"Brother, please let me race," Ivanna begged, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, please."
Nick's heart melted, but Neal managed to regain his composure.
"It's too dangerous, Ivanna," Neal replied firmly. "You can't—"
Ivanna's grip on Neal's hand tightened. "Brother, believe in me," she implored, her eyes shining with conviction. "I've done this many times. You have to trust me. I never take on a challenge unless I'm sure I can win."
Finally, Neal's resolve crumbled under Ivanna's persistent gaze and sighed . "Fine, fine you can race," he conceded,
"but promise me you'll prioritize your safety. If things get dangerous and out of hand back off immediately. I don't want you taking any unnecessary risks."
He shot Nick a glance, adding, "And if you do back off, Nick will serve that redhead. He's the one who stirred up the trouble in the first place." Nick's face scrunched up in distaste, clearly unhappy about the prospect of serving Bren.
Ivanna's expression transformed, her earlier desperation replaced by determination. "Don't worry, brother,"
she assured Nick,
"I'll win this for sure. I've got a plan, and I'm confident it'll pay off."
Nick's face softened, and he ruffled her hair.
"You silly girl, it doesn't matter," Nick said with a smile. "Win or lose, I've got your back. Just be careful out there, okay?" Ivanna nodded, her eyes sparkling with gratitude and looked at her brother.
As Ivanna turned to signal her agreement to Bren, Nick leaned in to whisper to Neal, "You think she changed her tune a bit too quickly?"
Neal's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled.
"That naughty little actress knows exactly what she's doing,"
[
Neal said, his voice low and amused and looked at Ivanna dotingly .
Bren, meanwhile, walked over to the fake Speed Demon, who had been standing far away until now. The fake Speed Demon's expression turned aggrieved as he listened to Bren's words. His gaze shifted, and he glanced over in Ivanna's direction, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her determined expression.
Fake Speed Demon's eyes lingered on Ivanna, a mixture of curiosity and skepticism on his face. 'Could she know something?' he pondered, his voice barely above a whisper. 'Leave it, even if she does, she won't be able to win against me. She's just a girl.'
A sly grin spread across his face as he continued to think out loud. 'I shouldn't let go of this chance. I've conned a pretty sum from these rich folks already, and this time, they'll give me 10 million yuan if I win. It'll be enough to keep me going for a few days, at least'
The fake Speed Demon, Sam, walked confidently towards Ivanna, exuding an air of superiority as if he were the real deal. He paused in front of her and asked, "I heard you want to challenge me?"
Ivanna glanced at him briefly, her expression unreadable. "Yes."
Sam smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I think you know what you're getting yourself into."
Ivanna's gaze locked onto his, her voice steady. "If I win, then you're a fake."
Sam chuckled, his smirk widening. "Okay, then. I hope you won't regret this."
A few minutes later, Sam slid into his sleek green supercar, its engine purring to life. Meanwhile, Ivanna, her helmet securely fastened, was about to climb into the red car when Neal intercepted her.
He first checked if she is safely secured and then,
He gently patted her head, his eyes were warm with encouragement.
"Best of the luck, kiddo," he said, his voice low and sincere.
Ivanna's eyes were filled with unspeakable complex emotions , she smiled and nodded.