Addiction to Temptation: His Mischievous Sweetheart Captivates Him-Chapter 285: Planning a Comeback?

The real turning point came after the official release of the new regulations.

Back in Veridia, Gideon Sheffield had been silently monitoring anything related to Zane Thorne ever since he confessed that matter to Leo Chandler.

He thought Zane would come to him for an explanation after knowing the truth from those years, but he overestimated himself. Zane hadn’t sought him out at all, or rather, had absolutely no desire to find him.

And rightly so, how could he dare hope that Zane would still be willing to deal with him after what he’d done?

Once envy has taken hold, the moment you make a wrong move, it’s a mistake, and you have to bear the consequences of that wrong choice.

But...

Gideon was willing to bear it, yet he regretted it.

He regretted listening to deceitful words, regretted burying the latter half of his life due to a moment of folly, and ruined Zane’s career as well.

Now that the system allowed retired players to return, and he had already gone back to his hometown, he was no longer a burden to Zane, who knew about the past and wouldn’t feel guilty anymore.

With Zane’s passion for racing, it’s only a matter of time before he returns to the race track.

Gideon hesitated for two days before finally calling Zane.

When he received the call, Zane was with Natalie Vaughn discussing what flowers to plant in the garden.

It was Natalie who got to the phone first.

Zane never saved contacts on his phone, so Natalie took a glance and handed it over.

"Who still calls at this time?"

Zane glanced down, and upon seeing the string of numbers, his expression instantly changed. Natalie keenly noticed his shift and sat up from his embrace.

The fireplace was still burning.

"Who is it?"

"Gideon Sheffield."

Natalie pursed her lips and was silent for a few seconds.

"You guys talk, I’ll go check how the herbal medicine is brewing."

Zane grabbed Natalie’s hand and then answered the call in her presence. Natalie paused momentarily, then sat back down.

Once the call connected, Gideon didn’t speak, and neither did Zane, leaving the atmosphere awkwardly tense.

Natalie sat quietly, carefully observing Zane’s expression, trying to capture his emotional changes. But his deep-set eyes were too filled with complex emotions for her to decipher.

If he was willing to take Gideon’s call, did it mean he had been waiting for this call from Gideon?

After all, the events from five years ago needed a complete conclusion.

After about two minutes of silence, Gideon finally spoke.

"I’m sorry."

Three simple, straightforward words.

Zane still didn’t say anything, but Natalie noticed that his earlier actions paused slightly.

Releasing the pent-up emotions from five years after saying those three words, finally finding a release.

"I don’t expect you to forgive me, but you shouldn’t let your career end because of a scumbag like me. You’re still young, and you can quickly regain your form on the track."

"I’m calling just to say this thing."

"By the way, you should be careful of Danny from The Wolfpack Club; he was the one who sowed discord between us back then, and I wasn’t strong enough and fell into his trap. It was his idea too."

"And among the old guys in the committee, there’s someone who isn’t fond of you, but I don’t know who."

"That’s all I have to say."

After saying this, Gideon’s breathing became noticeably heavier.

Natalie instinctively held her breath as she listened, and as an outsider, she felt that Gideon really didn’t deserve Zane’s deep loyalty.

She looked at Zane, unsure of how he would react.

Gideon was also waiting in anticipation.

But unexpectedly, Zane simply hung up the phone.

Natalie reached forward, embraced Zane, and gently patted his back like comforting a child.

The man smiled lightly.

"I’m not that fragile."

"You could’ve told me; we can share the burden together."

She didn’t want to see Zane sitting alone in the room, gloomy-eyed and full of resentment.

Zane pulled back from Natalie and then leaned his forehead against hers.

"Sweetheart, you think of me as too fragile."

The emotions he should have felt when he learned the truth were thoroughly felt at that moment, but after understanding, there was no need to waste feelings on those unworthy of them.

Zane was indeed a person of strong emotions and loyalty, but he was also someone ruthless and decisive.

After learning of Gideon’s betrayal, he wouldn’t forgive Gideon because of their old brotherhood. Instead, it was precisely because of the past brotherhood that he found the betrayal all the more despicable.

Natalie blinked, pulled back slightly, and carefully studied Zane’s eyes.

The heaviness in them while on the call had now completely dissipated.

Natalie felt as if her feelings had been deceived, realizing it a bit late.

Zane answered the call just to hear Gideon’s apology, didn’t he?

He might not forgive, but he had to hear the apology.

That indeed fit his character.

Since Zane was no longer upset, Natalie gave him a push.

"Since you’re not fragile anymore, go check on the herbal medicine yourself."

Zane: ?????

Didn’t she say personally brewing it would give a sense of accomplishment?

...

After that call from Gideon, Zane finally placed the matter of returning to the race track on the agenda. However, he didn’t announce it publicly; he simply spent time training with the kids preparing for competitions at the club during his free time.

Natalie, having finished her studies, would also come over to accompany him, seemingly becoming Zane’s personal chronicler, filming countless vlogs for him.

Jay Sterling was quite dense, but not everyone marveled at it.

Even if Zane cared a lot about this March’s race, as the boss, he wouldn’t have the need to personally accompany the training.

He was accompanying the training, not directing it.

On that sunny afternoon, while Zane was coaching Jay Sterling, Wish approached Natalie. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Nina, can I ask you a question?"

Wish followed Jay Sterling in calling Natalie ’Nina’.

Natalie was a bit surprised and put away her camera.

"Of course, what do you want to ask?"

Wish hesitated, not knowing how to phrase his question.

Natalie glanced up at the sky; it was a bit glaring, so she raised a hand to shield her view.

"Let me guess, you want to ask about Zane, right?"

Wish’s thoughts were easy to read; everything was written on his face. When he saw Zane, he was like a complete fan boy.

He spoke very little, and since he reached out to her, she couldn’t think of any reason other than Zane.

"Recently, a new system was issued by the association."

Natalie raised an eyebrow.

She seemed to know what Wish wanted to ask.

"Um-hmm, and then?"

"God Thorne’s behavior has been unusual lately, even though he has no reason to follow our training."

Natalie chuckled.

"I quite enjoy watching him race."

Wish finally asked the question.

"Is God Thorne planning a comeback?"