Chapter 26: I Really Want to Lock You by My Side

Clara stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, a cup of warm black tea in her hand, her gaze resting on the falling leaves outside.

A whole week had passed since that banquet, and Alistair Vance had seemingly vanished into thin air, without so much as a single message.

She took a soft sip of the tea, a faint, unreadable smile playing on her lips.

A man like Alistair was accustomed to being in control, used to having everyone revolve around him.

But Clara was not the type to bow her head easily.

Moreover, this was a game where everyone’s lives were at stake.

She could not afford to lose.

Her phone vibrated on the coffee table. Clara walked over to pick it up; it was a message from Julian: "Are you free tonight? Silas said we should head to the racing track for some fun. Want me to come pick you up in a bit?"

Clara arched an eyebrow, her fingers tapping lightly on the screen: "Sure."

She set the phone down and walked to the walk-in closet to pick out her outfit.

She knew Alistair would definitely show up tonight.

As night fell, the lights of the racing track illuminated the entire grounds as bright as day.

The roar of engines rose and fell, and the air was thick with the scent of gasoline and burning rubber.

Breaking from her usual style, Clara wore a tight black leather jacket today, her long hair tied back into a high ponytail. She looked both cold and sharp.

Standing by the bleachers, her gaze swept across the cars in the pit. Sure enough, she spotted Alistair’s silhouette not far away.

He was dressed in a dark gray racing suit, looking down to inspect his tires, his expression focused and frigid.

Julian and Silas walked over. Julian glanced in Alistair’s direction and whispered to Clara, "Are you sure you want to play with him tonight? He hasn't been in the best mood lately."

Clara let out a short laugh, her tone carrying a hint of indifference. "His bad mood has nothing to do with me, does it?"

Silas arched an eyebrow from the side, giving Clara a meaningful look. "Little sister, you really are quite bold."

Clara didn't respond; she simply turned her gaze back to Alistair.

He seemed to sense her eyes on him and looked up. Their gazes collided in mid-air.

Alistair’s eyes were deep and icy, filled with a sort of suppressed emotion.

He hadn't expected Clara to know how to race.

But then he remembered she was from Veridia. In Veridia, almost every young person knew their way around a track.

For a woman as beautiful as her, winning against an opponent on the track meant they would keep their word and stop coming after her or her family.

Veridia believed in the cult of the race.

Clara met his gaze without any hint of evasion, a faint smile touching her lips.

Before the race began, Alistair walked up to Clara, his voice low and distant. "Are you certain you want to participate?"

Clara looked up at him, her tone casual. "Why? Is Master Vance afraid I’ll lose too pathetically?"

Alistair’s brow furrowed slightly, a hint of warning in his voice. "Racing isn't a game."

Clara let out a light laugh and turned toward her car, speaking without looking back: "Master Vance should worry about himself instead."

Alistair stood in place, watching her retreating back, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes.

The race began, and the cars shot out like arrows from a bow.

Clara’s driving skills caught everyone off guard. Her car maneuvered through the turns with incredible flexibility, grazing the guardrails several times but always maintaining the lead.

Alistair’s car followed closely behind. His eyes were glued to the black car in front of him, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.

He hadn't expected her to be this good—or this reckless.

At the final curve, Clara’s car suddenly drifted, the tires shrieking against the pavement.

Alistair’s heart seized, and he instinctively slammed on the brakes for a split second.

However, Clara’s car came to a perfect, steady halt right on the finish line.

After the race ended, Clara stepped out of the car with a winner’s smile.

Alistair walked up to her, his voice low and cold. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

Clara looked up at him, her tone provocative. "Is Master Vance actually worried about me?"

Alistair’s brow was tightly knit, his voice laced with suppressed fury. "Clara, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Clara let out a soft laugh, her tone light. "I just wanted you to understand that I’m not someone who can be easily controlled by you."

Alistair’s pupils contracted, a mix of emotions flashing in his eyes.

He stared at her for a few seconds before suddenly reaching out to seize her wrist, pulling her close.

The distance between them vanished instantly. Clara could clearly feel the cold aura radiating from him.

His voice was low and raspy, thick with suppressed tension. "Clara, do you realize that doing this only makes me want to lock you by my side even more?"

Clara met his gaze, a faint smile on her lips. "Then we’ll just have to see if Master Vance has the capability to do so."

Alistair’s breath hitched, the emotions in his eyes churning even more violently.

He looked down at her, as if trying to read something in her eyes.

However, Clara’s gaze remained calm and indifferent, as if everything were under her perfect control.

Just then, Julian and Silas walked over.

Julian looked at the atmosphere between them and frowned. "What's going on with you two?"

Alistair released Clara’s wrist and turned toward his car, his voice cold. "Nothing."

Watching his back, the smile on Clara’s lips deepened.

On the way home, Julian couldn't help but ask while driving, "What exactly is going on between you and Alistair?"

Clara leaned back in the seat, her gaze on the night scenery flying past the window. Her tone was casual. "Nothing, I just helped him understand a few things."

Julian frowned, his voice full of concern. "Alistair Vance is not a simple man. You... should stay away from him in the future."

Clara let out a light laugh, her tone indifferent. "Don't worry, I know what I’m doing."

On the other side, Alistair sat in his car, his gaze dark as he stared ahead.

He had never met someone like Clara—someone who looked so fragile and harmless but could so easily trigger his emotions.

She was like a cunning cat, drawing near one moment and pulling away the next, leaving him unable to grasp her.

This feeling of being attracted to her made him uneasy, yet he found it impossible to resist.

Returning home, Clara took off her leather jacket and draped it over her arm, entering the house just ahead of Julian.

"Why is my sister coming home so late?"

Mia was coming down the stairs in her silk pajamas, looking at her provocatively.

"Mom and Dad have been waiting for you for so long they're almost asleep."