Chapter 4 Chapter 0004

•ADRIAN•

"Adrian!"

"Adrian, look here!"

"Did you intentionally crash Nick O'Neal?"

"Are you being charged?"

Camera flashes exploded the second I stepped out of my car.

The paparazzi stood outside the gates of my house like vultures waiting for something entertaining to happen. Some of them were practically hanging over the barriers while shouting questions over each other.

I ignored all of them.

Security opened the gates immediately, and I walked inside without looking back. But more flashes followed me anyway.

The video had spread faster than expected.

Every sports channel was replaying the crash. Every social media platform had clips slowed down frame by frame like people were forensic investigators instead of bored strangers online.

The internet had already decided I was guilty. Other blogs said I was a murderer, a psychopath, and a monster.

But the problem wasn't them. The problem was the person who took that video and made it viral.

If I ever found that person, they would wish they were dead and had never come across me.

I entered the house and loosened my tie while one of the staff closed the doors behind me. I was finally in a quiet place.

My phone started ringing before I even reached the stairs. It was my social media manager, Ethan.

I answered the call while walking upstairs to my room. "What?"

"The comments are getting worse," Ethan replied. "Your mentions are flooded and sponsors are panicking. Everyone is analyzing the accident and they believe that you should be charged with murder."

I entered my bedroom and tossed my watch onto the dresser.

"Sponsors always panic whenever there's a minor setback or scandal. This is nothing new, Ethan. Or haven't you gotten used to the drill yet?"

"This is different, Adrian."

I pulled my jacket off. "What now?"

He sighed. "Volt Energy pulled out. They have posted the announcement online for everyone to see."

I stopped moving for a second.

The energy drink collaboration deal had eight figures. The campaign was supposed to launch next month.

"They terminated the contract an hour ago," Ethan continued. "They don't want their brand associated with attempted murder accusations."

I walked toward the bathroom. "Anything else?"

"They're discussing suspending you from the next race pending investigation."

That almost made me laugh. "Let me know when something important happens," I replied.

"Adrian—"

I hung up. I dropped my phone onto the counter before turning the shower on.

The water came down against my shoulders while I stood there replaying the crash in my head.

Nick should've backed off. He knew the corner was mine. Instead, he tried pushing past me like an idiot. The impact wasn't supposed to happen.

At least not like that.

I closed my eyes and breathed.

The sound of metal crushing against the barriers still echoed in my head. Most drivers would've panicked after a crash like that, but I didn't.

Twenty minutes later, I walked downstairs wearing gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt.

Marcus was already sitting in my living room with a whiskey glass in his hand. He was my manager who seemed to have adopted the habit of making himself too comfortable in my house.

"You look terrible," I replied.

"You nearly killed someone yesterday," he answered. "Forgive me for being stressed."

I grabbed the bottle from the table and poured myself a drink.

"Nick O'Neal has been stabilized," Marcus continued. "Doctors expect him to wake up tomorrow morning."

I took a sip and looked at him. That was good news. The media would probably be off my back once he had woken up.

"If he wakes up," Marcus added, "you'll probably face a lawsuit."

"And if he doesn't?" I asked, raising one eyebrow.

Marcus looked at me for a long second. "Murder charges and years in jail. That's not what we want, Adrian, so don't even think about it."

The room went silent after that. I sat down across from him and rested my glass against my knee.

"They won't charge me."

Marcus laughed. "The footage looks bad, Adrian. Or didn't you see it? You can be charged with murder without parole."

"It was a racing incident."

"That's nonsense, and you know it. Anyone who watches that video could tell that you and Nick didn't get along."

He rubbed a hand over his face before continuing. "I've already got lawyers preparing statements. Your PR team is scrambling to stop the sponsors from running."

"They'll come back."

"Not if Nick dies."

I finished my drink and stood up again.

Marcus watched me carefully. "You don't seem worried."

"What do you want me to do? I don't have any control over his condition. I can only pray that he recovers soon enough."

"That's funny considering you're the reason we're in this situation."

I ignored that. "Are we done?" I asked.

Marcus stood up from the couch. "No. We're going to the hospital."

•••

Marcus handled most of the talking while we walked through the private wing of the hospital.

Nurses stared at us, and doctors recognized me immediately. Some looked nervous, and others looked disgusted. But none of it mattered.

Marcus spoke with one of the doctors outside Nick's room while I stood near the window.

"He's still unconscious," the doctor explained. "Vitals are stable for now, but the next twenty-four hours are critical."

Marcus nodded. "Any permanent damage?"

"We won't know until he wakes up."

I stopped listening after that and walked into Nick's room. He looked terrible and swollen. You wouldn't even tell that he had boasted about his win before the race even began.

Machines beeped steadily around him. His arm was heavily bandaged, and there were cuts along his neck from the crash.

People online were acting like I enjoyed this.

Like I wanted him dead.

If I had wanted Nick dead, there would've been nothing left of the car.

I moved closer to the bed and leaned down near his ear. "The accident was a mistake," I murmured. "Because if I actually wanted you dead, you would've died. So, when you wake up, don't make the mistake of painting me as the bad guy. And remember, buddy, you started this."