Julian Valentine scanned the room.
"Four players. Three decks aren't enough."
He raised his hand in command.
His subordinate immediately brought fresh cards.
"Add another deck. Rules remain unchanged."
The increased card count doubled the memory challenge.
Amy's red lips curved.
"Let's double the stakes. Two million per flip."
Her voice dripped honey, but her eyes gleamed with venom.
"Mr. Sullivan brought so much cash. What a waste not to spend it."
Ethan Sullivan turned to Sophia Sullivan. "Your thoughts, Ms. Sullivan?"
"Agreed."
Ian Watson hurried to exchange chips.
Sophia leaned close to explain the rules: "It's like Memory Match. You need paired cards..."
Ethan nodded, grasping it instantly.
The game began.
Amy dominated effortlessly.
Her fingers flew across the table, flawlessly matching identical pairs.
Chloe Evans had been clueless earlier.
The previous round wasn't her money—she hadn't even tried memorizing.
But now, Amy whispered guidance: "Flip those two in the upper right."
Chloe obeyed.
She racked up consecutive wins.
Sophia and Ethan, however, repeatedly missed matches.
Round after round yielded nothing.
Sophia studied the table intently.
Amy's fingertips brushed each card with deliberate subtlety.
Her eyes darkened.
The cards were marked.
With doubled stakes and four players, the pot swelled rapidly.
Yet Sophia and Ethan remained unfazed.
As if tossing away paper, not fortunes.
Ian was the most agitated.
"Keep losing like this, and tomorrow's headlines will explode."
His shirt clung to his sweat-drenched back.
Most spectators grinned openly.
They'd bet against Sophia.
"Amy's unstoppable!"
"What's wrong with Crimson Serpent? My heart's pounding."
"Tch. With Ethan Sullivan backing her, why fear losses?"
"Chloe's so lucky—winning without effort."
...
Amy braced her hands on the table, laughing arrogantly.
"Winning constantly is boring."
Her manicured nails tapped the surface.
"Let's raise the stakes. Money alone is dull."
Her tone turned saccharine: "For example, Crimson Serpent... Your eyes are exquisite. I adore them."
The gamble escalated instantly.
Chloe blinked innocently.
"Isn't that unfair? As a perfumer, her hands matter more than eyes. If she loses, how will she work?"
Life-or-death bets demanded the most precious wagers.
Eyes were trivial.
Chloe knew—Sophia's hands were her livelihood.
Amy clapped delightedly.
"True. Hands are far more valuable."
The room erupted.
Who could've guessed such cruelty lurked beneath Chloe's gentle facade?
Liam Winston froze completely.
He stared at Chloe, disbelieving.
That smile remained familiar.
Yet now, it chilled him to the bone.
...This wasn't right.
Chloe was kindness incarnate. How could she say this?
Had she always been this person?
No.
Perhaps just a careless remark.
Liam's chest constricted, breath vanishing.
As if truly seeing her for the first time.