Chapter 5 The Squabble

The race was over. Lillian, not bothering to change out of her racing gear, rushed to find Matthew, expecting some comforting words from him. However, after searching for a long time, she couldn’t find Matthew anywhere. In the locker room, Clara had changed and was holding her helmet in one hand, her long, straight hair cascading down her back, looking both stunning and fierce. Matthew stood at the doorway, staring at Clara, momentarily dazed. When he saw the familiar figure stepping out of the Purple Angel, he followed, curious and incredulous. He never imagined that the racing queen, who had disappeared for three years, could be the same woman who had been with him for three years, Clara. He never thought that the woman who usually needed a driver or a taxi to get anywhere could be the famed racing queen. The world suddenly seemed strange to him. The thought that the woman he had dismissed as a kept woman could shine so brightly on the racing club left him feeling conflicted. He felt a little stuffy, a kind of unspeakable feeling around him. Clara had been with him for three years, and he had thought he knew her well. He believed she was just a trophy wife, someone who spent her days arranging flowers, cooking, and relying on men. But now, she was celebrated as the racing queen. He touched his face, feeling a sudden, sharp pain, intense and real. Daniel, noticing Matthew standing at the locker room door, was slightly stunned and called out, "Mr. Garcia?" At his words, Clara frowned and looked toward the door. Seeing Matthew, she was surprised and asked, "What are you doing here?" Matthew's face was somber, and he pressed his lips together without speaking. Daniel, sensing the tension, said, "Clara, I'll wait for you outside." With that, he quickly turned and left. "If I weren't here, how would I know that my wife is the racing queen who disappeared three years ago?" Matthew said coldly, his face stern. Clara glanced at him and said, "Mr. Garcia, you have a poor memory. We are divorced. I am now your ex-wife." Hearing this, Matthew frowned. What was wrong with this woman? This morning she called him her ex-husband, and now she was saying she was his ex-wife. Why was she so adamant about these distinctions? After a long pause, he spoke, "Does that matter?" No sooner had he spoken than a frantic voice called out from behind him, "Matthew, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Clara smiled slightly. "You two go ahead and talk. I'll be on my way." She was genuinely relieved that someone had come to her rescue at that moment. Clara had no intention of staying to argue with Matthew. She had just lifted her foot to leave when Matthew called out, "Clara, stop right there!" She paused slightly and replied, "Mr. Garcia, isn't someone looking for you? I won't disturb you." Matthew frowned and turned to Lillian. "And you are?" Upon hearing that, Lillian's face fell. "Matthew, weren't you here to watch my race?" "No," Matthew replied, his voice cold as ice, sending a chill through the air. He had only come because he heard Clara would be racing. As for the woman calling him Matthew, he had no recollection of her. Lillian's eyes reddened. "No, you must have come to see me, right?" She tried to grab Matthew's arm, but he subtly evaded her touch. Clara watched Lillian with a look of detached amusement. Lillian suddenly directed her anger at Clara. "Matthew, you've been deceived by this woman. She's here because she doesn't want to let you go." She then turned to Clara. "Since you've divorced Matthew, you shouldn't be clinging to him anymore..." Before she could finish, Matthew's face darkened. It was as if he was the one who had been clingy, hoping Clara would change her mind. But Lillian, oblivious to his expression, continued her rant. "Matthew, Ms. Edwards, who probably has never even touched a steering wheel, comes here to watch a race. Isn't it clear she's here to cling to you? You've divorced her. She shouldn't be chasing after you anymore." Clara, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "Yes, ex-husband, I think Ms. Baker is right. We've divorced, so let's not cling to each other." "Ex-husband?" The phrase made Matthew's temple throb incessantly. Why had he never noticed how Clara could give him such a headache before? After speaking, Clara walked around Matthew and turned to leave. The faint, familiar fragrance she left behind lingered in his senses, and he found himself oddly drawn to it. Matthew watched her familiar figure until it disappeared from sight. A wave of dull pain and loss surged within him. He felt as if something was slipping out of his control, realizing that the woman he had been with for three years had grown wings and turned into a cold, beautiful wild rose. "Matthew," Lillian called out. He looked at her with cold eyes and asked, "Do you know why she's here?"