Chapter 33_ Inspiration To Win

As Kane and Arya returned home from their jaunt at the shoreline, Alex, who had eagerly awaited their return, peered out of his bedroom to greet them. "Finally, you've arrived. I was getting concerned, It's quite late," Alex stated, frowning as he puffed out his cheeks, appearing utterly endearing.

Kane chuckled at his expression, while Arya apologized, "Apologies, Alex. Oh, and by the way, Kane will be facing off against Piston tomorrow. You're joining us, right?"

"What?" Alex exclaimed, taken aback by Arya's announcement.

"Yes, Kane challenged him, and as we all know, Piston doesn't back down easily. I'm not entirely sure what Kane is attempting to accomplish with this," Arya remarked, her final sentence directed towards Kane, who winked in response, causing her to scowl.

"That's insane," Alex interjected, turning towards Kane and questioning, "Do you truly believe you can triumph against Piston, Kane?"

"Whoa there, Alex. Are you doubting me? Or drawing a parallel between me and that imbecile?" Kane retorted, raising an eyebrow at Alex, who shook his head in response.

"No, of course not. You are my hero, remember? I was simply inquiring because I don't want you to lose to him," Alex explained, giving Kane a thumbs up and receiving a smile in return.

"I couldn't care less about Piston, Alex. Tomorrow, I will emerge victorious in the race. Period," Kane stated confidently, prompting Alex to nod in agreement.

"Right, Alex. It's quite late, you should retire for the night so you can wake up early tomorrow," Arya advised, and Alex nodded before bidding them both farewell and retreating into his room.

Kane and Arya exchanged a weary smile before something clicked in Kane's mind, and he exclaimed, "Oh, there's something I neglected to mention."

"What is it?" Arya inquired, her curiosity piqued as she let out a yawn.

"The Free Race begins with a brief pre-race ceremony. Each driver is introduced by a beautiful woman in a seductive outfit, and all of the women will collectively signal the start of the race," Kane elaborated.

"It seems like an utter waste of dazzling women…" Arya commented, her words dripping with sarcasm.

Kane chuckled playfully, responding, "It's a ritual. On a different note, I have a proposition for you. Would you like to be my dazzling lady?"

"Couldn't we hire professional models for that?" Arya asked, her skepticism evident.

"There are, but I want you to do it for me, but—"

"Okay, fine….I'll do it," Arya interjected, cutting off Kane's sentence.

"Yes!" Kane exclaimed joyfully, leaning in to plant a kiss on her forehead and bidding her goodnight, eager for the race tomorrow.

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The following day, Kane and Arya arrived at the race track with Alex. Chloe was already there, and they scanned the area. The cars were lined up at the starting grid, some engines roaring like ferocious beasts waiting to be unleashed, while others had their hoods open for last-minute adjustments.

Kane surveyed his opponents, identifying the few who stood a chance at winning the race. "There are only a handful of people here who may pose a challenge…. And I have already defeated them all. This race is bound to be uneventful for me," Kane remarked with a hint of disappointment.

"Don't worry, we believe in you, Your Highness!" Alex chimed in, causing Arya and Chloe to chuckle.

"Yes, and I can't wait to interview you once the race is over," Chloe added, receiving a nod of approval from Kane.

Just then, Piston approached them with a smug grin plastered on his face and a swagger in his walk. "Look who we have here…. The King and his merry band of losers," Piston mocked as he got closer to them.

"Ah, look… we finally found the bald bear that escaped from the circus. The kids can play outside without fear now," Kane retorted, his comeback wiping the smirk off Piston's face and causing Alex to burst out laughing, while Arya and Chloe suppressed giggles.

Piston glared at them and responded slyly, "So amusing, Richie Rich. I have something humorous as well. Have you been informed about the latest regulations?"

"What regulations?" Kane inquired with a scowl.

Piston grinned and responded, "The girl who presents the car today must accompany the racer during the race, quite amusing... isn't it?"

"What?" Arya exclaimed, casting a worried glance at Kane.

"This is nonsense, Piston." Kane stated through gritted teeth, glaring daggers at Piston.

"It's not. The organizer of the race is a close associate of mine. I proposed this concept to him and he found it to be entertaining. Any dissenters will face disqualification." Piston remarked, causing Kane to clench his fist as he realized the trap Piston had set. If he declined to participate because of Arya, he would be deemed a quitter. However, if he chose to race with Arya in the car, would he not lose due to her fears? Piston had certainly devised a clever manipulation. Kane thought with a smirk, ‘It appears he is somewhat intelligent after all.’

Arya was still in shock by the news as Piston turned to face her, "So, Arya, are you still afraid of speed?" he taunted with a wide grin, the question feeling like a stab in Arya's gut. Seeing her pale complexion, Piston's grin grew even bigger as he walked away without waiting for a reply.

"How did he find out about your fear, Arya?" Kane asked, his expression now calm.

"Well... I allowed him to give me a ride once." Arya confessed, causing Kane to sigh.

"You cannot possibly ride in that car with Kane, Arya. You will cause him to lose the race!" Chloe exclaimed anxiously, turning to Kane, "For all we know, Piston could be lying. How about you confirm with the organizer, Kane." Chloe suggested, to which Kane nodded before departing from the scene.

They waited nervously for a few minutes until Kane returned, and from the look on his face, they could tell that Piston was telling the truth.

"This news isn't good," Chloe muttered. Alex, who had been silent on the sidelines, turned to face Arya and tugged at her sleeve.

"Sis, I have faith in you. You can ride in that car with Kane and conquer your fear. You should be his inspiration to win, not his downfall. You can't let him fail!" Alex's determination flooded over Arya as she looked uncertainty between Chloe and Kane.

"I-I don't think I'm ready," Arya said softly, and Chloe took her hand, gazing into her amber eyes.

"You can do this, Arya. You can't keep avoiding your fears forever. It's time to confront them, embrace them, and overcome them. And Kane will be there right beside you. All you have to do is trust him, right Kane?" Chloe turned to Kane with a smile.

"Yes, Arya. You just have to trust me," Kane remarked. Arya looked at the trio, their hopeful eyes and determination shining through, and she felt a newfound determination to conquer her fear rising within her. She forced a smile and nodded her head.

"I will trust you, no matter what. I just hope to be as strong as you," Arya beamed. Kane nodded, taking her hand in his and leading her towards their car, with Alex and Chloe cheering them on from behind.





A/N: Not all vehicles run on fuel; some engines are fueled by love. But will Kane be able to make this work? And will Arya finally be able to overcome her fears? Share your thoughts in the comments. Hehehe.