Rise from Fire and Steel

To help her lover win the rally championship, my fiancée, Alanna Johnson, deliberately sabotaged my race car. The vehicle lost control on a curve at nearly two hundred miles per hour, and in utter despair, I called her one last time. Her voice, however, brimmed with impatience. “Stop being dramatic. “This championship means nothing to you, but Jack is about to retire. This is his final chance. “Once this race ends, I’ll cut all ties with him and marry you. All right?” But she never realized that this event had drawn unprecedented global attention. After my death, the in-car surveillance footage would be released to the world. And she would face a judgment far worse than death. Chapter 1 “I admit it. I had tampered with your car. “This championship meant nothing to you, but Jack is about to retire, and this was his final chance. “Once the race is over, I’ll marry you to make it up to you. Is that all right?” Before I died, I never would have thought that Alanna Johnson would agree to marry me. But it was too late. The out-of-control car plummeted hundreds of meters, and the moment it struck the sea, darkness claimed me. When I woke up again, I stood at the rally’s award ceremony. The crowd surged around me, immense and unstoppable. Jack and Alanna stood at the center of the championship podium, holding the trophy, their fingers entwined, speaking their acceptance speech to the cameras. “Standing here, I must thank Alanna. She’s not only my navigator, but also my anchor, the person who keeps me grounded.” Alanna lowered her gaze, smiling shyly. “It’s Jack who has the skill. He practices every day and knows every curve of the terrain by heart.” Her praise drew cheers from the crowd. “What a couple!” “Go on and kiss her!” Jack raised an eyebrow and leaned forward playfully. Alanna buried her face in embarrassment. “There’ll be time for that later,” Jack said sheepishly. The audience erupted in a wave of cheers sweeping through the stands. I clenched my fists so tightly it hurt, though I no longer had a body. My heart ached fiercely. The championship trophy should have been mine. Alanna should have been mine. But now, I had nothing. Even this life had been left behind in that race. And the architect of it all—the one I trusted most—had betrayed me. I should have seen it coming. The night before, Alanna had asked if I would give up the championship for her. I had been puzzled by how childish it sounded. She was a professional navigator, and I was a professional racecar driver. We both treated the race as if it were our lives. I assumed she was testing me and replied that I wouldn’t. She had been uncharacteristically insistent. “What if I asked you to lose on purpose?” I was baffled and asked what she meant. She brushed it off and changed the subject. Only before I died did I understand. Alanna had wanted me to lose the race to boost Jack’s racing career. I had been Jack’s long-time rival. For years, he had tried every trick to surpass me but had always come second. So she tampered with my car to ensure his victory. Yet she had always hated cheating in races. During her navigator training in the racing team, she had excelled, but because an opponent had cheated, she lost the opportunity to work with a better driver. Chapter 2 Later, Alanna was lucky enough to be paired with a relatively competent partner, but during a collision test, she was falsely accused by a rival and banned from competition for a year. She had devoted herself to climbing the ranks to become a race organizer, to give everyone a fair chance. Yet, she was dealt a tough card again. After she was assigned Jack Foyt as her partner, she often complained to me about his poor sense of direction. Many times, he had nearly taken the wrong path, putting both car and driver at risk. I didn’t want her in danger, so I hired her as my navigator at three times the market rate. I was an independent driver with my own company, preferring solitude to working in a large team. On the track, I had always been alone, but I enjoyed having Alanna by my side. She had accepted my offer cheerfully. Yet later, perhaps due to Jack, she grew distracted and never joined me on the track anymore. She and Jack began exchanging messages and small gifts frequently. I noticed the subtle change in her feelings toward Jack and brought it up, but she frowned and dismissed my concerns. “What do you mean? Jack and I are just partners. “We do this only to build rapport and improve coordination so we can win the championship,” she said. “Do you need me to fight with him for you to be happy?” She used the championship as an excuse, but I discovered by chance that she had rejected invitations from more promising drivers to favor Jack. Her