?Chapter 1288:


    Across the field, Niks caught sight of Hamilton’s scowl and felt a burst of pleasure. As long as Hamilton was displeased with Dani, he would also be displeased with Cedric. In Niks’ eyes, that meant the McCoy family’s fortune would remain his.


    Niks gave a signal to the referee.


    The referee hustled toward Dani and asked, “Are you ready?” Dani gave a small nod.


    Niks guided his horse smoothly to the starting line, while Dani struggled to keep her wild stallion in check long enough to join him. Niks sat tall in his saddle, smug and confident, waiting for the race to begin.


    Niks looked down at Dani, disdain sharp in his eyes. “This is yourst chance. If you want to surrender, now’s the time. Otherwise, don’t me me when you get yourself killed out here.”


    Dani tossed her hair back and answered coolly, “Cut the crap.”


    Niks chuckled low and cruel. “Fine. If you want to die, I’ll be happy to help.”


    Sitting tall on his horse, Niks flicked a nce toward the first-floor stands and gave a quick signal to Kohen.


    Kohen caught the message right away. Within a minute, he slipped out of the stands and strode across the racetrack, one hand hidden inside his pocket as if carrying something he shouldn’t be.


    Hamilton’s secretary, watching from the side, stiffened. “Mr. McCoy! What is Kohen doing?” he whispered urgently.


    Hamilton’s face stayed still as stone, but when his eyes shifted to Dani, it was as though he was already looking at a corpse. He sneered, “Isn’t Dani supposed to be the leader of Cealmaur? Let’s see if she really lives up to the name.”


    While he spoke, a reporter edged closer, microphone in hand.


    Hamilton turned to the cameras with his practiced, easy smile. The reporter asked, “What are your thoughts on today’spetition? Is Cedric really a member of the McCoy family?”


    Stay updated on g?lnσν???s?c?m


    Hamilton kept his voice smooth. “It’s just a little friendlypetition among the young ones. It’s not my ce to interfere. Nothing serious will happen, so there’s no need to worry. As for Cedric’s ce in the family, that announcement willeter. Stay tuned.”


    Hearing that, the secretary finally understood.


    Today’s race wasn’t just about Dani’s life, it was also about whether Cedric would be epted into the McCoy family. The McCoy family had never had room for weaklings. Only the strong could stand among them. That was a rule that never changed.


    Hamilton kept answering the reporters’ questions, even as the starting whistle pierced the air behind him. He didn’t even bother turning around. There was no suspense. He already thought he knew exactly how it would end. The heavy silence behind him only confirmed it.


    Hamilton remainedposed, still speaking smoothly, until a sudden collective gasp from the crowd shattered the quiet. He finally turned his head. He saw a stone flying through the air, hitting Dani’s horse square in the belly.


    The wild horse shrieked, reared up high, and thrashed in pure terror, its eyes wide and furious. Dani clutched the reins with both hands. As the horse reared, she leaned forward, her movements steady and sure. When the hooves mmed back down, a thick cloud of dust exploded into the air, swirling around them.


    After that, the only sound cutting through the thick silence was the steady, rhythmic beat of pounding hooves. Momentster, the wild horse burst free from the dust cloud.


    The crowd froze.


    A long, breathless silence stretched across the arena.


    .


    .


    .