CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 102- YOU’RE BROTHERS

Two sharp screeches of brakes pierced the silent, empty underground garage like a curse, filling the air with a tension as fierce as a battlefield. Just as Manfred shouted, the two cars swerved at different angles, sharing one purpose—to avoid Janet standing in the middle.

Charles deftly turned the steering wheel and slammed the brakes in time. A wild fear blossomed in his mind, threatening to drive him insane. What if he stopped but August didn’t? If he lost control, Janet’s life would be the cost of this game.

At the last moment, August’s car veered sharply right. The tires screamed against the concrete, making Charles gasp in shock. For a heartbeat, he thought a collision was inevitable—but in the end, August swerved away. Charles turned left; August turned right. The cars slid past Janet, their brakes grinding, while their hearts pounded in erratic rhythms.

Janet’s eyes were tightly shut, and all she could think as the roaring engines rushed past her ears was: Charles mustn’t get hurt!

She would rather be hit herself than let him harm August. He would regret it—he had to regret it!

Charles’s body lurched forward from uneven force, narrowly avoiding the crash impact. He slammed his arms against the wheel as the windshield shattered. A deep cut appeared on his forehead, also grazing his arm. But he didn’t care about his wounds.

He flung the car door open, hurriedly stepping out to Janet—her face pale as porcelain. Fear flooded his eyes as he grabbed her, shaking her fiercely.

"You woman! Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

His mind had stopped thinking clearly. One arm wrapped her into his embrace, and the subtle scent of Dior perfume enveloped Janet, breaking her down into tears. Instinctively, she clung tighter to his neck.

"Charles!"

"Damn it!" Still trembling from the terror of nearly losing her, he roughly lifted her chin and captured her cherry lips, biting and sucking fiercely. Blood mingled in their mouths as Janet gasped in pain. Yet his grasp on her waist didn’t loosen for a second—his palm was already bloody and raw...

Manfred’s footsteps felt like lead as he stared at the two locked in a passionate kiss not far away. At this moment, his heart ached more than ever. A moment ago, he had nearly stopped breathing. She was safe—she was okay. That was all that mattered.

August suffered minor scrapes. Before he could get out of his car, Manfred yanked open the driver’s door and pulled him out. The race wasn’t over yet—he knew Charles wouldn’t back down.

"Get out. I’ll crash for you!" Manfred shoved August down, ignoring his injuries, then shifted gears, spun the car forty-five degrees, and backed up five hundred meters.

"Manfred, this is between me and him. You can’t do this for me. I’m coming down—I’ll handle it myself!" August jumped up almost instantly. He knew Charles was hurt—and worse off than him. This game wasn’t over until it was settled.

August had never looked at Charles with such sorrow and longing. Once, Charles was shy and broken—but not hopeless. That hatred was what kept him alive.

He could help Charles take revenge, but he could never avenge Norman for him.

Manfred understood him—and so he let him go.

Their kiss, lasting what felt like an eternity, was broken the moment Manfred approached. Charles, almost reflexively, pushed Janet away.

"Watch her!"

Those three words left behind with his confident retreating figure, Charles strode toward his Bugatti Veyron, opened the door, and slid in seamlessly—as if the small interruption hadn’t affected the deadly game ahead.

"What are you doing? Let go of me! Charles, get out of the car—don’t—" Janet hadn’t even fully grasped the situation before Manfred had her tightly in his arms. She struggled and kicked, but when she turned, she saw her clothes stained deep red with blood. The faint scent of iron had hit her earlier when he held her—he was hurt!

"Janet, I’m sorry!" Manfred ignored her struggling and lifted her whole body, carrying her away from the track. This deadly battle was beyond even her power to stop.

Charles watched the woman he loved cradled by another man, a stabbing pain tearing through him like lashes. But now was not the time to soften or waver.

One last time, Janet. Wait for me—

Outside the window, August watched the two figures etched deeply into his heart. Manfred was the one he loved most in his life; Janet was the one he never wanted to hurt. There would be no tomorrow. He wouldn’t use her anymore.

If he survived, he wanted to tell Manfred he’d let go—let go of everything—and give Manfred a chance to live.

If five years ago August hadn’t met Manfred, if Manfred hadn’t saved him, if he hadn’t followed Manfred, his life could’ve been brighter, better. Maybe he no longer loved women—but maybe that would’ve been happier than his current existence.

Manfred, I love you.

If time could rewind to five years ago, he would’ve spared Manfred’s life—spared love itself.

He loved him—always. But Manfred never knew that August truly didn’t love women. After all the abuse and betrayal from women—and Louis—he had lost the ability to love them. But Manfred was different. He had only experienced betrayal. He could still love another woman. Not all women in this world were like the one who had betrayed him.

And Janet... was the second woman he had ever loved.

It was time to give Manfred a chance—a life without burdens. Manfred could open his heart freely to chase his own happiness. And August’s only way to repay Manfred was by watching him be happy.

"No. No, this can’t happen. They can’t!" Janet broke free and slapped Manfred across the face. But this time, no tears fell. Maybe Manfred was shocked by the stubborn strength in her eyes.

He suddenly released her.

As soon as Manfred let go, Janet dashed back toward where the black supercars had just been. Just as the engines roared to life, she once again threw her body between the two speeding cars—

"You can’t hurt each other. You’re brothers!"