"Not going to lose?"
When Charlotte said that, Rena just smirked and twirled her freshly manicured nails, wearing that smug, queen-of-the-room look everyone recognized.
So arrogant.
Rena had always been on top. Whatever she wanted, she got. If she couldn’t get it, she’d take it. If she couldn’t take it, she’d ruin it. It was either hers, or nobody’s. That was Rena’s way.
“Let me teach you what it means to lose,” she said, her eyes filled with disdain. She lifted her chin, her voice sharp and commanding. “Show the cards.”
“Yes, Rena.” The dealer nodded and started turning over Rena’s cards, one by one.
First card: King. Thirteen points.
Rena shot Charlotte a daring little grin from across the table. King was the highest card in the deck, aside from the jokers.
Charlotte just leaned her chin on her hand and gave the card a lazy glance, her face unreadable. “Go ahead,” she said quietly.
The dealer revealed Charlotte’s first card: seven.
Adonis and the others sitting nearby looked a little stunned, but their faces stayed neutral. If Charlotte wasn’t worried, maybe there was nothing to worry about.
Rena, though, started to laugh. She played at being generous. “If you admit defeat now, I won’t take your money. I’ll just ask for your… terms.”
Seven against thirteen. The difference was obvious.
Rena knew what both hands were worth. There were four kings in the deck, and she held three of them. That was thirty-nine points. Unless Charlotte had a joker, Rena basically couldn’t be beaten.
But Rena had already told the dealer to remove the jokers before they even started.
Charlotte had no chance. Anyone smart would know to back down.
“And what if I don’t?” Charlotte looked up at her, an edge of wildness in her cool, perfect features.

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