Love on the Fast Track

Chapter 13:

“Carter, do you have any free time today? Could you meet me at the court at 2 p.m. to go through the divorce formalities?”

Since she had slept in, Norah scheduled the appointment for the afternoon.

Derek’s prompt response caught Norah off guard, as she was accustomed to waiting for his replies, sometimes up to an hour.

Derek’s message was brief: “Today’s not good for me.”

Norah texted back, “When might you have some time? I can adjust my schedule accordingly.”

“My schedule has been packed recently,” Derek replied. After that exchange, he ceased responding, despite Norah’s further messages.

Norah gazed at her phone, puzzled. She couldn’t understand why Derek, who had been eager to rush things with Madeline yesterday, pressing her for a quick divorce, was now unavailable. Norah believed Derek had wanted to propose to Madeline earlier.

Joanna joined Norah, wearing a facial mask and holding a Coke. “Norah, Bryson was wondering if you’d be interested in giving a talk at Bexlyn University. You are, after all, a distinguished alumna. What’s your take? You could share insights into your career journey with the students.”

Norah accepted the Coke, the fizz pleasantly tickling her taste buds, her eyes narrowing in contentment. “Nah, I prefer to skip it. I want to clinch first place at the Krusa Mountain Racing in four days, so I need all the time to practice and get to know the track better.”

Setting down her drink, Norah continued, “Bexlyn University tends to engage in such ceremonial activities.”

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They like having honorary alumni speak as a form of prestige. Bryson is welcome to participate, but it’s not for me.

Joanna responded, “Alright, I’ll turn it down on your behalf. Bryson does enjoy these grand gestures to increase his popularity. You might not be aware, but he has gathered over a million followers on Stellar Social.”

Stellar Social, a social media platform renowned for its vast user base and focus on video sharing, boasted millions of daily active users, marking its significant influence. Bryson’s following of over a million on Stellar Social underscored his remarkable presence.

Norah recalled her seldom-used social media account offhandedly and said, “That’s quite an achievement.” Norah always viewed Bryson as the epitome of a disciplined business elite, embodying perfection in all aspects.

These days, Norah had sent Aaron a couple of design proposals, attended one of Bryson’s lectures at Bexlyn, and devoted the rest of her time to driving practice and car familiarization.noveldrama

Returning to racing after a two-year hiatus brought a mix of excitement and nervousness for Norah.

On race day, Joanna drove Norah to Krusa Mountain. Participating under the code name “Noxah,” Norah embraced the anonymity required by the event’s organizers, with only select officials aware of the racers’ true identities behind their masks.

With the race over and an hour away, Norah and Joanna settled into their seats among the spectators for a chat.

“Derek, heard Nocturne’s entering this race,” Joanna remarked.

“Wouldn’t it be amazing to meet him? I imagine he’s quite handsome!” Kathy’s voice was easily recognizable, and Norah couldn’t help but frown.

“Are you sure about that? Aren’t the Carter family members part of the race’s shareholders?” Norah replied, her tone edged with concern. “Even though the Carter family isn’t on the same level as the Scott family, they are major shareholders, so it should be pretty easy to get a car driver’s contact details.”

Madeline, gripping Derek’s arm, asked sweetly, “Derek, am I correct?”

Madeline had never been involved in racing and naturally didn’t know much about the racetrack. Kathy, eager to see her favorite racer in action, had convinced Madeline and Derek to join her. Derek, not particularly fond of risky, exciting activities like racing, casually responded, “I’ll have someone check it out.”

Kathy’s excitement soared, confident in the advantages of Derek’s presence. But as she began sharing stories of Nocturne, she unexpectedly spotted someone familiar.

“Is that Norah over there? What’s she doing here? And is that a member of the Andrews family with her?” Kathy’s voice, initially loud, quickly softened as she stepped behind Madeline, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Norah removed the black-framed glasses she had been wearing for the past two years. Her long hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and she had applied a touch of lipstick, giving her a subtle glow in the sunlight. Dressed simply in a white t-shirt and jeans, she exuded an unmistakable charm.

Madeline couldn’t help but notice Derek’s expression, seeing a hint of admiration in his eyes. She bit her lip and clasped her hands tightly together.

Derek masked his feelings, turning to Norah with a controlled tone. “What brings you here? This isn’t a place for you.”

He believed that a kind and thoughtful woman like Norah had no place amidst the excitement of the racecourse.

Joanna sarcastically retorted, “Oh, Mr. Carter, that’s quite arrogant. Do you think you own the Krusa Mountain Racing? Well, I suppose it’s only fair that if scumbags like you two can be here, someone like me seems out of place.”

Madeline’s expression shifted subtly, and she softly responded, “Miss Andrews, do you have any misunderstandings about Derek and me? The Carter family holds a stake in this venue, and Kathy’s interest in racing brought us here. Encountering Norah was unexpected…”

Madeline then turned to Norah and said, “Norah, isn’t it time to leave the past behind with Derek? Now that you two are divorced, what purpose does it serve for you to be here in front of him? Resorting to such tactics won’t benefit you.”

With every sentence, Madeline made Norah feel small. First, she insinuated that Norah was following them, and then she suggested that Norah was desperately trying to repair things with Derek after the divorce. She even accused Norah of using underhanded tactics.

Only the best of Glophia could join the Krusa Mountain Racing. Everyone knew about the Carter family.

Although people didn’t know much about Norah, they remembered Derek and Madeline very well. Given Derek’s lack of defense for Norah since his awakening and his hasty move to divorce her after Madeline’s return, it was widely assumed that Norah meant little to him.

“What the hell are you even saying? Have you lost your senses?” Before Joanna could launch another counterattack, Norah quickly covered her mouth and turned to address Madeline.

“Let me be clear, Miss Powell. Your self-centeredness is unwarranted. I’m here to enjoy the race, and Mr. Carter hardly has the right to send me away. Please, mind your own business.”

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