heart had already begun to lean toward him. I never expected her to betray her principles for him. Suddenly, a reporter asked, “In previous years, the championship always belonged to your fiancé, Lewis Senna. This time, it’s you and Jack. “So…Whose win makes you happier?” Alanna fell silent. It was a sign of her unease. After all, this championship had been wrongfully snatched from me. Jack stepped in front of her. “Sorry, this is a race. We don’t mix our work and personal lives. “Competing seriously is a sign of respect towards every racer. “In the past, even in defeat, we were honorable. I believe Lewis is, too.” Listening to his grandiose words, I sneered. “But on the other hand,” Jack continued, fanning the flames, “it’s incredible that Lewis didn’t even make the rankings this time.” Fans who had once supported me cursed and shouted at him. “Where’s Lewis Senna? What’s going on?” “Refund! Refund!” “Impossible! This race is rigged!” Alanna had no intention of speaking up for me. “It’s the way of life to win or lose a race. I’ll make sure Lewis practices harder, so he doesn’t disappoint his fans.” The crowd erupted again. My situation was quickly buried as attention returned to the couple. The loudest were the fans who wanted to see the pair together. I had seen many of their video edits before, and I had always dismissed them as fan fantasies. Only now did I realize the torrent of affection in their gazes. The commotion continued. Suddenly, a staff member shouted, “A driver went off the track and fell into the sea! They’ve not been rescued yet.” Some dissatisfied fans near me sneered, “Could it be Lewis? He hasn’t shown up yet.” Hearing this, Alanna froze mid-pose. … Rally racing was, after all, a dangerous sport, where crashes and fatalities were never unexpected. Chapter 3 The race had a dedicated rescue team to handle such accidents, ensuring that both the competition and the award ceremony proceeded as planned. So my car plunging into the sea did not in any way hinder the championship presentation. Alanna seemed about to ask something, but held herself back. A staff member answered instead, “It’s still unclear what happened, and the live broadcast didn’t have time to switch to his feed. “But from the video just now, it seems the car that fell was number thirteen.” Alanna exhaled and shifted her gaze. I realized the truth then. Last night, I had mentioned to Alanna that I was assigned number fourteen, the last driver, but before the race, I was suddenly given the thirteenth spot. The driver’s car had a problem and needed emergency repairs, so he wanted to swap positions. I agreed without hesitation. It had been abrupt, and I hadn’t told Alanna. Yet the large screen had already been refreshed. Anyone paying attention could have realized that number thirteen was me. The staff hurried away, and some reporters rushed to cover the accident live. Alanna and Jack, following the reporters’ instructions, posed for photos before returning to the lounge. As soon as she entered, Alanna pulled out her phone. She frowned, perhaps noticing I still hadn’t contacted her. Usually, after every race, we sent each other a message to ensure the other was safe. Most of the time, I texted first, and she would reply only after a long delay. Jack seemed aware of this habit. Seeing her hesitation, he asked softly, “Did Lewis contact you?” Alanna shook her head. “It’s been nearly an hour since the race ended, and there’s still no news from him.” “Could he be angry?” Jack asked. “After all, it’s because of me that he didn’t win the championship.” “I’ll explain to him later. You helped me with this—I can’t let it harm you.” Then he pretended to murmur to himself, “But on the other hand, Lewis has already won so many championships. “Even if he failed this time, he shouldn’t be so angry that he doesn’t contact you. After all, you’re his fiancée.” Alanna stiffened. It was clear his words had struck a chord. Jack took out his phone. “Should I apologize to him first?” “Apologize for what?” Alanna snatched the phone and slammed it face down on the table. “Let him be angry if he wants. We won’t get married then. “Weren’t you going to take me out for dinner after the race?” “Sure, let’s go then.” Alanna grabbed her bag and moved to leave. At that moment, I saw clearly the triumphant smile on Jack’s face. I felt nauseated and didn’t want to watch, yet my soul remained tethered to Alanna. On the way out of the race venue, I saw that the wreckage of my car had been recovered and was parked on the open ground. The car had been mine for eight years, from my earliest days in racing, through more than sixty competitions, large and small. It should have appeared as usual in glossy photos on the champion wall. Now, it lay