Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Merrick surged ahead, but something in his rearview mirror caught his eye-Cliff’s vehicle was weaving erratically.
Years of experience told Merrick something was seriously wrong. With the finish line in sight, Merrick found himself torn between victory and concern, easing off the accelerator.
Cliff’s car drew alongside once more.
“What’s wrong with your ride?” Merrick shouted, his visor lifted.
Cliff’s jaw was set in stone as he wrestled with the failing machine, too focused to respond.
Merrick’s racing instincts kicked in-this was unmistakably a brake failure. Someone had sabotaged the vehicle.
In a flash of clarity, Merrick recalled admiring Cliff’s sports car before the race, even suggesting they swap vehicles.
The pieces fell into place-Merrick’s rivals had rigged the car, but their target had unwittingly passed the death trap to Cliff.
“I’m blocking your front!” Merrick’s voice cut through the engine’s roar.
“Use my car as a brake!”
The words hit Cliff like a thunderbolt.
Before Cliff could react, Merrick had already positioned his vehicle directly ahead.
Despite Cliff’s desperate attempt to veer away, fate had other plans. The crash was deafening-metal screamed against metal in a symphony of destruction that seemed to shake the earth itself.
The spectators’ horrified screams pierced the air.
At the sound, the blood drained from Laney’s face. Though she couldn’t see who was involved, her heart knew. She pushed through the panicked crowd, her feet carrying her toward the wreckage.
“Cliff!” Her voice broke as she ran, tears carving paths down her cheeks.
“Cliff!”
The aftermath of the collision painted a grim picture. Though Merrick’s car had taken a roll, its sturdy frame had protected the cockpit while leaving the rear crumpled.
Through the haze of pain and vertigo, Cliff fought with the mangled door of his front-crushed vehicle, dragging himself toward Laney’s voice.
Laney’s tears fell faster at the sight of Cliff standing, her hands shaking as they searched him for wounds.
The track’s medical team swarmed in with practiced efficiency.
Cliff’s unsteady movements betrayed his internal injuries, and Laney found herself being pulled away despite her protests, the medics needing space to work.
That was when Laney saw them extracting Merrick. The contrast was jarring-the fierce competitor who had owned the track moments ago now lay motionless, blood masking his features. No signs of life stirred in his still form.
Laney instinctively moved toward Merrick, but his fans surged forward, shoving her back with hostile force.
“Keep your fake concern to yourself!” one spat, rage twisting their features.
“Cliff couldn’t stand losing, so he played dirty! Even you spoiled rich kids fight this dirty. You all deserve what’s coming!”
Terror rooted Laney to the ground, her mind struggling to make sense of the chaos unfolding around her.
Sensing danger, Kailyn rushed forward and pulled Laney from the angry mob.
“Don’t waste your breath on them, Laney. Merrick’s fans are notorious for their blind devotion.”
Kailyn’s voice softened with concern.
“How’s Cliff holding up?”
Laney could only shake her head, her voice barely a whisper.
“Kailyn, why are they painting Cliff as the villain? What really happened out there?”
Kailyn shifted uncomfortably, recalling the heated discussions among the race organizers.
“From what I gathered, Merrick was leading with Cliff close behind. There was some kind of exchange between them when Merrick slowed down, and then…”
She hesitated, choosing her words carefully.
“Merrick accelerated suddenly, and Cliff’s car struck him from behind.”
The whispers circulating through the crowd were far more damning-accusations that Cliff had deliberately targeted Merrick out of spite for losing.
Laney’s lips parted to defend Cliff, but Kailyn’s next words caught her off guard.
“Something doesn’t add up, Laney. Cliff hasn’t touched a racing wheel in years. Why would he suddenly jump back into competition?”
Laney followed the injured to the hospital. It wasn’t until she saw that Merrick was alright that she started to regain some color in her face.
The race car had undergone private modifications to boost its power beyond that of a typical vehicle. This enhancement had been just enough to save Merrick’s life.
Absently, Laney made her way to Cliff’s side. Upon seeing he was safe, she quietly took a seat next to him.
Cliff put his arm around her, offering gentle comfort.
“I’m fine. How’s Merrick?”
“Merrick has some fractures and a concussion, but he will recover,” Laney answered.
“The doctor says he needs some time.”
Cliff let out a sigh of relief. He was about to thank Merrick when Laney cut in with a question.
“Why did you decide to join the race all of a sudden?”
Cliff froze, struggling to understand the mixture of doubt, sadness, and disappointment in her eyes. Each emotion struck a nerve.
“Why do you ask?”
In a hushed tone, Laney asked, “Did you crash into Merrick by accident?”
Cliff’s gaze turned cold.
“You suspect I wanted to kill him?”
Laney didn’t deny it.
“You don’t like him, do you?”
The air was thick with tension, pressing down on his chest and making it hard for him to breathe. He wanted to explain, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, a cold laugh escaped him, his expression full of mockery.
Tears began to form in Laney’s eyes as she watched him. She was left wondering if he confessed this way, and failing to understand why he did so.
Laney’s emotions crumbled as she spoke in a low voice, but there was a clear sense of reprimand in her words.
“How could you be so reckless? I’ve made it clear that Merrick and I are merely friends. If it bothers you to see me at his races, why didn’t you discuss it with me? How could murder even cross your mind? Merrick is the sole son of the Acosta family. Did you consider the consequences of your actions if Merrick had met his end in that crash? Cliff, murder is a serious crime. It leads to prison. How could you even entertain the thought of killing him?”
Cliff responded with cold detachment, “As you’ve said, murder is a crime. Do you really think I’d be foolish enough to destroy my life over a competitor?”
Laney raised an eyebrow.
“So, you’re saying you…”
Cliff shifted his gaze, interrupting her with a sarcastic tone.
“You should go check on your good friend Merrick. If something happens to him, as you seem to think I caused, I couldn’t escape the consequences, could I?”
Laney’s eyes narrowed. She stared at Cliff for a long moment.
“Cliff…”
Unmoved, Cliff spoke sternly, “Leave.”
Silently wiping her tears, Laney stood up and walked out.
Cliff watched her leave with shaky steps. His anger continued to build, causing him to cough harshly.
Outside, the guards watching over Cliff saw Laney rushing away in tears. They felt an urge to follow her, but hesitated before turning back to open the door.
“Mr. Hopkins?”
Cliff stood up, his hand pressed tightly against his chest. His face pale, he instructed, “Get the car. I need to speak with the race organizers.”
The driver, concerned, replied, “But Mr. Hopkins, you seem very weak at the moment.”
Cliff grew impatient.
“Just get the car!” He was determined to gather evidence of the car’s malfunctions and confront Laney.
Although Laney stormed off, she couldn’t bring herself to leave the hospital premises.
Feeling utterly emotionally exhausted, Laney didn’t want to disturb Merrick. She quietly approached the nurse’s station to inquire about his condition.
Merrick’s condition was stable, and with his family present, there was no immediate concern.
As Laney thought about Cliff’s pale face, she asked the nurse for his details.
The nurse informed Laney that there was no record of Cliff because he hadn’t checked in.
Despite her anger toward Cliff, Laney found herself still worried. She sat outside the ward, weakly glancing at the elevator doors, hoping to see Cliff arrive.