She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 46

Lester was furious, but all he managed in the end was to spit out one last vicious line. “Unbelievable. You think you can win without joining my team? Loyce, you’re going to lose—badly!”

Hugo, practically vibrating with excitement, ushered Loyce over to registration and had her sign under his team’s name.

The moment everyone saw Loyce walk away to another crew, Lester’s teammates swarmed him.

“What happened?” someone demanded. “Why did Loyce go to Hugo’s team?”

Quiana spoke up in a soft, fragile voice. “It has to be because I joined. She doesn’t want to come anymore. If that’s the case… maybe I should just drop out.”

Lester shut it down instantly. “Absolutely not. You’ve been training with me all this time. What would that even mean?”

Quiana looked like she was about to cry. “But if Loyce won’t come… maybe I should go apologize. I’ll go beg her. I’ll—”

“There’s nothing to beg for!” Lester snapped, face dark with anger. “I don’t need Loyce on my team. I only invited her because I felt sorry for her. We can win the championship without her!”

On Hugo’s side, Loyce’s arrival set off a wave of cheers. Every member of the team looked genuinely thrilled, crowding in to welcome her like she’d just turned the whole season around.

Hugo leaned in and asked, “Loyce, the mountain route is nasty this time. Weather shifts fast up there, and the temperature swings are brutal. Which leg are you planning to drive?”

The starting horn blared. Floodlights along both sides of the track snapped on, and the venue erupted into roaring noise.

Lester’s first driver, Jackson, even walked over to Loyce and spoke low, like he was delivering a disappointed lecture. “Loyce, we’ve always treated you like a little sister. But what you did tonight… you really hurt your brother. You hurt all of us.”

“Treated me like a sister?” Loyce’s voice was cool, almost amused. “Then why was my face never on the podium photos?”

Jackson pressed his lips together, looking at her like she’d let him down. “I thought you’d be more generous. That you wouldn’t care about superficial things like credit.”

Loyce suddenly smiled, raised her hand, and flipped him off. “Don’t care about credit? Then why do you want first place? Because it’s fun? If you’re so noble, don’t step onto the podium. Give your spot to me.”