scattered, pitiful, and lonely under the gaze of the crowd. Just like me. Alanna glanced at it, hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Why do I feel like that car belongs to Lewis?” Jack glanced over. “No way. You must be mistaken.” Chapter 4 Then Jack lowered his voice, “We only tampered with Lewis’s gearbox. “It would slow the car down, nothing more.” Alanna nodded. “That’s true.” She took out her phone again, unlocked it, and opened our chat window. I still hadn’t sent her a message. A passerby returning from the scene walked past them, his face pale with shock. “It was horrible. That driver died so miserably. “His whole body shattered. Falling from two hundred meters…He looked like someone who had been thrown into a compactor. “There’s barely anything left that resembles a person.” Unease flickered across Alanna’s face. “Should I drive over and take a look?” Jack asked. Alanna struggled inwardly, then answered coldly, “No. Why would we look? It’ll ruin my appetite later.” Their car sped away, and the two of them pushed the matter out of their minds. They finally stopped in front of a restaurant. The owner seemed familiar with them from the moment they entered, greeting Jack with a warm smile. “Brought your girlfriend again, I see. We’ve got a new dish today—your girlfriend will probably love it. “Want to try it?” Alanna said nothing. She seemed completely used to being called his girlfriend. Jack replied, “Sure, man. And bring two bottles of the good liquor. We’re in a celebratory mood today.” “And the kind your girlfriend likes, right?” “Right.” “Just a moment.” Smiling, the owner asked a server to lead them to a private room. The ease with which they moved suggested they had visited more than once or twice. Yet when I once suggested eating here, she resisted, telling me the food was mediocre. What had she been thinking then? Was she afraid the owner would see us together and realize her fiancé was me? Or was she afraid that sitting across from me would taint the sweet memories she held with Jack? I didn’t know, and most likely never would. After eating and drinking their fill, Alanna grew tipsy and began sharing everything that had happened lately. She rambled about small things, like how I bought a new game console for the house, and large things, like our arguments, and how I refused yesterday to give up the championship for her. I had never known she could talk so freely. Jack listened patiently, then looked at her gravely. “I didn’t want to say this, but I don’t think Lewis loves you,” he said quietly. Alanna froze. Jack continued, “No one understands men better than another man. Only when a man doesn’t love enough does he hesitate between a championship and the woman he loves. “If she were truly the one he cared about, what man would choose the trophy? “As for me, I never would. If I liked someone, forget the championship—even if it cost me my entire life or my future, I’d choose her without hesitation.” Alanna’s gaze wavered. “Anyone you like must be very lucky.” Jack reached across the table and took her hand. Their eyes locked, and in the soft, smoky atmosphere, Alanna’s face flushed as red as a boiled lobster. “Alanna,” he said, “don’t marry him. Be with me. “You helped me win the championship, even if it meant betraying him. “Maybe he won’t say anything now, but after you marry, he’ll definitely use this against you again and again. “But I’m different. “We’ve come all this way together, and you’ve helped me so much. “I’ll treat you well, no matter what it costs me.” Chapter 5 Alanna hurriedly covered his mouth with her hand. “Don’t say such things.” Yet, I saw the look in her eyes. Jack grinned, still holding her hand. “Then I’ll take that as your agreement.” Alanna was about to reply when her phone suddenly rang. As soon as she answered, the anxious voice of my former teammate, Lionel Schumacher, came through. “Where are you? Lewis is in trouble! The driver who crashed into the sea during this rally? It’s him!” Alanna froze. Then, as if realizing something, she let out a scoffing laugh. “Well, that’s perfect. I don’t have to bring up the breakup anymore. “Aren’t you his friend? Just handle his affairs. I have nothing to do with him anymore.” Then, she hung up. Jack’s eyes darted around. “What’s wrong, Alanna?” She looked triumphant, a knowing smile on her lips. “I was worried Lewis might have gotten into real trouble, but when Lionel called, I already knew. He’s using the same old trick.” Jack nodded in agreement. “Exactly. If that really was Lewis, why hasn’t the organizer contacted you yet?” Hearing this, Alanna’s suspicions only grew stronger. She pulled out her phone and sent me a message. [Lewis, I see through whatever you’re trying to do. [I know you’re