Mr. Kane Got Blacklisted by Eleven Jewell

Grace said, “Son, as long as you want to study, I will support you, whether it’s for a double degree or even ten degrees! I’m so happy right now. If you’re joking, please tell me, or else I’ll take you seriously!”

Joe smiled and hugged Grace’s arm. “Mom, can’t I truly want to be like my brother and make you proud?”

Grace rubbed his yellow hair affectionately. “I used to be proud of you, but after you dyed your hair yellow, not so much.”

Joe was speechless. “Then I’ll dye it back.”

Grace immediately handed him a card from the hair salon. “Go quickly. It closes at midnight, so there’s still time today.”

Joe was delighted, realizing his mother had been unhappy with his yellow hair for a long time. “Alright, alright, I’ll go now.”

As she handed him his coat and sent him out, Grace asked, “Sweetheart, earlier you mentioned that someone talked to you, and that’s what made you change your mind. Was it your teacher?”

“Not my teacher, but he does like to teach others,” Joe replied. Though, in reality, he was just a crafty liar—an extremely capable one.

Grace was curious. “He just said a few words, and you suddenly saw the light? I’ve talked to you countless times, and nothing changed.”

me to run 20 kilometers, saying if I won, he’d let me join his team. He’s ten years older than me, and at

strong! I feel like there’s nothing he can’t do. He wasn’t really trying to recruit me; he just wanted to preach to me, to get me to focus on my studies. At first, I thought you’d hired him to talk to me, but then I realized he’s

many people in Rivera who could out-earn the Esper family. She thought hard

to school. Connecting the dots, Grace felt it was likely

coat and didn’t respond directly. She only told

Grace’s shift in mood. He cheerfully agreed

his racing friend called. “Where are you? It’s late, and the race starts in a few hours. Why aren’t you here for a

a pang of nostalgia, but when he remembered his promise to Keegan and the hope he’d given his mother, he resisted. “I’m not going tonight. You guys have

and now you’re backing out? What’s going on? Did your family shut you down? Where are you? I can

replied softly, “I just don’t see the point anymore. I’ve wasted a lot of time and want to catch up

hard? You failed three courses last semester, and now you want to buckle down? Your family’s loaded—what’s the point? Quit joking and get over

money was tempting, but it was never about the money for Joe. His

dismissive words struck a nerve. Joe had thought they shared a passion for

a dangerous shortcut to wealth. He’d heard stories about illegal races where drivers risked their lives, betting everything

meant about goals and motivations. He’d chosen the wrong path and the wrong friends. Their dreams

newfound clarity, Joe said, “I’m serious. I won’t be participating in these races anymore. You should avoid