Chapter 732:
“Christina, you can’t accept this challenge,” Eloise insisted, her brows furrowing deeply. “I’ve got a really bad feeling about this guy. I think he’s trying to kill you.”
“I feel it too. He’s not trying to win money off you—he’s flashing that fortune like bait, trying to lure you in just so he can take your life,” Chloe chimed in, her voice trembling with urgency.
Chloe grabbed Christina’s arm tightly and pleaded, “Christina, please, don’t go through with this. This whole thing’s insane. If you need money, I’ll talk to my brother. Or I’ll just give you half my shares. You don’t even need to lift a finger—just wait for the dividends. I get a ton every year…”
Eloise said quickly, “Christina, I’ll give you half of my shares as well. Just don’t go through with that challenge.”
Both Eloise and Chloe were visibly rattled, their palms clammy with panic. If Christina stepped into that life-or-death race, she’d be throwing her life on the line. Winning was her only option, and the man she’d be up against wasn’t just any racer—he was a two-time champion, and not someone easy to beat. If it were just a matter of money, she could back out at any time or hit the brakes early. At worst, she’d lose money. But in a life-or-death race, there was no option but to win.
“Keep your shares. Snatching someone else’s winnings is way more thrilling,” Christina said with a teasing smile.
Her words drained the color from Eloise’s and Chloe’s faces, leaving them pale and nearly faint with fear. “Christina!” they called out in unison.
They clung to Christina’s arms like lifelines, terrified that the moment they let go, she’d accept that madman’s challenge.
“How about we change the terms? Just bet on money. If you lose, you just lose cash. You don’t need to stake your life,” Chloe suggested quickly.
Eloise nodded eagerly. “Exactly. Put up the same amount. We’ve got enough to cover it. You don’t need to risk your life.”
“I won’t lose. You’ve got to trust me,” Christina answered with a soft smile. She knew if she refused the challenge now, the ones lurking behind the scenes would only come at her from another angle. It was easier to avoid a visible threat than one lurking in the background. Accepting the race might just shine a light on whoever was pulling the strings. She had a gut feeling she was being watched already—somebody was targeting her, and they clearly wanted her gone.
“But…” Chloe frowned, about to say more, when Christina gently cut her off. “All right, I’ve made up my mind. Don’t waste time trying to talk me out of it. I’ve got my own plans. I know you care about me. I swear, I won’t let anything happen to me. We’ve still got that outing planned, remember?”
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Seeing that resolute look in her eyes, the two girls shared a look and dropped the argument. They knew all too well—once Christina had made a decision, there was no shaking it. She had her own ideas, her own right to choose, and her own plans in motion.
Maybe there were reasons she couldn’t bring herself to share with them just yet.
Though it left them feeling powerless, they chose to stand by her choice. Still, they were determined to be there on race day, watching from the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the challenge was spreading like wildfire across the internet. Christina’s social account was completely overrun, and in no time, the story shot to the top of trending topics.
Everyone was talking about it, even putting up polls asking whether or not she’d accept. At the moment, most people were betting on her turning it down.
“Only an idiot would take a challenge like that. If she loses, she dies—and doesn’t get a dime.”
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