angry, but I’ve said it before: I hate being deceived. [This is the last time. I’m ordering you to come back right now, or our engagement is off!] I smiled helplessly. She had forgotten that, to avoid affecting her race, I had already changed my emergency contact to Lionel. Years of familiarity had made her increasingly indifferent to me, and, instead, she trusted Jack’s words completely. Yet, the result didn’t change. As the two of them prepared to leave, the police arrived to take Alanna in for questioning. At that point, they didn’t yet know that news of my death had spread across the internet. Alanna, still confused, asked why they wanted to detain her. The officer answered politely, “Upon inspection, we found your fingerprints on Mr. Senna’s car. We hope you will cooperate with the investigation.” “Did Lewis report it?” Jack asked in feigned surprise. Before the officer could explain, Alanna’s confusion flared into anger. “Where is he? I already promised to marry him after the race, and now he fakes his death and calls the police! “What does he want?” The officer looked at her with slight suspicion. “You are Mr. Senna’s fiancée?” Alanna nodded. The officer studied her carefully. “Then you know that Mr. Senna…” He didn’t finish his sentence before a young man suddenly appeared. He shoved Alanna down, his eyes bloodshot, screaming in madness, “Bitch! Lewis is dead because of you!” The police immediately restrained him. But upon hearing the commotion, several other onlookers rushed forward. “So it was you! “Lewis should have been the champion! You tampered with his car, and not only did he fail to finish the race, but he also got killed for it! “How could you be so vile?” Several fans shouted, trying to push towards Alanna. She hadn’t yet processed the information and asked in a small, stunned voice, “Who’s dead? “Who are you saying is dead?” Her voice was quickly drowned out by the yelling. The police struggled to maintain order. Chapter 6 Jack stepped forward, raising his voice, “She had tampered with his car!” Alanna looked at him in disbelief. The crowd’s eyes grew redder, their shouting louder. But Jack continued, “She did it for Lewis’s own good. “Before the race, Lewis modified the sway bar inside his car illegally! “Alanna didn’t want to watch him keep making mistakes, so she altered his car. “But she didn’t expect that he would still insist on going his own way.” The onlookers exchanged glances, as if weighing the truth of his words. Lionel’s body trembled with anger. “Impossible! Lewis would never do something like that! “In every race, he never stoops to such despicable acts.” “Do you understand him better, or does his fiancée?” Jack sneered, turning his gaze toward Alanna. The others also looked to her, waiting for her answer. Alanna was my fiancée, so naturally, her words carried more weight. Yet she looked lost. Jack leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I’m sorry, but this is the only way. I have to protect you. “Later, I’ll go to Lewis’s grave to apologize.” Alanna pressed her lips together and sighed. “Jack is right.” Her reaction suggested she wanted to help me hide the truth, but, caught, she had no choice but to speak it aloud. “Besides, this isn’t the first time. Alanna had no other way,” Jack added. “Thinking she might ruin his plan, he moved up the race start time. Officer, you should have confirmed this.” The police nodded. “Indeed, we found that Mr. Senna swapped start positions with the previous driver.” My supporters were struck; their long-held faith was shattered by the implications. Lionel still refused to believe it, shouting passionately, “Impossible! You’re just smearing Lewis because he’s not here! “Alanna, look me in the eyes and tell me the truth!” Jack shoved him aside. Lionel lost his balance and tumbled down the stairs. I hurried to catch him, but my hand passed through his body. Watching him collapse in near-madness, my chest ached. Even an acquaintance, having raced with me only a few times, screamed himself hoarse, defending me. And the person I trusted most in life, knowing fully how wronged I was, didn’t hesitate to shit on me. Alanna’s stance had already sparked a frenzy online. Many burned my posters, accused me of cheating, and even attacked my company. Alanna stared into Lionel’s eyes as if making a decision. “I swear everything I’ve said is true,” she said coldly. “If I lie, I will parade through the city, calling myself ungrateful and shameless!” Fans exchanged uneasy glances, their certainty wavering. Lionel clenched his fists but had no evidence to counter her. The corner of Jack’s mouth curled into a triumphant smile. At that moment, someone suddenly shouted, “Wait! The organizers just released the in-car footage!”