Addiction to Temptation: His Mischievous Sweetheart Captivates Him-Chapter 279: Never Betray, Forever Loyal

Natalie Vaughn didn’t succeed.

As the couple walked towards the apartment next door, Natalie noticed there was a racetrack nearby, and the kids from the club were already there.

The two of them changed direction on a whim, and upon reaching the track, Natalie not only saw the kids from the club, but also recognized a familiar face.

Shannon Rhodes’s brother, Miles Rhodes.

As soon as Miles saw Zane Thorne, he walked over, nodded slightly at Natalie, and then looked seriously at Zane.

Natalie understood they had something to discuss.

"You guys talk, I’ll go chat with Jennings and the others."

As soon as Natalie walked away, Miles moved in closer.

"Let’s go over there."

Zane glanced at him, said nothing, and walked to the side.

Meanwhile, Natalie worriedly watched the two men. Zane leaned on a box, one leg propped up, with a cigarette in hand, while Miles appeared excited, saying something animatedly.

For some reason, Natalie had a nagging feeling that on the night Zane’s emotions spiraled out of control, the night he learned the truth from five years ago, it was Miles who called him.

That would make sense. Miles is a race chairman, and he’s likely to have been in contact with people from the racing world. Back then, the incident might have slipped out inadvertently, and now, five years later, such betrayal and sordidness had to come to light.

"Nina, what are you looking at? Couldn’t be that you already miss Mr. Thorne after being away for such a short time?"

Natalie withdrew her gaze and shook her head.

"How’s your training going?"

Jay Sterling raised his hand to scratch his head.

"Nina, I’m not aiming for the championship, but I’ll work hard to get into the top three."

Natalie lightly tapped Jay on the head.

"The race hasn’t even started, and you’re already losing motivation?"

Jay yelped in pain, rubbed his head, and pouted in grievance.

"With Gideon around, can I really win the championship?"

"Do you want the championship or not?"

"Of course, I do."

"If you want it, then don’t lose your drive before the race even starts. You’re not lacking, as long as there’s any possibility, don’t lose the desire for the championship."

Jay blinked his big eyes and looked at Natalie, slowly opening his mouth.

Natalie: ...

"Are you dumbfounded?"

Jay quickly shook his head, clenched his fist, and cheered himself on.

"Nina, I’ll definitely give it my all, even if there’s only a tiny bit of hope, I won’t give up!"

Hearing this, Natalie smiled faintly.

Natalie, the youngest in her family, was always pampered growing up. Occasionally, she wished for a younger brother to experience taking care of someone. And Jay was quite adorable.

It fulfilled her wish of being a sister.

Vivi, standing nearby, was stunned for a while by Natalie’s smile.

The desire for a championship?

Noticing the gaze fixed on her, Natalie looked over, briefly locking eyes with Vivi, who then turned away in slight embarrassment.

Natalie’s expression softened as she walked over to Vivi.

"You need to give it your all too."

With a slight blush, Vivi acknowledged softly.

Zane and Miles didn’t talk for long; when they came over, a distance of at least two meters remained between them.

Natalie thought, they must have had a falling out. She glanced at Miles, whose brow was furrowed, recalling their previous meeting in Veridia.

Miles seemed to be the one who felt the most regret about Zane’s retirement.

Natalie turned away and went over to Zane, her nose twitching slightly.

"You’ve been smoking again."

Zane chuckled.

"Didn’t you say I look handsome when I smoke? And you also like the scent on me."

"That’s what I said, but during the last check-up, Mr. Spencer warned you that smoking is harmful and told you to cut down a bit!"

Zane shrugged with some helplessness.

"Quitting isn’t something you can just do on a whim."

Natalie hooked her arm through his.

"Then take it slow."

Zane fell silent.

Natalie added another remark.

"If you’re thinking about having children, smoking just won’t do."

"If you want to have kids now, I’ll quit smoking right away."

Natalie: ... Heh, the audacity of men.

"Even if not now, you should still gradually smoke less; I don’t want our child to be born to a sick father."

Zane rubbed his nose, unsure of how to respond. He feared that any misstep would lead Natalie to throw away his cigarettes entirely.

His girl wouldn’t show him mercy. If Natalie were to indeed enforce this strictly, he wouldn’t... resist it.

Miles bid them farewell and left, and just by watching his departing figure, his anger was palpable.

Natalie asked.

"What did you two talk about to anger Chairman Rhodes like that?"

The smile on Zane’s lips faded.

"He wants me to return to the racetrack."

Natalie’s eyes shifted slightly, surprised that Zane would share this with her so openly.

"Do you... want to?"

Zane looked down at Natalie.

"Do you want me to return to the racetrack?"

Zane’s question was sincere, his deep eyes filled with seriousness and a hint of anticipation.

Natalie shook her head, Zane’s brow furrowing slightly.

"It’s not about what I want. Zane, your life and career should be decided by you, and what I will do is always support you, no matter your choice."

Zane stared at Natalie for a long time, then smiled, bent down, and wrapped her in his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder.

Lately, Zane had taken a liking to hugging her this way.

"Darling, I feel quite lucky."

The moment Natalie heard this, her nose tingled, Zane’s tone was both melancholic and grateful.

She thought of Gideon Sheffield’s betrayal five years ago, five years of Zane’s guilt, and the fury that consumed him when he discovered the truth that night.

Despite all that, Zane still said he felt quite lucky.

Yet all that pain wasn’t supposed to be his.

Natalie wrapped her arms around Zane’s waist, gently patting his back.

"I will always be with you, always stand by your side."

No betrayal, forever loyal.

Zane took a deep breath and then kissed the side of Natalie’s face.

And then once more, as if he couldn’t stop, he was immensely grateful to have met Natalie. Be it five years ago or five years forward.

With such a precious partner, why be troubled over undeserving people?

Zane’s eyes lowered slightly, his eyelashes casting a shadow on his eyelids.

"Baby, there’s a party in a few days, would you like to attend?"

Zane paused.

"Hosted by Miles Rhodes."

Natalie blinked, holding her breath, uncertain of the implication behind Zane’s words.

Is he attending as the leader of GN Group, or as... racer Zane Thorne?

Regardless.

"Alright, I’ll accompany you after my class."