Gwyneth’s eyes sparkled at the mention of race cars, and for a moment she wondered if Violet already knew about her secret deal with her mom. A flush of embarrassment crept up her cheeks.
“How about this—today, your dad and I will take you to a real racetrack. You can experience it for yourself. Sound good?”
It was only then that Gwyneth realized Violet was dressed differently than usual. She was wearing a sleek racing suit, and one of the house staff handed Ms. Marchand a stylish helmet.
“Wow, that looks amazing!” Gwyneth couldn’t help but gush, completely taken with the helmet in particular. It looked so cool.
McNeil accepted the helmet from the staff and turned to Violet, his tone tinged with concern. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
He didn’t really approve of Violet heading to the racetrack, especially since she was still recovering from a serious illness. High-speed racing wasn’t exactly gentle on the body.
“It was a stomach illness, not a heart problem,” Violet replied, light but determined. “Besides, it’s been years since I’ve even thought about Formula One. Today’s just a warm-up, a chance to check out the track. And with you there, I know I’ll be fine.”
She smiled, then ruffled Gwyneth’s hair in imitation of McNeil’s usual gesture. “And—didn’t you say you always wanted to see a real race up close? Think of today as my gift to you. You and your dad can watch me take the wheel for real. What do you say?”
The words had barely left Violet’s mouth before Gwyneth leapt into the air, more excited than she’d been about any video game Victoria had ever promised her. She threw her arms around Violet’s neck and planted a flurry of enthusiastic kisses on her cheek.
“Ms. Marchand, you’re the best! You’re amazing!” Gwyneth’s eyes practically sparkled with adoration. To her, Violet wasn’t just cool for being a gamer and a real-life racer—she was also incredibly kind.
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