The Rival Hearts

Chapter 3

If there was anything bitter to swallow, it was the Montgomery name always standing above Armstrong.

When you think you have power and influence, there's always going to be someone who has more than you.

And the Montgomery name has been etched in history—generations of royalty; a bunch of bloody cutthroats.

That was why it was easy for William to steal Regent from me. I had tried every trick in the book, pulled every string, and leveraged every connection, but nothing had made it possible for me to achieve the hotel because a Montgomery wanted it.

So, I did what I knew best: I played a game.

Taking Christian, the man I met in the Hamptons, to the racetrack was a calculated move. William's passion for racing was well-known, and I knew the sight of me with another man at his favorite place would strike a nerve.

In order to heal my wounds, I had to inflict fresh ones on William.

I arrived at the racetrack with Christian by my side, determined to make William regret ever crossing me. The roar of engines and the smell of burning rubber filled the air, but nothing filled me except vengeance and wickedness.

Christian looked around with eager interest, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the racetrack and cars. I leaned closer to him, my smile deliberately flirtatious. "Do you like it? I thought you'd appreciate a front-row seat to all the action."

He grinned back at me, clearly enjoying the moment. "I love it."

As we approached the pit area, I spotted William near his car, his focus intense as he prepared for his race. The sight of him made my pulse quicken with a mix of frustration and something else I didn't want to acknowledge. I had to stay focused on the plan.

"Look, there's William, my friend from the other night," I said, my tone light and casual. "He's always been so competitive. I bet he's nervous seeing us here."

Christian chuckled, glancing over at William. "You think so? He doesn't seem the type to get rattled easily. He seems focused."

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "He's always like that. Can't stand the thought of losing, especially to me."

Christian raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Sounds like someone I know."

I grinned. "Oh, I'm sure you're nothing like him."

William's gaze shifted, and when he saw me with Christian, his eyes narrowed. Perfect. I looped my arm through Christian's and steered him closer to the track, making sure we were within his line of sight.

As we stood by the track, watching the cars line up for the race, I made sure to keep talking to Christian, my laughter and playful touches designed to catch William's attention. It didn't take long for him to notice.

He was about to get into his car when he finally glanced our way, his expression darkening as he took in the scene. I saw the moment he recognized what I was doing, the flash of anger in his eyes, and felt a thrill of satisfaction.

"You're really into this, huh?" Christian asked.

I smiled. "I've never tried car racing before. No matter how reckless I am, I'm not that reckless. I'm scared to crash. Too young to die."

He chuckled and stared at me. "I'm glad you brought me for the experience, Izzy."

My stomach knotted all of a sudden, seeing how happy he looked, knowing I was just using him to piss off another man. Christian didn't deserve it. He was too good. Too kind. Too pure to use him for my toxic game with William.