Miranda noticed something off about Ashley and quickly asked, “What''s wrong, Ashley?”
Ashley stared at the driver in ck and confirmed again, “You''re saying the guy in the ck clothes is Bradley?”
Miranda nodded, puzzled, “Yeah, why? What''s up?”
Ashley smiled bitterly, thinking. ‘Bradley? Heh, he even takes a fake name. That’s obviously Ryan!”
“Did he tell you his name was Bradley?” Ashley hesitated and asked Miranda,
“Yes, he said his name was Bradley, Ashley, why do you ask this? Could it be...” Miranda asked in surprise. “That''s not his real
name?”
That''s not his real name.”
“What?” Miranda was astonished, pausing for a moment before
murmuring. “He gave me a fake name... Then what is his name? Do you know him?
Ashley remained expressionless and calmly said, “His real name is Ryan, and he is from the Ramos family. Before | cut ties with
them, he was my brother.
“What? A member of the Ramos family?’ Miranda’s eyes widened in shock as if she had heard an unbelievable joke, and it even
felt hard to breathe.
She didn’t know Ryan, didn’t understand him, but hearing that he was one of the Ramos made her guess that Ryan must have
been abusing Ashley like Frankie and Jeremy, mistreating her, far from a decent family member.
Yet, during their recent interactions, she always thought Bradley was at good person, even developing a liking for him. Despite
not understanding racing, she had even traveled abroad to watch hispetition.
But now, the truth was that Bradley was Ashley’s despicable brother.
After a long moment, Miranda snapped out of her daze, suddenly standing up. “Ashley, the race doesn’t start for another hour. |
want to go find Bradley and ask him about this. Will youe with me?”
11:07
“Alright.”
Ashley stood up and went with Miranda to the driver’s rest area.
Typically, spectators weren''t allowed near the driver’s rest area.
Butst night, Bradley told Miranda that he had arranged with the staff for her to visit the lounge any time before the game
started.
Last night, Miranda had even felt a sweet sense of being specially treated because of his actions.
Upon seeing Miranda approaching, Bradley was surprised.
However, the next second, his expression turned sour as he saw Ashley beside Miranda, his brows furrowing into a scowl.
Witnessing such a stark change in Bradley’s expression, Miranda instantly realized that everything Ashley had said was true.
Ryan had been using the alias “Bradley” to deceive her.
The Bradley she thought was a good guy was actually Ashley’s despicable brother.
Miranda suddenly lost the will to ask. Her spirits dampened as she lowered her eyes. “Ashley, let’s go back.”
Ashley couldn''t bear to see her so dejected. “Miranda, if you...”
Just then, Bradley, or Ryan, ran over in a panic, calling out, “Miranda!”
As he reached them, Ryan red at Ashley. “Ashley, did you say something? | warn you...”
“Shut up!” Miranda suddenly cut him off sharply, her hands clenched. The emotions she had been suppressing burst out, her
eyes reddening. but she stood firmly before Ashley.
“Miranda...” Ryan opened his mouth, his voice barely audible.
Ashley was taken aback. She hadn''t expected Miranda to defend her. A wave of tenderness washed over her heart, and she
patted Miranda''s shoulder.
“lll wait over there,” she said.
Ashley could tell Miranda had something to say to Ryan..
2/6
11:07
“Okay.” Miranda nodded.
Ashley didn’t go far, standing a short distance away.
Over here, Miranda looked at Ryan and suddenly realized. “Yesterday at the airport, right after | told you that Ashley wasing
to pick me up, you suddenly said you had to leave because of some issue with your team. But there was no issue, right? You
were just trying to avoid Ashley, right?”
Ryan didn’t deny it. “Yes.”
He hadn’t known Ashley would being to the car race, so he had invited Miranda.
But when he learned that Ashley woulde, he had a feeling his secret of being Ryan woulde out in front of Miranda.
He just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
Miranda closed her eyes, her eyshes fluttering. “Why did you tell me your name was Bradley? Why didn’t you tell me your real
name?”
I...” Ryan nced at Ashley and spoke regretfully. “I knew you were friends with Ashley, so | didn’t reveal my real name at first
because | was worried...”
“Worried that if | knew you were from the Ramos family, Ashley’s former brother, | wouldn’t give you the time of day, right?”
Miranda cut him off.
“Miranda...” Ryan took a step forward, trying to exin.
But Miranda stepped back. “Since you know it, let’s not see each other anymore.”
Ryan’s brow furrowed. “We''ve gotten along so well these past days. Why let Ashley affect our rtionship?”
Thinking back on their recent interactions, Miranda lowered her eyes, tears welling up. “The person | enjoyed being with was
Bradley, not Ryan.”
In front of Ashley and the Ramos family, she would unconditionally choose Ashley.
Let the Bradley she thought she knew to stay in the past forever.
After saying this, Miranda turned and walked away.
11:07
Ryan, however, suddenly grasped her wrist, shouting, “Miranda, don’t you really remember me?”
Miranda paused and looked at him. “What do you mean by remember you?”
Ryan stared at her, his eyes bloodshot with a vivid red. “Two years ago, the hospital, Christmas Eve.”
Back then, he had injured his right leg and the doctors had dered he would be disabled for a lifetime.
This meant he could never return to the racetrack. How could he possibly be a race car driver as a cripple?
From the moment the doctors said he couldn''t be cured, he felt his life. had copsed, and he became lost.
On that cold Christmas Eve night, Ryan dragged his injured right leg down to the hospital garden and sat on a bench.
Snowkes drifted down from the sky, but he felt no cold.
Agroup of naughty kids passed by, throwing branches and clumps of dirt at him, mocking him as a cripple.
Ryan didn’t even try to dodge, letting those kids circle around him andugh at him.
Somehow, a girl with a sweet smile appeared out of nowhere, helping him fend off the naughty kids and handing him a bright red
apple.
When Ryan looked up, he saw the girl smiling with two charming dimples.
She sat down to chat with him.
On a snowy night, under the warm glow of a streetmp, in his darkest. and most desperate moment...
The girl with the sweet smile who gave him the red apple stayed with him for two cold hours.
She only left after making sure those kids wouldn’te back.
Miranda was utterly astonished as Ryan recounted this memory. She couldn’t believe that the Ryan before her was the same
little cripple bullied by those kids.
11:07
“Your leg...is cured?” she asked.
Ryan’s voice was hoarse. “Yes.”
The Ramos family found a top-notch, internationally renowned doctor who only operated on national figures and refused to treat
Ryan.
Somehow, the doctor had changed his mind and agreed to treat Ryan.
His right leg finally healed, and he returned to the racetrack he had longed for.
At the same time, he began searching everywhere for Miranda, wanting to thank her for bringing warmth into his darkest, most
despairing
moments.
Ryan was thrilled when he saw Miranda had be a celebrity.
However, Miranda became good friends with Ashley.
He hesitated for a long time, worried that Miranda wouldn''t ept his identity as a member of the Ramos family, and he never
dared to approach her.
It wasn’t until the charity dinner back then, when he encountered. Miranda in a near car ident, that he began to interact with
her under the alias of Bradley.
After hearing all this, Miranda finally understood. It made sense now. why Ryan had left his number at the charity dinner, insisting
she call him if needed, even though the ident wasn’t his fault.
“I''ve been looking for you for two whole years, Miranda.”
Ryan gripped Miranda’s wrist, his eyes reddening. “Can we...not let Ashley affect our rtionship?”
Ashley stood at a distance, waiting patiently.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.
Not long after, Miranda returned.
“Ashley...”
Miranda’s eyes were welled up with tears. Her eyshes trembled as she looked at Ashley.