breeze, yet somehow this beauty was the one tossed aside.

Leland had to be out of his mind!

Kaelyn arched a brow, taking in the man who had stormed over with a glare sharp enough to cut.

Her gaze stayed steady and cool, untouched by his fury. "Didn't I rip up that five-million check and toss it in your smug face when we divorced? Are you suffering memory loss now?"

A ripple of confusion swept through the riders, drawing them in tight.

Divorced? Was this really their boss's ex-wife?

Their curiosity spiked; they hovered as if rooted to the spot, eager for every scrap of gossip.

Heat climbed up Leland's neck, and the humiliation on his face was impossible to hide.

He yanked her closer, staring down at her delicate features—only to find nothing there. No hurt. No longing. Not even irritation.

Her composure only stoked the storm in his chest.

And the moment he caught sight of her without those glasses—her beauty surged into focus, stunning in its intensity—his frustration twisted deeper.

It felt as though he'd tossed aside a stray he'd raised for three years, only to discover too late she'd been a rare, priceless creature he never actually deserved.

"Kaelyn, I told you to keep your head down and stay out of trouble. Did you really have to make a scene right under my nose?"

Leland had grown used to Kaelyn bending to his will, a quiet obedience he'd never questioned.

Yet in the blink of an eye, she shoved his arm away.

A cool sweep of contempt crossed her face. "Back when we were married, I never stepped out on you. Once those papers were signed, I earned my freedom. Why should I skulk around? If you're feeling ashamed, stay inside."

The bluntness nearly knocked the breath out of him.

Somewhere in the crowd, a muffled snort slipped through before being hastily swallowed.

Everyone understood the jab—she was calling him the one who cheated.

And as if summoned by the accusation, a honeyed voice drifted over the noise. "Leland."

Davina glided toward them with a slow, practiced sway, the racing team manager trailing behind her.

Wrapped in a sleek, all-white motorcycle suit that hugged every line of her body, she wore Leland's jacket over her shoulders like a trophy.

Once she reached his side, she lifted a delicate hand toward Kaelyn, her smile polished and sweet. "Hey Kaelyn, long time no see."

Cold amusement flickered across her mouth as Kaelyn let a thin smile appear.

When Morgan Group finally found its footing, Leland drifted from one shiny distraction to the next—funding a flashy racing team, sponsoring over-the-top gaming tournaments, and even sinking money into a private flower estate whispered to keep rare, exotic creatures.

Not once had he invited her to see a single part of that world.

Leland's favorite excuse had always been the same. "You wouldn't understand!"

All of those things suddenly looked intended for Davina.

By their second year of marriage, the shift had already begun. The divorce had clearly been mapped out long before the papers appeared.

Yet in those same years, he had tackled brutal projects at her side, shoulder to shoulder, as if they were an unbreakable team. The contradiction stung with a bitter sort of irony.

Kaelyn lifted her gaze, her stunning eyes catching the light, and a relaxed, almost careless smile curved across her lips.

Watching her glow with that calm confidence made Davina's lips jerk in a tight, annoyed twitch.

"Kaelyn, I already heard about what happened between you and Leland," Davina began, smoothing her expression with practiced gentleness. "His grandfather forced that marriage on you for three years. Honestly, Leland owes you far more than what he's offering. If you're unhappy with the settlement, we can take it up in private. There's no need to follow us here and…"

She let her gaze sweep over Kaelyn from head to toe, irritation curling in her chest when she couldn't spot a single flaw.

Kaelyn's sculpted figure and endlessly long legs were enough to spark a stab of envy.

Damn it!

Fighting the sour twist in her stomach, Davina pulled Leland's jacket tighter around her shoulders, as if bracing herself.

"Your motorcycle suit shows half your waist," she remarked coolly, her tone dipped in condescension. "If a reporter snaps a photo, it'll be embarrassing for Morgan Group. Kaelyn, you keep trying to squeeze into circles that don't want you. There's no need to force your way in."

The dismissal flattened Kaelyn like she wasn't worth a second thought.

Kaelyn brushed her palm along the sleek bike beside her, tapping the fairing with an easy, confident motion.

"Don't you recognize this motorcycle?" she queried, her drawl dripping with quiet challenge.

Davina offered a bored glance, barely sparing it any attention. "Renting some cheap ride dressed up like a racing model might fool people who've never stepped on a track, but anyone who actually races would laugh their heads off."

A ripple of muffled snickering rolled through the rich ladies clustered behind her.

"I've never seen that thing at any official event. Looks like scrap metal pretending to be relevant."

"I should snap a picture and send it to my cousin. He owns a motorcycle repair shop—he'll confirm whether it's a knockoff."

"Davina holds an international racing license, you know. If her health hadn't forced her to step back, she'd already be the 'racing legend' people worship in the circuit."

The smug chatter only made Leland's cheeks burn hotter.

"Kaelyn, please—just head home. I'll throw in another five million, alright? Stop turning this into a spectacle." He rubbed his forehead, sounding desperate.

The team manager, who had been quietly circling the motorcycle, finally cleared his throat and lifted his hand. "Mr. Morgan… Miss Hayes… this appears to be a limited-edition Harley. Market value is over fifty million."

"What?" Davina's expression snapped, all color draining from her face.

A sharp possibility flickered through her mind—had Leland actually bought this for Kaelyn?

Leland cut that thought apart with a cold snort. "She's nothing but an orphan. Without me, how would she ever afford something like this?"

No one knew Kaelyn's finances better than he did, and that certainty curled in his voice like a cutting edge.

