Addiction to Temptation: His Mischievous Sweetheart Captivates Him-Chapter 202: Wondering If It’s Snowing in Yenton
Zane Thorne’s phone call silenced everyone in the room, making them unconsciously lower their voices.
It would take Genevieve Joyce ten minutes to arrive at the fastest speed, so Zane Thorne spent ten minutes on the phone keeping Natalie Vaughn company. Natalie Vaughn spent ten minutes being sweet, and the others spent ten minutes feeling envious.
It was a bit late, and Natalie had been drinking, so she wasn’t very energetic. Noticing her drowsiness, Zane gently coaxed her to stay awake.
If she fell asleep, it would be up to Genevieve to carry her out, something Zane naturally wouldn’t allow to happen.
Genevieve, having been by Zane’s side for many years, knew his personality well. So before coming, she made sure to pick up Summer Churchill.
Initially, Zoe Chandler had to fly back to Astra City tonight for work, and Summer, being a junior assistant, couldn’t participate in the dinner party.
Natalie didn’t want to hang up the phone, so Summer held the phone for her. In her drunken state, Natalie let her coy nature fully unleash, making Summer blush with embarrassment. Meanwhile, Zane softly coaxed her on the other end, allowing Natalie to become even more uninhibited.
Once they arrived at the hotel, Zane finally coaxed Natalie to sleep.
"Tell me a story."
Zane wasn’t good at telling stories. Just like the night when Natalie had a nightmare, he casually picked a book from the shelf to read aloud.
Natalie wasn’t picky and drifted off to sleep listening to Zane’s voice.
Listening to her steady breathing, Zane’s expression softened. Watching Natalie’s sleeping face on video, his eyes were filled with endless affection.
Gideon Sheffield walked in on such a scene.
The Zane Thorne he knew was a gifted racer, young and reckless, arrogant and unruly. His expression was always one of confident arrogance, sometimes nonchalant, sometimes fierce.
Gideon’s pupils contracted slightly, for he had never seen such gentleness on Zane’s face. Back then, Zane’s world only revolved around racing, his brothers, and adrenaline.
He had even witnessed Zane’s decadence after the upheaval five years ago. Zane was still composed, but his eyes were always deeply troubled.
Now, there was someone new by Zane’s side. Could someone like Zane also become gentle because of the person he loved?
Gideon lifted his eyes in confusion. Didn’t he know better than anyone? Every man has a soft spot deep in their heart. Once, at the bottom of his heart, there was Vera Underwood.
Noticing the movement, Zane looked up, and the gentleness in his eyes vanished the moment he saw Gideon, replaced by a depth and coldness.
Gideon couldn’t say much. He averted his gaze to the window.
It started snowing again, and today’s snow seemed particularly heavy.
"I really wonder if it’s snowing in Yenton."
Yenton was Gideon’s hometown.
Zane’s gaze flickered. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Then go back and see."
Gideon suddenly met Zane’s eyes, forcing a smile, but he could only manage an awkward curve.
"In my current state..."
Zane interrupted him.
"Then take this time to recuperate, and go back before the New Year."
Gideon looked at Zane for a long time without speaking and finally nodded.
He actually wanted to ask Zane if he wanted to join him, but Zane had his family, and Natalie was waiting for him.
Gideon’s sudden concession surprised Zane, but he didn’t overthink it. Instead, he asked Leo Chandler to chat with Gideon and arranged for a caregiver to help Gideon with basic rehabilitation during that time.
After taking care of that, Zane immediately left the hospital.
He returned to his house in Altara, grabbed a bottle of wine, and sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, drinking one glass after another.
He wasn’t sure how Gideon viewed him now, but no matter what, Gideon’s willingness to return to Cinnabar meant that his time in Altara hadn’t been in vain.
At least... a weight had been lifted from his heart.
He could now return home and tell Natalie everything about what happened five years ago without any concealment.
...
Gideon’s physical condition was poor. For years, he had resisted treatment, letting himself go, and recovery wasn’t a simple task.
He originally thought Zane would go back to Cinnabar directly, but he didn’t expect Zane to come over during his physical training.
The person Zane hired was very professional, so Zane’s assistance wasn’t necessary, and Gideon couldn’t understand why Zane was there.
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as Gideon gritted his teeth to suppress a cry of pain.
Zane sat nearby, watching him, a cigarette in his mouth but unlit.
During a brief break, Gideon finally spoke.
"Why are you still here?"
Zane’s eyes focused on Gideon’s amputated limb.
"Do you remember how we used to train?"
Gideon’s eyes flickered as he looked down at his leg, a sneer forming on his lips.
"When I first met you, you were only sixteen, just a kid, but braver than anyone else, driving recklessly."
"The training grounds were too small for you to fully show off, so you drove straight into undeveloped mountain roads."
"The mountain roads were dangerous with unknown conditions, and you drove fast, so no one dared to join you."
"It was only through your provocation that I went with you. No one expected your crazy antics to be the most thrilling."
"Back then, the team had no money, so you funded all the expenses yourself."
"Though young, you learned quickly, had a natural talent, and drove recklessly, quickly achieving the team’s best results."
"I thought at the time, youth is truly impressive."
"Later, we competed and won awards together, and you had more talent than I did. You should have gone much further."
"Then...
Then came the incident which cost Cinnabar’s racing world two legendary drivers.
Gideon stopped there. He was very clear-minded now, and with clarity came regret.
Zane... If it hadn’t been for him, Zane would surely be at the top of the world by now, wouldn’t he?
With a flick, Zane lit his cigarette, squinting as he took a deep drag.
"I’m doing alright now."
Gideon looked up at him, puzzled by his words.
Zane’s lips curled into a smile.
"I’ve endured all these years since leaving the track. Life goes on without racing."
His meaning was clear: even though Gideon was in his current state, he still had the right to live his life fully.
Just a different way of living, that’s all.
Gideon understood what Zane meant and opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.
With his crippled body, racing was out of the question for Gideon, but Zane was different. He was a naturally gifted racer. Even after five years without competition, it would only take a bit of training—and perhaps a single race—to reignite his old spark.
Gideon watched Zane and ultimately couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
