Chapter 65: Chapter 65

RACHEL

"I ask for your forgiveness, Rachel," he pleaded, seeming like a truly tormented man. "Unfortunately, we can't control our feelings, and ever since I saw Sarah, I felt something different for her, and I need to try."

So, the jerk fell head over heels for my naive sister and they wanted to be the perfect pair of idiots. Damn it! I need to make him fall out of love with Sarah, maybe even make him angry with her or something like that, but what could I say about someone who's always been a pushover?

Suddenly, it clicked, and I saw an infinitely bright light at the end of the tunnel. I didn't even think twice before using it to my advantage; after all, everything is fair in love and war.

I had to turn away, attempt to squeeze out a few tears, and use all my acting talent to try to salvage what was about to slip through my fingers.

"You're right, Lorenzo, in saying that we can't control our feelings, and I truly understand that," tears were welling up, but I kept my back turned. "I also loved you from the very first moment I saw you, and I would be willing to accept anything to be with you. Just like you won't stop being with Sarah just because she auctioned herself off…"

“Auction? What auction are you talking about?”

I was clever to keep facing away, as a smile escaped my lips when he fell so easily into the trap I set.

"Forget about it, please. I shouldn't have told you."

Lorenzo immediately grabbed me by the shoulders, turning me to face him and looking at me with a questioning gaze.

"I need to know, Rachel!" He spoke urgently. "What auction story is this? What did Sarah auction?"

"I shouldn't tell you, Lorenzo... but if you're thinking about building something with my sister, I think you need to know something as important as this," I spun a web of suspense. "A few months ago, she auctioned off her virginity, and after that, the man who had won her bought an additional month with her."

"I... I can't believe it!" Lorenzo said, with clear horror, releasing me and this time, he turned his back.

Apparently, I managed to tarnish Sarah's image a bit. Now I need to act as rationally as possible and win back the space I lost by her side, now that we didn't have Lorenzo's family interfering in our relationship.

"I didn't want to leave you like this, but I could never sleep with a clear conscience if I didn't tell you," I shamelessly lied. "I'm feeling exhausted; I'll retire."

When he remained silent, I decided to play my final card, as he would have the whole night to think calmly about the mistake he would make by leaving someone like me for a fool like Sarah.

"I want you to know that I love you, Lorenzo," I declared, feigning emotion. "And this love leads me to forgive you and give you a second chance, so think carefully about what you're going to do."

I left that room convinced that the next day he would choose to stay with me, which indeed happened. Despite not sleeping with me, as he chose to stay in the guest room since I was occupying his room, the first thing Lorenzo said when I joined him for breakfast was that Sarah was no longer an option for him.

"I'm so glad you value someone who truly loves you, dear," I said, and my smile was genuinely wide now.

"I just need some time, is that okay with you?" He said, looking at me attentively.

"Yes, take all the time you need, my love."

After we finished breakfast, Lorenzo had his first commitment upon returning from the break between races, and I made sure to accompany him and show Sarah that she was out of the race.

But while Lorenzo was in his training session, my sister rushed up to me, eager to tell me that he had come to her to confess his feelings and that they had kissed.

"He told me, Sarah," I said with indifference. "How could you betray me like this? You know I'm completely in love with Lorenzo, and yet you didn't think about that for a moment!"

She needed to feel bad and not want to talk to Lorenzo anymore, as the farther apart they were from each other, the better it would be for me.

"I know I messed up, Rachel. I beg you to forgive me because I shouldn't have even thought for a single minute about my own sister's boyfriend, but I can't explain... something happened."

"Well, forget about this nonsense once and for all, and let me be happy with the man I love!" I said determinedly.

No one was going to take Lorenzo away from me, especially now that things were progressing toward my success. I was certain that soon he would propose to me, and the first thing I would do was isolate him completely from that bunch he considered family.

"I won't go near him again... I promise."

Sarah had tears in her eyes, and I could see that she genuinely seemed regretful for what she had done. I sincerely hoped she would distance herself from my man.

"I'm counting on that."

Sarah

After the conversation with Rachel, I truly did my best to avoid any contact with Lorenzo. Even during the practice sessions, where we were in the same location, the circuit was large enough for me to keep my distance from my sister's boyfriend.

When the training was over, I looked for Hillary to leave, but since I didn't want to get close to the team that both my friend and Lorenzo were a part of, I tried to contact them by phone, calling and sending a few messages, which received no response at all.

I was standing by the protective railing in the area known as the paddock, where people circulated behind the pits after the practice sessions when Enrico approached.

"Waiting for your friend?" Enrico asked.

"Yes, I am," I replied, not trying to be even remotely friendly.

I didn't intend to take out my frustration on Enrico, but the fact that he had caught me with Lorenzo yesterday was sure to bring some unpleasant comments from him at any moment.

"Come on, I can give you a ride home," he offered.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather wait for Hillary," I promptly declined, trying to be polite.

"Come on, I need to talk to you."

I looked at him in doubt because he seemed to genuinely have something to say, but I didn't trust that man either.

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea," I honestly said.

"It's about something that will benefit both of us."

Truthfully, I was tired of everything, and it wasn't as if I was afraid of Enrico, because I really wasn't. So, I decided to accept it once and for all. I had reflected a lot while watching today's training and realized that I was always being moved back and forth, like a chess piece, but in someone else's game.