Chapter 0058
Agnes
The casino lights pulsed around me, an endless blur of color and sound, but all I could focus on was the knot of tension coiled in my chest. My encounter with Olivia and Noah left me feeling trapped, an unwilling player caught in the crossfire of their games.
I glanced at Elijah, leaning confidently against the poker table, his gaze steady as he scanned the room. He looked unshakeable, like he had everything under control. I envied that confidence.
Sensing my hesitation, Elijah’s hand brushed mine.
“How about a game?” he asked, gesturing to the poker table. “Something to lighten the mood?”
I blushed. “Elijah, I don’t know anything about poker,” I said, surprised by his suggestion.
“Who cares?” he said. “You’ll pick it up. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next card shark.”
A smile tugged at my lips despite myself. But then my gaze shifted to Olivia, lounging nearby with a smug,. knowing look.
Her presence sparked something in me–something fierce and defiant. I was tired of feeling like a background character in my own life, always overshadowed.
“Fine,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “Let’s do this.”
Elijah’s approval was clear in his gaze as I moved to the table, nerves and determination mingling in equal measure. As I sat down, Olivia sauntered over, taking the seat across from me. Her lips curved in a condescending smile.
“Well, this should be interesting,” she said, her voice oozing false sweetness. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Agnes.”
I met her gaze evenly.
“I’ll manage.”
The first round passed in a blur of shaky nerves and rookie mistakes, and Olivia took the lead effortlessly. She gathered her winnings with a smug smile, her satisfaction thinly veiled.
“Don’t worry, darling,” she said, her tone thick with patronizing sympathy. “It’s only a game.”
I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to react. Elijah’s words echoed in my mind–trust yourself, take a risk.
When the second round began, I slowed my breathing, focusing on each move with a new intensity. Poker wasn’t just about cards; it was about reading people.
Olivia’s self–assured confidence was her weapon, but it was also her weakness. She wanted to throw me off balance, but I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction.
As the game progressed, I began to notice subtle tells–the way her fingers tapped against the table when she was bluffing, the slight shift in her expression when she felt uncertain. When I won that round, her smile wavered just enough for me to catch it.
The final round came, the tension thickening as everyone around us sensed the weight of the moment. My pulse quickened as I looked down at my hand. It wasn’t perfect, but it had potential.
I kept my face neutral, hiding any hint of nerves as Olivia tried to read me, her gaze sharp and probing.
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Chapter 0058
The game was slow, each decision deliberate. With every move, I watched her confidence falter, her calm slipping as the pile of chips between us grew. Olivia was no longer untouchable, and I knew I had a real chance.
When it came time for the final bet, I felt Elijah’s gaze steady on me. Trusting my instincts, I pushed all my chips forward, daring Olivia to match me. Her fingers hovered over her own chips, hesitation flickering in her eyes.
In that split second, I knew she had lost.
When the final cards were revealed, a wave of victory crashed over me.
I’d won.
The room seemed to hold its breath, then erupted into applause. Dazed and exhilarated, I stood, turning toward Elijah. Without thinking, I closed the distance between us, pressing my lips to his in a brief, spontaneous kiss.
It wasn’t planned; it was raw, unfiltered emotion, and for that moment, the world around us disappeared.
When I pulled back, reality returned like a cold splash. I caught sight of Olivia, her expression dark with a jealousy that seemed to cut through the applause. But for the first time, I didn’t care.
I wasn’t afraid of her, or anyone else.
Elijah slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.
My heart still racing, I glanced around at the watching crowd, my mind barely processing the victory.
But as the applause subsided, something shifted. Olivia’s face was no longer just envious; there was a glint in her eyes, a barely concealed anger that chilled me.
She turned to Noah, who had been watching from the sidelines, and whispered something in his ear. Whatever she said, it made his eyes flash with interest, a dangerous gleam sparking to life.
They exchanged a glance, and a slow, knowing smile crept across his face.
A prickling sense of foreboding swept over me. I might have won the game tonight, but this wasn’t the end–not by a long shot.
Olivia smiled, her expression now one of cool amusement as she looked back at me.
“Well, Agnes,” she said, her tone saccharine sweet, “enjoy your little victory. But you might find that the stakes in our world get higher the deeper you go.”
As she and Noah turned and walked away, their laughter mingling in the air, a chill settled over me.
Whatever game Olivia was playing, I had a sinking feeling I was only beginning to understand the rules.
Chapter 0059
Chapter 0059
