My Racer Chose Her So I Canceled Our Wedding Chapter 01
The Seat Beside Him
For five years, Adrian Cole and I had been together in secret.
To the public, he was the star driver of the Rally Championship, a three-time champion with a reputation for being nearly impossible to beat.
To me, he was the man I was supposed to marry.
There was one thing I’d wanted for years.
The Champion’s Ride.
After the championship final, the organizers held a fan event where the winner could take one guest for a short passenger ride.
The winner would draw one name from a pool of guests, team members, and invited spectators.
Every year, I prayed Adrian would draw my name.
Every year, somehow, he drew Sienna Hart.
His co-driver.
This year, the rules had changed. Instead of a random draw, the champion could choose his guest.
So before the race, I finally asked.
“I’ve never ridden beside you before. If you win today… could you choose me?”
I hesitated, then added, “We’re getting married soon. I want to stand beside you for once.”
Adrian smiled and kissed my forehead.
“Of course.”
That should have made me happy.
Instead, twenty minutes before the race, I went backstage to wish him luck and heard one of the other drivers laughing.
“You’re really going to lose on purpose?”
I stopped outside the half-open door.
Another voice followed.
“You rigged the draws for Sienna three years in a row. Fine. But this year Lena actually asked you. You’re still not choosing your own fiancée?”
Adrian answered casually.
“If I don’t win, I don’t have to choose anyone.”
“That keeps Sienna’s place special, and Lena can’t complain because I didn’t break my promise. Everybody wins.”
Someone chuckled.
“What if Lena finds out and leaves?”
Adrian laughed.
“She won’t.”
“She’s spent five years waiting to marry me. The wedding’s almost here. Where would she go now?”
“Besides, she doesn’t even understand rally racing. That seat means nothing to her.”
The words landed harder than I expected.
Apparently, the place I’d waited five years for meant nothing because he had decided it meant nothing.
I walked away before anyone saw me.
An hour later, Adrian tried to lose.
I could tell.
He braked too early twice, lost time on a section he normally dominated, and made mistakes I’d never seen him make in competition.
It still wasn’t enough.
The announcer’s voice exploded through the stadium.
“And he’s done it again! Adrian Cole takes his fourth Rally Championship title!”
The crowd erupted.
Adrian climbed out of the car looking almost irritated by his own victory.
Then came the Champion’s Ride.
His gaze swept across the audience.
For one second, it stopped on me.
Even after everything I’d heard, some humiliating part of me still hoped.
Adrian looked away.
Then he held out his hand to Sienna.
“My co-driver.”
Her eyes widened as if she hadn’t expected it.
“My pleasure.”
My phone buzzed.
Let Sienna have this one. After the wedding, once we’re public, you can ride with me whenever you want.
I’d spent five years waiting for later.
Adrian drove Sienna to the end of the exhibition course, a spot fans had jokingly nicknamed Lover’s Turn because drivers often brought partners there after races.
Reporters surrounded them.
“Adrian, did you know where you were stopping?”
“Sienna, are you two together?”
Sienna smiled and looked away, saying nothing.
Adrian didn’t deny it.
The crowd screamed.
Phones lifted everywhere.
Within minutes, clips of them were spreading online.
Three years of shipping them and it’s finally real!
I stared at the screen, and whatever love I had left for Adrian finally disappeared.
Then I opened the reservation for the wedding venue Adrian and I had booked nearly a year ago.
A message appeared.
Cancellation requests are processed in order. Submit request?
I pressed Cancel.