Chapter 25: Settling the Score

At the starting point, which was also the finish line, the crowd had set up a betting pool. Naturally, everyone bet on Shawn Ford to win.

Someone’s phone suddenly pinged. He placed a fifty-million-dollar bet on Amanda Vance. As everyone else stared at him, he held out his phone for them to see and explained, "Mr. Grant told me to place it."

Sure enough, the message on the screen was from Hayden Grant.

"Pfft." Someone snickered. "Has he already given up, knowing he can’t beat Mr. Ford? I guess Mr. Grant found out about our betting pool and just wants to show the lady some support, you know, as a consolation prize?"

The crowd joined in the laughter, exchanging suggestive smirks. It was no wonder, really. They had never seen Hayden Grant be so good to a woman before, let alone so considerate.

Shirley Vance overheard them. She didn’t know much about Hayden Grant, but now that she’d learned the Grant Family was nearly on par with the Ford Family, she was consumed by jealousy. ’Why does Amanda get so lucky, hooking up with someone so powerful, while I’m stuck with the likes of Simon Sheffield—and I had to fight tooth and nail just for that?’

’It’s not like I’m any less beautiful than her.’

’Why should all the good things go to her?’

She clenched her fists, ambition flashing in her eyes. ’I have to marry into the Ford Family. I have to marry the legendary President Ford! Only then can I put Amanda in her place for good, so she can never even dream of surpassing me.’

"Here they come! Here they come!" The roar of an engine approached, and someone shouted. Instantly, all eyes snapped to the nearest corner. They figured Mr. Ford must have picked up the pace, probably on track to beat his personal best by five or six minutes. ’That woman must be losing her mind,’ they thought. ’Heh, forget about a race. She’d probably get weak-kneed just trying to drive a slow lap on this mountain.’

’Women will be women. What’s she doing meddling in a man’s sport like racing? She should just go home and nurse a baby.’

They were all waiting to watch her make a fool of herself, already planning how they would mock her. However, when the first car came into view, their eyes went wide in unison, and the insults they had prepared died in their throats.

’Did we see that right? Why is Amanda Vance the first one back?!’

’Did Hayden Grant drive for her?’

Though they knew it was unlikely, that explanation was far more acceptable than the reality of Amanda Vance actually beating Mr. Ford.

However, even that sliver of hope was instantly shattered.

Amanda Vance smoothly crossed the finish line, her car tracing a perfect arc. The crowd stared, still unable to process what they were seeing, until a sharp whistle from Hayden Grant jolted them back to their senses. They turned to Amanda with expressions of utter disbelief.

Just then, the familiar car they’d been waiting for finally rolled into view. Perhaps it was just a psychological effect, but Shawn’s pace now seemed agonizingly slow.

The timekeeper glanced at his stopwatch, and his expression shifted yet again. Shawn’s time was actually more than five minutes faster than his previous personal best. One shouldn’t underestimate those five minutes; for experts, shaving off even a single second is a monumental challenge.

And yet, Amanda had beaten him by a full five minutes!

"Quite the pot this time, huh?" Hayden Grant remarked, eyeing the mountain of chips on the betting table. He raised an eyebrow, then used a croupier’s rake to sweep all the chips from Shawn Ford’s side over to Amanda’s. Noticing one of the names, he clicked his tongue in amusement and glanced sideways at someone. "Xavier Webb, five million. Feeling generous today, were we?"

The man he’d called out went deathly pale, his expression frozen. He trembled, not daring to speak, already wondering how he was going to explain this to his family. Five million! For some of the other wealthy heirs, that might as well be pocket change, but for him, it was a huge sum. He’d thought he was going to make a killing today, but instead, he’d been completely wiped out.

His face was ashen, as were the faces of the others.

Who could have possibly predicted this outcome?

Shirley Vance was also stunned. Staring at the chips on the table, her hand clutching her purse began to tremble. Her father had given her a million dollars before she left today, telling her not to lose face in front of these wealthy heirs. She had bet along with the others, eager to see Amanda humiliated. Now, she was the one who had become a joke.

As if to rub salt in the wound, Hayden Grant singled out her bet slip. "Shirley Vance, one million."

He scoffed, his tone filled with a familiar condescension. The only difference was that she was usually the one directing it at Amanda; now, she was the target. When he announced the "one million," all eyes turned to her.

Shirley Vance’s face flushed crimson. But when she saw what happened next, all the color drained from it.

With a flick of his finger, Hayden Grant sent the chip bearing her name flying. It clattered to the ground, and Shirley felt as if it wasn’t a chip that had been thrown away, but her own dignity.

"Only a million, and you have the gall to show your face here? Since when did we start letting just any riffraff in?"

At his words, Shirley’s face became a kaleidoscope of colors—flushing red, then turning white. When she remembered he was targeting her like this all because of Amanda, it turned a livid shade of purple.

Simon Sheffield’s expression soured. After all, he was the one who had brought Shirley here. Humiliating her was a direct slap to his face. He glanced at Shawn Ford, who had remained silent, and felt emboldened. "Mr. Grant, that’s going too far," he said. "Amanda Vance is Shirley’s older sister. By your logic, what does that make Amanda?"

The words had barely left his mouth when a sharp pain shot through his knee. He staggered and fell flat on his face, a mouthful of dirt and the taste of rust filling his senses. There was something hard in his mouth. He spat it out and saw it was his own tooth. Feeling his mouth, he confirmed it—a piece of his front tooth was gone.

Hayden Grant slowly walked over and planted his foot on the center of Simon’s back. He wasn’t applying much pressure, yet it was enough to pin him to the ground. "Who the hell does she think she is," Hayden sneered, "daring to compare herself to Megan?"

This time, both Shirley and Simon were left speechless.

Shirley now had a much clearer understanding of this man. ’He’s despicable,’ she thought. ’Utterly despicable!’

Suddenly remembering something, she turned to Shawn Ford and pleaded, "Mr. Ford, please, ask Mr. Grant to show mercy to Simon."

She assumed that by delivering Amanda to him, they had done him a favor. Plus, since he and Hayden Grant were rivals, she was sure he would help. But to her astonishment, he just let out a cold sneer. When he finally spoke, it wasn’t to her, but to Hayden. "Hey, Grant. Is that the best you can do? All this time and you’ve only managed to knock out one tooth? Is that all you’ve got?"

’What does he mean by that?!’

Shirley was dumbfounded. Just then, Shawn Ford glanced at her. "You, what was your name? Shirley-something?" Before she could answer, he waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind, don’t bother. It’s not important. Amanda Vance is your sister, right? You two really don’t seem like sisters. You’re a far cry from her."

’Does she really think I’m an idiot?’ he scoffed internally. ’Trying to use me as her weapon? Does she think she’s worthy?’

"And another thing," he said, a cold smile touching his lips. "You were there that day when Simon Sheffield was bullying my nephew, weren’t you? The Vance Family... I’ll be sure to remember them."

Just then, Simon Sheffield’s phone began to ring. Hayden Grant glanced down at it, then lifted his foot.

Feeling like he’d just been spared from death, Simon Sheffield broke into a violent coughing fit, clutching his chest in pain. His phone fell silent for a moment before ringing again.

"Sounds urgent. Why don’t you answer it?" Hayden Grant said lazily.

For some reason, Simon had a feeling Hayden’s words held a deeper meaning. A sense of foreboding washed over him.

With a trembling hand, he answered the call. The words from the other end made him freeze.

A man’s furious roar blasted through the receiver. "You idiot! Who the hell did you piss off?!"