Too Good for You The Ex-Wife You Lost novel Chapter 195

The conference room was packed, filled with a heavy atmosphere. By the time Noelle and Hunter arrived, nearly everyone was already present.

As Noelle walked in, she drew quite a few stares. Feeling puzzled, she found a seat with Hunter. A staff member leaned over and whispered, "Ms. Quinn, why is your lip swollen? Did you have an allergic reaction to something?"

Noelle's cheeks burned. She mumbled vaguely, "Uh…"

Beside her, Hunter let out a low chuckle. Noelle clenched her teeth, reached under the table, and gave his arm a sharp pinch. He hissed softly at the pain but quickly caught her hand under the table, refusing to let go.

They thought their little exchange had gone unnoticed. But sitting directly behind them, Cassandra and Jody had seen it. Cassandra rolled her eyes. These two really did not know how to keep a low profile.

Jude cleared his throat, unwilling to waste time. His voice was cold. "Today, there was an incident with the tires on the track. Whoever is responsible, step forward now. If you admit your mistake, the punishment will be lighter."

He swept his sharp gaze across the room. "But if no one owns up, then I'll have to hand down the punishment myself."

As soon as his words fell, a tall, lanky man stood up, looking uneasy. "Coach Landaal, the one who changed the tires today was my apprentice, Ivan. He isn't experienced enough, and because of his mistake, the tire came off shortly after the race began. I apologize."

It was Sam from the mechanical department, an old member of the team. Changing tires was not just about speed; it was also about safety and precision. If one only chased speed without securing those two properly, an accident like earlier was bound to happen.

Luckily, Noelle was not hurt. If she had been, not only would her qualifying position have dropped to the bottom, but she also might not have been able to race in tomorrow's official competition at all.

Jude's eyes swept the room before fixing on Ivan. The young man trembled behind Sam, knowing full well he was in trouble. His biggest fear was that the team would demand a high amount in damages.

But Ivan was filled with regret. He could not understand why he had agreed to Sam's plan. Now, all he could do was work in the logistics department.

"You're still lucky to stay on the team," Sam said with feigned concern, utterly unfazed by his apprentice's hateful glare. "Work hard in logistics. Once you prove yourself, I'll talk to Mr. Dean about bringing you back."

He turned his eyes toward Jamie. The man's expression was grim. Although Noelle had managed to resolve the tire issue flawlessly, he was far from pleased. But that had nothing to do with Sam. Whether Noelle had gotten hurt or not, Jamie still owed him the promised 500 thousand dollars.

As for Ivan, he was quick-witted. His speed at tire changes was already catching up to Sam's, despite being new. So, when Jamie had approached him for help, Sam had not hesitated to use him as a scapegoat. After all, Ivan was willing to do anything just to stay on the team.

Punishment had been handed down. Officially, the matter was settled. But Noelle was not convinced. She knew this was not as simple as it seemed. Rising to her feet, she said, "Coach, I have something to say."