Chapter 1

The World Racing Championship was just days away. My two childhood sweethearts tricked me into the remote countryside, all for the sake of the man they truly adored.

To ensure their golden boy took the trophy, they didn't hesitate to push me off a cliff.

As I hung over the abyss, I asked them why. I asked them about the twenty years we had spent growing up together.

They simply looked away and said, "Dustin is so fragile and insecure. Racing is his only dream. Just let him have this one win."

I ended up crippled, forced to leave the track forever, just as they planned.

Later, they personally dragged Dustin off his pedestal. They begged me for just one more look, but I was already gone.

1.

"Lyra! Luna! We grew up together! How can you be this heartless?"

The day before the World Racing Championship, my two childhood best friends lured me to a desolate cliff under the guise of a hike.

To eliminate any threat to their favorite person, they shoved me hard while I was distracted taking a photo.

I managed to grab a branch, barely saving myself from a fatal plunge.

But instead of helping, they began shaking the branch violently, trying to throw me off.

I pleaded with them. I talked about our twenty years of history, hoping they would pull me up.

All I got in return were expressions as cold as ice.

"Skyler, you're just too good. If you compete, Dustin will definitely lose," Lyra said.

"Dustin is sensitive. Racing is the only way he can find his confidence," Luna added.

"We're sorry, but for Dustin's sake, you can't be at that race."

Below my feet was a bottomless void.

Desperate to survive, I gripped that dry, thin branch and shouted to them.

"I'll withdraw! I won't race!"

But they didn't believe me.

"Skyler, you're a legend in the racing world. You only need this one win to complete your Grand Slam. We can't trust you to go back," they said.

"Besides, if a genius like you suddenly quits, the spotlight won't stay on Dustin even if he wins."

"We're sorry, Skyler. Dustin really needs this. You understand, right?"

I didn't understand!

Lyra, Luna, and I were all kids from the same group home.

We had been inseparable since we could walk.

Lyra was sickly and Luna was small. They were always targets for bullies.

I was the one who stood up for them every single time, protecting them like a big brother.

Later, they were discovered by the billionaire Lennox family. It turned out they weren't orphans at all, but heiresses.

I was genuinely happy for them.

The day they were supposed to go home, they refused to leave unless their parents adopted me too.

And so, I became the Lennoxes' foster son. I took their name and lived by their side.

After twenty years, everyone praised how close we were.

The girls even used to fight over me, claiming they would both marry me when we grew up.

I used to worry about that. I played the role of the perfect brother, afraid of breaking their hearts.

Now, they were ready to kill me for a guy they had barely known for a few months!

My heart turned to stone. I tried to scramble up the rocks, but they pelted my fingers with stones.

My strength failed. I plummeted toward the darkness.

The last thing I heard were their apologetic voices.

"Sorry, Skyler. Just hang in there."

"Once Dustin wins, we'll come find you."