Chapter 2

As I was being stretchered off the track by the paramedics, I could still hear the uproar from the stands.

Some spectators who had bet on me winning angrily hurled rocks and bottles at me.

I immediately started bleeding from my head.

As I lay there, covered in blood, reporters swarmed, camera flashes exploding.

"Aurora, did you intentionally cause this accident because you were jealous of Willow?"

"Rumor has it your relationship with Declan is strained. Was this accident a deliberate publicity stunt?"

"Netizens are saying your acting is superb, that there was nothing wrong with the airbag. How do you respond?"

Before I could even speak, Declan stepped in front of me and declared with a righteous expression:

"She's just been under too much stress, and her mental state has been unstable recently. I hope everyone will stop hounding her."

His words caused a stir among the reporters.

"So, you're saying she does have psychological issues?"

"I heard Aurora previously showed symptoms of mental illness due to declining performance. Is that true?"

"Engineer Hayes is so considerate, even covering for her."

I stared at him, numb.

He didn't even glance at me when he said that.

Willow stood behind him, eyes red-rimmed, murmuring:

"Aurora has been really exhausted lately. Last night, she even ripped up all her design plans, saying she wanted to ruin this race."

She looked understanding, pitifully vulnerable.

The media cameras instantly focused on her.

Someone quietly sighed:

"What a thoughtful girl, even defending Aurora."

Declan instinctively pulled her behind him:

"Don't film her. If you want to film anyone, film Aurora. Willow is just an assistant, don't involve innocent people."

That protective gesture completely ignited the fuse of public opinion.

#Aurora Goes Insane#

#Racing Goddess Falls#

#Declan Protects Willow Like Treasure#

In just five minutes, seven trending topics exploded.

Mr. Blackwood, the club owner, was so furious he cursed me out right beside my stretcher:

"Aurora, do you have any idea how much sponsorship money this accident cost us?!"

"Declan warned you repeatedly to check your car, but you wouldn't listen!"

"Three hundred million dollars in breach of contract fees! And it's all on you!"

Coach Miller also had a frosty expression:

"I told you your emotions have been too volatile lately; you shouldn't have been on the track."

"Willow will replace you at the club. You can go scrub toilets for all I care!"

"At least Willow listens, unlike you, always doing whatever you want!"

The rest of the race crew glared at me, not a single person speaking up in my defense.

Reporters' microphones practically jabbed at my face:

"Aurora, are you jealous Willow is taking your endorsements?"

"Did you tamper with the car yourself and then try to frame Declan?"

I lay on the stretcher, coughing up blood, and let out a desperate laugh:

"I almost died on that track, and you're all making up stories for a trending topic. How creative."

"This was all Willow's doing—"

"Aurora!"

Declan cut me off sharply, then turned to the media:

"She's been through a lot; she's not thinking straight. Please don't pay attention to her words."

Willow also quickly stepped forward, taking my place, tears streaming down her face:

"Declan, don't blame Aurora. She just misunderstood..."

As she spoke, she even clasped my hand:

"Aurora, I know you don't like me, but I truly didn't mean any harm."

Her voice trembled, as if I were the aggressor.

The surrounding reporters raised their cameras in unison.

In the lenses, she was tearfully pleading, while my face was a picture of fury.

It was clear who looked more like the perpetrator.

Suddenly, the entire internet sided with Willow Greene.

The club's board of directors expressionlessly announced:

"Effective today, all of Aurora Reed's racing qualifications are suspended pending an internal investigation."

"Declan and Willow will take over from Aurora to complete the races and promotional events."

This news quickly spread throughout the racing circuit.

The commentator exclaimed excitedly:

"Aurora's mistake this time was clearly due to a problem with the car!"

"Yet the club's top brass chose to directly replace Aurora!"

"Does this mean Willow will become the new rising star to replace Aurora?!"

The fans in the audience were outraged:

"This isn't fair! They made this decision without fully investigating the car!"

"Aurora is being wronged!"

But their cries were soon drowned out by the applause for Willow.

I struggled to take my phone from the paramedics.

A flood of comments instantly assailed my eyes like venomous snakes.

"Crazy woman still wants to ruin someone else's future?"

"Declan is such a good guy; he's still sticking by her."

"Willow is so unlucky to be dragged into this mess."

"Aurora, get out of racing. Don't embarrass the country."

As my head reeled, Declan came over to me.

He dismissed all the medical staff.

"Aurora, I've already suppressed the trending topics about this for you."

"As long as you immediately release a statement, clear Willow of any involvement, and admit it was your own operational error and mental instability, I'll let you receive treatment."

I looked at him coldly:

"If you and Willow hadn't tampered with my car, I never would have crashed! And I wouldn't be like this now!"

"This wasn't my fault to begin with. I won't release any statement!"

Declan looked at me coldly, a smile playing on his lips:

"Then don't blame me."

"Aurora, for every day you refuse to speak up, you won't receive treatment."

"You can just lie here and die!"

"No! You almost ruined Willow; I'll make you suffer more than death itself."

Declan was true to his word.

Soon after, the front page of "International Racing Times" featured my terrified, distorted face.

The headline read:

Aurora Reed's Loss of Control: A Self-Directed Tragedy.

My disheveled appearance was perfectly captured.

I became the laughingstock of the world.

All my sponsors terminated their contracts, and the club canceled my agreement.

Even my fan clubs were all disbanded.

They all flocked to Willow Greene, calling her the new "Racing Goddess" and "Racing Darling."