Rise Above The Betrayal (Sophia and Tristan) novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11 

Chloe buried her face in Ethan’s chest, concealing the gleam of triumph in her eyes. 

Her enthusiasm made her impulsive–she had launched herself at him so forcefully that her full weight collided against his body. 

Ethan grunted softly, his expression tightening as his face briefly paled. 

But Chloe, lost in her own excitement, didn’t notice. She adjusted her position, still clinging to him, oblivious to his discomfort. 

Ethan’s arm loosely y encircled her waist, but his other hand remained limp at his side. 

During the race’s final stretch, he had pushed too hard on a sharp turn, twisting his wrist. Now the pain throbbed persistently, though he tried to hide it 

His gaze shifted briefly to his injured hand before flicking to Chlor, who beamed with joy, entirely unaware. 

“Sophia would never do this, he thought to himself. 

Memories of Sophia surfaced, unbidden. In the past, whenever she accompanied him to races, she would immediately notice even the smallest injuries Sophia would rush to his side, her concern genuine and unwavering 

Sophia handled his sprains or cuts with deft, almost instinctive c 

The thought stirred something in him, a pang he couldn’t quite place. “Ethan Ethan!” Chlor’s voice jolted him out of his thoughts. 

Chloe tilted her head back, her large, sparkling eyes locking onto his. Her radiant smile remained unwavering. “Anything wrong? Aren’t you happy! You won! And the prize is a car worth a fortune.” 

Ethan stared at her, his thoughts swirling as a faint tension formed behind his smile. For a fleeting moment, he wanted to ask, ‘Are you this happy because I won the race… or because of the car’s price tag 

But he pushed the thought aside and replied softly. “Yeah,cool” 

Suddenly, dramatic laughter erupted from a group of Ethan’s friends standing nearby. “Yo, isn’t that THE SNIFFING DOG?” one of them jeered, histone mocking 

“Hey, Ethan! Look over there. Your stalker’s about to race, huh?” another chimed in, nudging him with a sly grin. 

The mention of Sophia’s name sent a jolt through Ethan’s chest. His heartbeat quickened, and a strange sense of urgency ovenook him 

He turned sharply in the direction they were pointing. Not far from the podium, Sophia leaned casually against a pillar. Her posture was relaxed, and the soft glow of the overhead lights framed her curvy body. Her side profile, illuminated by the lights, looked like it belonged to an artist’s masterpiece–serene, lawless, and effortlessly elegant. 

She exuded a quiet confidence now, her every movement poised yet natural. As she chatted with the girl beside her, a subtle smile tugged at her lips, transforming her face with an understated but radiant charm. 

She was breathtaking. 

Ethan’s rowdy friends fell silent, their teasing abruptly forgotten. Their mocking tones shifted to awe, tinged with disbelief. “Damn, Ethan,” one of them muttered, “why didn’t we notice before! Your stalker she’s a total knockout!” 

They weren’t wrong. 

Sophia, freed from the shadow of the Stewart family, shone like a polished gem. She had shed the weight of her past, her true beauty finally 

revealed for all to see. 

Back then, trailing behind Ethan, her beauty had been mused–hidden beneath a quiet, hesitant demeanor, like a dim light obscured by thick 

curtains. 

But now? The transformation was striking. 

Ethan hated this feeling. 

The way every gaze in the crowd shifted toward Sophia–some filled with admiration, others with blatant greed–stirred an uncomfortable storm in Ethan’s chest. It churned deep within him, sharp and relentless, a sensation he struggled to suppress. 

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Chapter 11 

Fidgeting, he tugged at the zipper of his racing suit, his brows knitting tightly together. 

Chloe’s soft, curious voice broke through his brooding “Why is SHE standing on the racetrack platform? She just drove up in a Bugatti and said she wanted to race. Is she… she’s NOT planning to compete, is she?” 

“Hert Racing?” one of Chloe’s friends burst out laughing, the sound sharp and dismissive. “Come on, Chloe, don’t joke. I bet she’s never even Touched a racecar before!” 

Chloe blinked, her wide, innocent eyes adding to the confusion. “No, seriously. The Bugatti she brought is one of those limited–edition models designed specifically for racing 

The laughter stopped abruptly. Her followers exchanged incredulous glances, their expressions turning from mockery to disbelief. “A Bugatti A limited–edition one! Are you kidding?” 

Ethan’s frustration deepened, his jaw tightening as his frown grew darker. His voice came out clipped and cold. “She doesn’t know how to race!” 

Chloe tilted her head, her expression genuinely puzzled. “How do you know that?” 

Ethan froze for a second, his mind racing as he realized how easily Sophia had distracted him. His features hardened further, and he quickly added, “She used to tag along to a few tracks when we were younger. Every time I talked about racing, she’d just sit there like an idiot, staring into space. How could someone like her possibly know how to drive, let alone race?” 

Chloe’s friends latched onto his words, their tones full of scorn. “Exactly! She grew up in the countryside, right? What would she know about 

racecars or tracks?” 

Another one chimed in, “Look at her over there. She’s probably just here with some rich guy who’s racing tonight. Dressing up like that clearly trying to catch someone’s eye. 

“And that Bugatti? Definitely borrowed. There’s no way she could afford a car like that herself” 

Chloe, ever the picture of concern, furrowed her brows slightly. “Sophia wouldn’t do something like that…..” 

“Chloe, you’re too soft,” one of her friends sneered, glaring at Sophia as though she were dirt underfoot. “She’s been living the high life at your family for years. Do you really think she’d go back to scraping by in the slums! She probably found some rich old man to keep her comfortable.” 

“Shameless,” another chimed in, their disdain dripping from every syllable. “Driving her sugar daddy’s car here just to show off.” 

The words were like fuel to the fire burning in Ethan’s chest. Anger flared within him, sharp and uncontrollable. “Shut up! he suddenly snapped. 

The group fell silent, startled by the sheer force of his voice. Their laughter died instantly, replaced by awkward, uneasy glances. 

Chloe’s heart skipped a beat. She turned to Ethan, her eyes wide with disbelief. ‘Does he does he actually care about HER? 

Ethan clenched his jaw, his tone turning icy and dismissive. “She’s nothing more than a pathetic simp who brought this on herself. Why waste time talking about her?” Without waiting for a response, he tore off the protective gear strapped to his chest and hurled it to the ground. The loud clatter echoed across the platform, underscoring the intensity of his exit. 

His footsteps were heavy as he stormeil away, his thoughts growing darker with every step. Sophia had always followed him, a quiet and obedient shadow at the racetrack. But now? She was here, no longer tethered to him, standing confidently beside someone else. 

‘Does she really need a man to survive? he thought bitterly. ‘Can’t she do anything on her own?”