The rain poured in sheets, soaking the ground and turning the air icy. Their mansion, perched in a remote, exclusive area, was surrounded by winding mountain roads. Amber gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white, as Calvin sat beside her, restless and anxious.
"Hurry up," he snapped, his eyes glued to his phone as if willing updates from Iris to appear. "Can't you go faster?"
Amber bit her lip, refusing to respond. She could barely see through the windshield, the wipers struggling to keep up with the relentless downpour. At one treacherous turn, the tires skidded and the Maybach spun dangerously close to the edge of the road.
Amber's heart leaped into her throat as she slammed on the brakes, fighting to regain control of the car. For a moment, time seemed to freeze—the only sounds were the rain hammering the roof and the squeal of the brakes.
Once the car steadied, Calvin erupted in frustration. "What the hell are you doing?" he shouted, his face a mixture of anger and panic. "Are you trying to kill us? Can't you even drive properly?"
"You can't even handle something as simple as driving? What else are you good for besides spending money?" Calvin's words cut through the tense silence like a blade. His tone dripped with disdain, stopping just short of outright calling Amber a useless burden.
Amber's knuckles whitened as she gripped the steering wheel, her trembling hands betraying her fragile composure. Her heart pounded erratically, still caught in the terror of the near accident. The sound of rain hammering the car mingled with the echoes of Calvin's harsh criticism, creating a chaotic storm both outside and within her.
She fought back tears that threatened to spill, unwilling to let her emotions cloud her already shaken focus. The road stretched ahead, dark and treacherous, illuminated only by the thin beams of the headlights struggling against the relentless downpour.
When Amber remained silent, Calvin's interest in berating her waned. He turned his attention to his phone, scrolling idly as if she weren't even there. Amber clenched her jaw, the taste of humiliation sharp on her tongue. Here she was, risking her safety in the middle of a storm—all for a phone call from Iris.