Chapter 661
“Exactly!” Cassie let out a shaky laugh, her relief palpable. “We were only considering betting on a race with her. Nothing was set in stone.”
Relief spread through the Delgado siblings. Had they dared to race Christina, they would have been obliterated on the track without even a chance to breathe. It would have been a slaughter. As they recalled their earlier smugness, embarrassment crept in like a slow burn.
“So, what should we bet on with her?” Kole asked, trying to sound nonchalant as he idly scrolled through more articles about Christina.
Then he paused, stiffened, and let out a sharp gasp. “Wait—she’s a shooting champion too? And a world-class pianist, Tiana?” His voice cracked with disbelief, eyes wide as if he’d seen a ghost.
“No way!” Cassie snatched the phone from his hand, her fingers trembling slightly. She stared at the screen, comparing the polished photos with the woman standing before them—Christina. There was no denying it. It was really her.
Reality settled in like a punch to the gut. Cassie’s pride curdled into bitter envy. How could it be? They were both women—yet Christina was on an entirely different level. Being a racing prodigy was already enough to earn global recognition, but to also dominate in competitive shooting and master the piano at a world-class level?
And then there was the rumor—the one whispered across elite circles—that the prince of Eighshire himself was her protégé. A chill crawled up Cassie’s spine. They had angered Christina, and the consequences wouldn’t just fall on her and Kole. No—the entire Delgado family could end up ruined.
Kole felt the same unease twisting in his gut. But as the weight of it settled, a new thought slithered in—they were already too far gone to walk away unscathed after…
Offending Christina. So why not flip the game? If he could somehow win over this extraordinary woman…
He figured that once she had served her purpose, he would sell her off to the highest bidder. With credentials like hers, the price would be astronomical. And if they could tap into her influence and resources, maybe—just maybe—the Delgado family could rise above even the Reeds.
Kole’s lips curled slightly at the thought. To finally stand above the family that had always looked down on him and to make them pay for every insult and slight… Yes, that was the dream. But first—he needed a flawless plan. Something cunning, something tight enough to trap Christina.
Kole’s eyes narrowed as he studied Christina from across the room, calculating every move, every angle. Suddenly, an idea lit up in his mind like a switch flipping on. She looked elegant, refined, and slight of frame—there was no way she could hold her own in a fight.
“Have you decided what to bet on yet?” Christina’s voice sliced through the silence, edged with impatience. “Hurry up. I have better things to do.”
“Boxing!” Kole and Thea blurted out at the same time, surprised to discover they were thinking the exact same thing. It was perfect. With Christina’s delicate appearance, she would be completely outmatched in the ring.
“No way!” Eloise sprang to her feet, her voice sharp with fury. “You want Christina to box? She’s not even trained! How is that even fair?”
Her outrage only confirmed to the Delgados and Thea that they were on the right track. That was the point. They didn’t want fair. They wanted certain victory.