The team manager, finally piecing together the implication, shut his mouth without protest.

A ripple of mocking laughter rolled through the gathered riders.

"I really thought we had a VIP here. So she's just a pretty doll after all."

While the crowd jeered, Davina lifted her chin, smugness sliding across her shoulders in a slow, indulgent wave.

"Kaelyn, do yourself a favor and leave. I'd hate to watch you embarrass yourself even more than you already have," she remarked, letting a thin, mocking smile tug at her lips. "And don't ride something that fake again. Roads like these aren't forgiving. If you end up crippled, Leland won't be responsible for cleaning up the mess."

Beneath her syrupy concern lurked a poisonous insinuation—Kaelyn was chasing pity, staging a pathetic scene to claw her way back into Leland's arms.

Kaelyn had been ready to leave their petty show behind, practically done with the whole scene.

Still, the contempt in their eyes jabbed something sharp in her chest.

"You sure sound like you know what you're doing," she remarked, easing a step closer to Davina, her voice smooth and cold. "How about we test that ego on the track? One hundred million. Think you can keep up?"

"Kaelyn!" Leland's voice cut through the air, firm enough to pin anyone in place. His stare carried the harsh weight of command as he snapped out his warning. "Davina can't ride right now. She's been unwell for a long time. How could you be so cruel, dragging her into something like this?"

Cruel?

The accusation scorched through Kaelyn's patience, a spark of fury so sudden she almost swung on him.

Davina chimed in with a soft, fragile cough, her fingers curling around his arm as if she needed his support just to stand. "Leland, you shouldn't take it out on Kaelyn. She gave you three years, never earned your love, and walked away with nothing. That would push anyone over the edge."

Kaelyn refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Tilting her chin with cool defiance, she gestured toward the polished lineup of motorcycles, her fingers slicing through the air like a challenge.

"Didn't you bankroll this entire team for Davina? With fifty million poured into these motorcycles and riders, shouldn't at least one of them actually measure up? You can pick one of them to take Davina's place and race me."

Davina jolted upright, fury flushing her cheeks as she blinked through the sting of offended pride. "You don't get to insult Leland in front of me! If you're this determined to be reckless, then don't expect me to sit back quietly."

She shifted her gaze to the team manager and instructed, "Choose someone to race her. I refuse to let Leland lose."

The team manager was equally determined to ensure Leland's victory. After all, he had just negotiated with Leland for a new investment.

With future funding on the line, he barked orders without hesitation and pointed out their strongest rider.

Kaelyn tipped the helmet in her hand, ready to slip it over her head.

Davina's voice cut in, cool and self-satisfied. "If you lose, you obviously can't pay a hundred million. I want you gone from Leland's life for good—and you'll issue a public apology for causing trouble today."

A bright, almost taunting smile curved across Kaelyn's lips.

"Going for brutal terms now, huh? Alright then. Let's raise it another hundred million. Leland, hope that's not too much for you."

Kaelyn knew Morgan Group's capital was jammed in ongoing projects, their fresh returns still weeks away. At best, Leland could free up two hundred million in cash.

As expected, a flicker of unease crossed his expression.

Kaelyn let out a low, taunting whistle. "Guess Davina isn't worth two hundred million to you after all, huh?"

The jab hit him squarely. No man with an ego like his could swallow that. He snatched up the checkbook, scribbled his signature with stiff determination, and smacked the check onto the table.

"The wager stands. Once you sign this liability waiver, there'll be no turning back, Kaelyn—hope you know what you're doing," he said.

Kaelyn reached for the pen with calm, unhurried confidence and added her signature, never once bothering to glance in his direction.

Moonlight washed across the mountain road, turning every curve into a shimmering silver arc.

A sharp whistle sliced through the stillness, and the black Harley exploded forward, punching through the night with a throaty growl.

The course they'd picked twisted nine brutal times along the cliffside, a route even veteran riders hesitated to tackle at full speed.

Drone cameras tracked every daring maneuver, leaving the crowd breathless.

"She's already hitting the sixth turn without easing up. Think she'll survive the last two bends?"

"Incredible, absolutely incredible. That kind of stunt is the sort of thing only Moon, the myth of the racing world, could do."

"Could she really be Moon? Nobody knows what Moon looks like, but people say the legend's a woman."

Whispers from the crowd drifted to Leland, and a hard, rapid thrum hammered through his chest as he stared at the Harley slicing through the night like a streak of silver fire.

Moon… was that really Kaelyn?

The thought slammed into him with dizzying force.

Beside him, Davina simmered, forcing out two frail coughs as if she were moments from collapsing. When she lifted her lashes, she caught him still fixated on Kaelyn—so absorbed he might as well have forgotten Davina existed.

Nothing like this had ever happened.

Her fingers curled into a trembling fist.

Just then, Kaelyn carved through the final curve in a seamless drift, gliding across the finish line while her opponent lagged a full hundred yards behind.

The crowd broke into instinctive applause, the sound rolling across the track like a sudden wave.

Leland found his hands lifting before he even noticed, drawn in by the sight of Kaelyn's effortless control.

Davina's restraint finally snapped. She clamped onto his arm, nails digging through his sleeve as her glare sliced upward.

"Is it really that fascinating to you?" she demanded, her voice trembling with jealousy.

Only then did the slip hit him, a flicker of guilt passing over his features.

He opened his mouth, reaching for a soothing explanation—but the words stalled when a subtle, airy scent drifted close. Something light and familiar brushed past him, cool as a breeze skimming across water, pulling his attention in a new direction.