Before long, a red Ferrari swept out through the side gates of the estate.
Behind the wheel, Evelyn's cheeks were still faintly flushed, her nerves strung tighter than she cared to admit.
In the passenger seat, Chloe was still animatedly ranting about the men from earlier—particularly how unbearably slick and self-satisfied they'd been.
"I swear, I'm never coming to one of these boring parties again," Evelyn huffed, her voice soft but petulant. Her slender fingers tapped irritably against the steering wheel. "And that muscle guy? So greasy. Chloe, what's wrong with your taste?"
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
Without realizing it, her foot pressed a little harder on the accelerator.
The Ferrari's engine growled in response.
With a sudden surge of power, the red machine lunged forward, slicing through the night like a streak of flame.
Cool air streamed in through the open top, whipping loose strands of hair across Evelyn's cheek.
Chloe yelped and grabbed the handle above the door. "Hey! My little princess—slow down! Your driving—"
"Oh, relax! It's not like this is my first time driving," Evelyn muttered, though she unconsciously pressed the pedal a fraction deeper.
The sports car tore down the open road, a sleek red line against the asphalt.
Ahead lay an intersection. The green light blinked—about to turn yellow.
Evelyn's eyes flickered. A stubborn, impulsive spark—the kind born of privilege and impatience—flashed through her.
Without thinking, she slammed the accelerator.
"Evie! It's red—!" Chloe's scream nearly split the air.
But it was too late.
The red light flared to life.
At that exact moment, from the perpendicular main road, a black silhouette moved steadily through the intersection.
It was the Rolls-Royce Phantom carrying Ares Gabriel.
Silent. Composed. Imposing.
Its presence was the complete opposite of the Ferrari's flamboyant roar.
In an instant, Evelyn's petty defiance evaporated into pure terror.
Her pupils dilated.
She stomped the brake pedal to the floor.
"SCREEECH—!"
The tires screamed against the pavement, leaving four jagged black streaks behind. But the momentum was merciless. The red Ferrari surged forward, out of control.
"BANG—CRASH!"
The violent crunch of metal shattered the stillness of the night.
The Ferrari's right front slammed hard into the left rear door and wheel arch of the Phantom.
Airbags exploded outward in a deafening thud, striking both girls.
The force snapped Evelyn back against her seat, the seatbelt biting painfully into her chest before jerking her back. Her vision went dark for a split second. Her ears rang. Her lungs struggled for air.
The world seemed to pause—frozen in stunned silence.
Then Chloe's voice pierced through, trembling and near tears. "Evie! Evie, are you okay?!"
The Phantom had barely shifted—its massive frame absorbing the impact without even being displaced.
Its bulletproof windows remained dark and unreadable.
Evelyn blinked, disoriented. Her chest throbbed where the airbag had struck her. A high-pitched ringing filled her ears.
She shook her head and stared at her beloved Ferrari.
The front end was crushed inward. Headlights shattered. The sleek lines she adored were mangled beyond recognition.
And the black Phantom—cold, almost arrogant in its sturdiness—bore only an ugly dent and a scrape along its side.
A crushing wave of grievance and panic flooded her.
That was her car.
Her brand-new car.
She had begged her parents for it since arriving in M Country to study abroad. They'd always refused—said she was too young, that it was dangerous for a girl alone overseas.
She had finally gotten it last month, for her twentieth birthday.
And they had warned her again and again to drive carefully.
And now... She'd wrecked it.
The spoiled little princess who had never truly suffered a loss in her life suddenly felt the full weight of consequence.
"My car… my pretty car…"
She whispered the words, her wide eyes filling rapidly with tears.