Chapter 2

2.

The dealer shuffled the deck and began dealing the cards.

It was a simple game: three cards each, highest hand wins in a single showdown.

Silas was the first to flip his cards over, and a wave of shock rippled through the room.

His hand was terrible―a five, an eight, and a nine.

Everyone in the gallery assumed he was guaranteed to lose.

A wave of relief washed over me, and my clenched fists relaxed slightly.

Pierce traveled to Miami often on business and practically ran these underground gambling dens. He once told me, "Whenever you want to play, I promise you'll always win. Your uncle owns this place."

I thought he had instructed the dealer to rig Silas's hand with junk cards on purpose.

A desperate spark ignited in my chest, making me believe he still couldn't bear to give me away.

Right then, Pierce let out a soft chuckle as he picked up his cards.

With a subtle flick of his wrist, he swapped one of the cards in a split second.

Nobody in the room noticed his sleight of hand, except for me.

He used to play cards with me using that exact same trick, beating me every single round until I burst into tears.

After seeing me cry, he had gently held my hand and taught me how the cheat worked.

Pierce casually flipped his cards onto the green felt: a four, a seven, and an eight.

Gasps echoed through the room.

"It's just barely lower than Mr. Kensington's hand!"

"You don't get it. Everyone knows Pierce is a master card shark. He lost on purpose to butter up the Kensington heir."

"Mr. Kensington, you win," Pierce announced calmly.

He pushed Bianca off his lap, stood up, and dragged me forcefully in front of Silas.

"A bet is a bet. My lovely little niece belongs to you now."

My entire body went rigid, rage and agony clawing at my throat.

Pierce and Silas had been bitter rivals in the underground syndicate for years.

They despised one another, and being handed over to Pierce's enemy meant my life would become a living hell.

Tears broke through my defenses and rolled down my cheeks.

"You lied to bring me to Miami just to give me away like an object?"

I stared at Pierce, searching for any flicker of remorse in his eyes, but found only cold indifference.

He reached out, ruffling my hair with condescending pity. "Cora, I'm doing this for your own good. Your father is dead, and I need to find you a capable man."

The tears dripped off my chin and hit the floor, my heart wrenching violently.

"You just want to watch me suffer."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

He was the one who had come to my room and promised to marry me.

He was the one who bought a penthouse and kept me living under his roof for ten long years.

For a decade, we had shared every sunrise and sunset in tender intimacy.

Pierce's expression darkened with irritation, but before he could snap, Silas's deep voice cut through the tension. "It seems your niece isn't quite willing to come with me."

"Send her to my estate whenever she comes to her senses."

Without another word, Silas adjusted his tailored suit jacket and walked out of the VIP suite.