Chapter 58
“As a local racing legend, he lost to some high school girl? Carlos is gonna be the laughingstock around here…”
“Best race I’ve ever seen!”
“Shoot! I bet on Lenore to lose! Down the drain, all of it!”
The noise was a mess, but every word drilled into Carlos’s head.
Carlos clenched his jaw so tight that it hurt, his fingers digging into the dirt until they were raw and bleeding. He’d been cocky, betting half the Duncan family’s fortune without a second thought, thinking he had this in the bag.
Now it seemed like that contract he’d pushed for was nothing but him handing over the cash on a silver platter.
Recalling Lloyd’s attitude toward Lenore yesterday and the warning he’d given himself, Carlos felt like he was in over his head. He figured this was all a lousy idea from Ivan.
He stood up abruptly and shouted, “Ivan, get your butt out here!”
After what felt like forever, there was a stir in the crowd. Unconscious Ivan was carried out, his face a mess of bruises and blood.
One of the guys said in a trembling voice, “Mr. Duncan, Ivan got beat up…”
Carlos was shaking. “A bunch of losers! You’re all freaking losers!”
At the Duncan residence, Lloyd said, “Go check on your brother.”
“Grandpa, you’ve asked me to check on him like ten times tonight. He’s in the backyard, grounded and behaving,” Janet replied, pretending to be exasperated. “Grandpa, you should hit the hay.”
Since the afternoon, Lloyd’s right eyelid had been twitching, making him uneasy. He figured the only thing that could go wrong was Carlos causing trouble. But all night, he’d heard Carlos was in his room.
“No way!” Lloyd said, getting up with his cane and heading out. “I’ll check myself.”
Janet’s face flickered with concern as she quickly tried to stop him. “Grandpa, it’s late. My brother’s probably asleep now. You…”
“Mr. Duncan,” the butler interrupted, walking in from outside and looking anxious. “Lenore and Mr. Faulkner from yesterday are here again at the
door.”
Lloyd’s grip tightened on his cane, his unease growing. “Show them in.”
They had this air about them, especially Lenore, at the front, casually holding a piece of paper like it was no big deal. She was as cool as a cucumber, and she looked like the type one wouldn’t want to mess with.
Lloyd’s unease spiked seeing them this late, and he said cautiously, “What brings you guys here…”
Lenore, casual as could be, handed over the paper and said, “Collecting debts.”
Lloyd paused and took the paper, and there it was–their race bet in black and white. If Lenore lost, she was at Carlos’s mercy; if Carlos lost, he’d have to bow, apologize, and give Lenore half the Duncan family’s wealth.
Lloyd’s face twitched at the sight of their fortune on paper. “Ms. Smedley, Carlos was locked up yesterday, and he’s been home all day. Is there a mistake…”
Lenore raised an eyebrow. “You doubt this is legit?”
Janet saw the paper too and froze. She knew Carlos had snuck out and she’d covered for him, skipping dance practice to stay with Lloyd.
‘Carlos lost? Bet half the family’s wealth? No way Carlos could lose to Lenore! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!‘ Janet thought to herself.
If Lloyd found out, she’d be in trouble, too. Janet hid her panic, pointed at Lenore, and accused her.“You’re lying. Carlos never left the house. Esther was right; you’re just a hick from a small town trying to scam the Duncan family with any old piece of paper.”
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