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.

It's not his fault William played devil and won the bid before I even had a price.

But we're all greedy for something.

William climbed into his car, but his usual precision seemed off. As the race began, I could see him pushing harder than necessary, his driving aggressive and reckless.

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched him nearly lose control on a sharp turn, the car skidding dangerously close to the barrier. For a moment, I felt a pang of worry, but then he regained control and sped ahead, winning the race by a narrow margin.

The crowd cheered, but my attention was on him as he climbed out of his car, his eyes immediately seeking me out. He stormed over, his expression furious.

William looked hot, a fact that irritated me to no end. The gear fit highlighted his build, and the confident way he moved made it impossible to ignore the attraction bubbling under my skin.

"Enjoying the show?" he asked, his voice tight with barely controlled anger.

I smiled sweetly, not bothering to hide my satisfaction. "Yes." I looked up at Christian and touched his arm. William's brows perked up at that. "Christian, did you enjoy the race?"

He nodded. "That was insane. Congratulations. I'm not sure if you remember me—"

"Oh, I remember you," William replied unkindly, then shifted his gaze to me. "I need to talk to you."

"No."

He cocked his head. "No?"

I clung to Christian's arm. "It's not fair to leave Christian alone. I already promised to spend the whole day with him, isn't that right?" I asked him.

He cleared his throat uncontrollably. "Yeah, I promised Bella that."

William snapped his head to him, his mouth curling. "Bella?" Then he stared back at me, eyebrows cocked, with an infuriating smile on his face. "Bella, huh?"

I blinked, caught off guard because I didn't expect Christian to call me that. Everyone who knew me knew I hated being called Bella, and William knew that.

For a moment, there was a heavy silence, the air thick with tension. William's gaze bored into mine, and I could see the challenge in his eyes. He knew exactly what buttons to push.

"That's right," I said, lifting my chin defiantly. "I...I told him he...he—" I popped my lips. "he could call me that. I figured he should have a special nickname for me alone."

"Like how I call you Iz?" William shot back.

I almost staggered back. "No." I cleared my throat. "See that is not special. Do you know why? Because you're not the only person who calls me that. Now stop asking me questions."

"Hey, Christian," William said, looking back at him with a challenge in his eyes. "You liked the race, huh?"

My brows furrowed together. What are you playing at?

"How about it then? Care to race?"

Christian looked surprised. "Me? I've never done it before."

"It's not that hard," William replied, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I'll even give you a few pointers."

I saw the challenge in his eyes, the unspoken dare. I squeezed Christian's arm, giving him an encouraging smile. "You should go for it."

William looked surprised I'd even entertain the idea. He must have expected me to decline, but I wouldn't.

I gripped Christian's arm, leaning so close to him that our bodies were brushing against each other. "I wouldn't mind you racing for me. You don't have to win. I just want to see you wearing the gear and behind the wheels."

Christian hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I'm in."

As they prepared for the race, I stayed close to Christian, fussing over him and offering words of encouragement.

"You can do it."

"Just imagine me sitting next to you."

"Be careful, okay? I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

I could see William watching us, his jaw clenched, his eyes burning with jealousy. I leaned in, whispering in Christian's ear and laughing at his nervous jokes, all the while feeling William's gaze on me.

When they finally lined up at the starting line, the tension was palpable. I held my breath as the race began, my eyes glued to the track. Christian was doing his best, but it was clear he was no match for William's experience and skill. It was a miracle nothing happened yet.

"Come on, Christian! You've got this!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the noise.

William's car sped past us, the wind from his speed blowing my hair back. I caught his eye for a brief moment, seeing the smug satisfaction in his gaze. He was winning, and he knew it. But I wasn't going to let him have the last laugh.

He crossed the finish line first, the crowd erupting in applause and cheers. He stepped out of his car, his eyes locked on mine. I could see the intensity in his gaze, the unspoken battle that was far from over.

I wasn't about to let him enjoy his victory without a fight.

I rushed to Christian, who had just parked his car, and fussed over him with exaggerated affection. "You did amazing, Christian! That was incredible!" I exclaimed, helping him out of his helmet, my fingers brushing his hair as I did.

He beamed, clearly basking in the attention. "Thanks. I tried my best."

I leaned in closer, my voice a low murmur meant only for his ears. "You were fantastic."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw William approaching, his expression darkening with every step. His eyes flicked between Christian and me, and I knew I had pushed him to his limit.

"Isabella," William's voice was tight with barely controlled anger. "A word."

"Can't it wait? I'm celebrating with Christian."

"No, now."

He grabbed my arm, pulling me aside with more force than necessary. We walked a few paces away, and he turned to face me, his expression livid.

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded, his voice low and fierce.

I pulled my arm free and crossed them over my chest, meeting his glare with my own. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You know exactly what I mean," he snapped. "This game you're playing—using Christian to make me jealous—it's pathetic."

I raised an eyebrow, my own anger bubbling to the surface. "Oh, is that what you think? That this is all about you?"

"Yes," he said, his voice sharp. "I can see right through you, Isabellae. You're trying to get under my skin."

"Maybe whatever you think is happening, you deserve it."

"Deserve it? For what?"

"For stealing the Regent hotel from me," I hissed, my anger boiling over. "You knew how much that hotel meant to me, and you took it just because you could."

"I took the hotel because it was a good business move. That's what this is all about, Isabella. Business."

"Business?" I spat. "You didn't just outbid me, William. You went behind my back, used your connections to undermine the deal I was trying to make. You didn't even give me a fair chance."

"Desire doesn't entitle you to anything." He smirked, infuriatingly calm. "All's fair in love and war."

"And which is this?" I challenged, my heart pounding. "Love or war?"

"Does it matter?" he asked, his voice dangerously low. "The result is the same. I win."

"You're a true Montgomery—always ready to cut someone down to get what you want."

"Whatever game you're playing, Isabella," he finally said, his voice barely a whisper, "I suggest you think twice before you continue. Because this time, the stakes are higher than you can imagine."

I stood there, seething, as William walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a burning desire for revenge.

I straightened my spine, determination replacing anger. I wouldn't let him win so easily.

I returned to Christian's side. Without hesitation, I planted a firm, deliberate kiss on his lips, feeling William's eyes boring into us. It was a silent declaration, a fuck you message to him.

It was a bold move, but I needed to make a statement.

When I pulled away, Christian looked surprised but pleased. William's expression was unreadable.

It may be far from over, but I knew I had won this round.

A smirk played on my lips as I whispered to Christian, loud enough for William to hear, "Do you want to have dinner?"

It was a small victory, but it felt satisfying.