Chapter 4

When Winslet left the police station, her phone rang. It was her father.

"Winslet, drop the charges immediately." Walter Reed's voice came through the speaker. "Get home right now and apologize to Nina. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is?"

"The sponsors are all asking about this. You've destroyed the team's reputation."

"If you don't drop the charges, I'm cutting off all your finances. Your cards, your car, your house—I'm taking it all back."

"Anything else?" Winslet asked.

"You—"

Winslet hung up.

Adrian stood nearby, watching her block Walter's number.

"Take me to the nearest hotel," Winslet said.

Adrian didn't speak. He rode the bike to a chain hotel three blocks away.

Winslet pulled out her credit card to pay. The receptionist swiped it and smiled awkwardly. "Miss, this card's been frozen."

Winslet handed over another one.

"This one doesn't work either."

Winslet paused and checked her phone. All her account balances showed zero.

Walter had moved faster than she'd expected.

Winslet fished out the last few hundred dollars from her pocket and handed them to the receptionist. "Is this enough?"

The receptionist counted it. "Enough for one night."

Winslet took the room key and limped upstairs on her crutch.

Adrian followed behind her without saying a word.

The room was tiny—just a bed and a TV.

Winslet sat on the bed. Adrian leaned against the wall.

"You can go," Winslet said.

Adrian glanced at her, then turned and left.

Winslet sat alone in the room, looking out at the neon lights.

In her past life, after the amputation, she'd lain in a hospital bed unable to even roll over.

Now she could heal. She could move. And she'd seen everyone's true faces.

It was enough.

A knock sounded at the door. Winslet grabbed her crutch and opened it.

Jay stood outside with two bodyguards behind him.

"Dad sent me." Jay pushed the door open and walked in without even looking at Winslet's injured leg. "You're coming back with me now. Get on your knees and apologize to Nina. Then we'll still consider you part of the Reed family."

Winslet leaned against the wall, watching him quietly.

Jay continued. "Mom and Dad are so upset over this they can't eat. You need to kneel and beg their forgiveness. Otherwise, you can forget about ever coming back to the Reed family."

He sneered. "A girl like you can't survive out here on your own."

Winslet looked at Jay.

In her past life, she'd survived that hell. Now he was saying she couldn't survive out here?

Winslet walked up to Jay with her crutch.

Jay thought she was about to give in. His chin lifted slightly.

Winslet reached out and removed the watch from Jay's wrist—the birthday gift she'd given him last year.

"What are you doing?" Jay froze.

Winslet then yanked the diamond cufflinks from his shirt cuffs.

"Have you lost it?" Jay tried to grab them back.

Winslet put the watch and cufflinks in her pocket. "I paid for these. You don't deserve gifts from me."

"You're that desperate for money?" Jay said viciously.

"The Reed family cut off all my finances. Taking back what's mine is perfectly reasonable." Winslet shoved him aside and headed for the door.

She'd used her ID to check in. The Reed family could easily find her. She needed to get away from these people.

Jay blocked the doorway. "Winslet, don't push it."

Winslet looked at him and pulled out her phone. "Move, or I'm calling the cops and saying you're trying to abduct me."

Jay's face darkened. He stared at Winslet for several seconds before finally stepping aside.

Winslet limped out of the room on her crutch without looking back.

She stood outside the hotel and called Adrian. "Come get me."

"Come out." Adrian's voice was still cold.

Winslet looked toward the entrance in surprise. Adrian's motorcycle was parked right outside the hotel.

Winslet struggled onto the bike. "Is there a pawn shop nearby?"

Adrian didn't answer. He just started the engine.

The motorcycle turned into a narrow alley and stopped in front of a pawn shop.

Winslet limped inside and placed the watch and diamond cufflinks on the counter. "Appraise these."

The man picked up the watch and examined it, then the cufflinks. "Where'd you get this watch?"

"I bought it." Winslet said. "I can provide the purchase information from the official website."

The man checked the serial number on the watch base. "Limited edition. Nearly new. Sixty thousand dollars, final offer."

"What about the cufflinks?" Winslet asked.

"Real diamonds. Good craftsmanship. Eight thousand."

"Deal. Cash."

The man paused. "You sure?"

"Positive." Winslet nodded.

The Reed family had frozen all her bank cards. Cash was more reliable.

When Winslet walked out carrying a canvas bag, Adrian was leaning against the motorcycle, lost in thought.

"Hold this. Don't lose it." Winslet handed Adrian the canvas bag.

Adrian asked, "Where to now?"

"Your place," Winslet said.

Adrian turned to look at her. "What?"

"Hotels are too easy to track. I don't want the Reed family sending more people to pressure me. And I'm not reconciling with Nina." Winslet patted his shoulder. "Let me crash at your place for a few days. Once I get the settlement, I'm gone."

"No."

"I'll pay rent. A hundred dollars a day."

"No."

"Why not?" Winslet asked.

"My place is tiny."

"I don't mind."

"There's only one bed."

"I get the bed. You take the couch."

"I'm not willing."

"Then I'll report you to the police for tampering with my race car."

This time Adrian didn't hesitate. He handed her the helmet. "Get on."