"I want to increase the bet!" the man announced in a bold voice as Nora lost another ga. "It must be three million." he gave a provoking look to Xander.
Though Xander had earned a good amount from Nora, he had lost too. He did not have enough money to participate.
"Alright since this is my last ga for the day. I can go all out." Nora giggled like a young foolish girl making them smirk.
But Xander’s frown grew deeper. When would he get the chance to fool a naive girl agan?
"Wait! I want more loans then." he looked at the manager since the gambling house provides loans to the needy. The man’s face tightened.
"You already have a good amount of loan on you sir. Do you have anything to pledge?" Xander’s eyes twitched. He had already given the shares. What else could he give? His house?
But if he lost?!
"Oh, if you are pawning sothing, I can give you a loan too." Nora raised her head like a student in the school before speaking. The man laughed at her but Xander’s eyes lit up.
"Then I will directly use my house as my deal. How about it?" The n looked at Xander with displeasure. This is ot how it works. But the manager just shrugged as if he was not to decide. "But my condition is only you and I would play. I do not want to play with others."
All of them frowned at once. They were about to raise an objection but Nora nodded readily. As if she was more than happy to follow it.
"Of course, that would work fine. But I want more shares? Do you have them?" the man hesitated. He had stolen his father’s shares but.. Forget it. When he looked at Nora’s naive face, he knew he could buy them again after this ga. After all, whatever she would lose this ti would go in his pocket.
After so hesitation, he brought more shares and placed the papers on the table. Nora’s eyes hardened and turned sharp at once.
"Let the ga start now."
Xander shuffled his cards with an overconfident grin, his mind already racing ahead to the image of Nora’s shocked face when she realized she’d lost everything. He could almost taste the sweet victory.
The first round began. Nora kept her playful giggle and childlike deanor, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the situation. The manager dealt the cards. Xander glanced at his hand: King of Hearts, King of Diamonds, and an Ace of Clubs. His smirk widened.
"Two kings and an ace," he whispered to himself. "Unbeatable."
The first round of betting started. Xander raised without hesitation, his confident aura emanating across the table. The n watching behind him nodded in approval. Nora simply called her expression unreadable.
The flop ca: Ace of Hearts, King of Spades, and Ten of Diamonds.
Xander’s smirk turned into a full grin. A full house. There was no way Nora could beat him now. anwhile, Nora just tilted her head, her fingers tracing patterns on the table.
"Raise," Xander declared boldly, sliding in a hefty stack of chips.
"Oh, Xander, you’re so eager," Nora teased, twirling her hair. "But sure, I’ll match it... and raise you."
The crowd gasped. Nora was no longer just calling his bets; she was escalating. Her deanor hadn’t changed, but her eyes sparkled with sothing sharp, sothing deliberate. Xander narrowed his eyes but quickly dismissed his doubt. She’s bluffing.
The turn card ca: Jack of Hearts.
Xander felt like he had the ga in the bag. With his full house, the only hand that could beat him was a straight flush, and what were the odds of that? Slim to none.
"All in," Xander said, his voice unwavering as he shoved all his remaining chips forward, including the deed to his house and shares.
The crowd roared. The stakes were through the roof. Xander leaned back confidently, staring at Nora.
Nora didn’t hesitate. "Call," she said softly, matching his bet and pushing her stack forward.
The dealer revealed the river card: Queen of Hearts.
The crowd fell silent, their eyes darting between Xander and Nora. The tension was palpable. Xander flipped his cards over with a triumphant flourish.
"Full house! Kings over Aces!" he declared, grinning from ear to ear.
The crowd erupted in cheers, so clapping and others shaking their heads in awe. It was an unbeatable hand—until Nora calmly laid her cards down.
"Straight flush," she announced, her voice like ice.
The table fell dead silent. Her hand was perfect: Nine of Hearts, Ten of Hearts, Jack of Hearts, Queen of Hearts, and King of Hearts.
Xander’s face went white. He stared at the cards, his lips trembling. "No... that’s not possible..." he whispered.
"Oh, it is," Nora said, her earlier naivety gone, replaced by a sharp, calculating smile. "You see, luck favors the bold, doesn’t it?"
The manager confird her win with a nod. The crowd erupted again, but this ti in shock and amazent. Nora leaned forward, her voice dropping low enough for Xander alone to hear.
"Thank you for the shares, the house, and the entertainnt. Better luck next ti."
As she stood up, the crowd parted to let her through. Xander sat frozen in place, staring at the table, his life’s assets now in her hands. He had fallen for her act, hook, line, and sinker.
Alric could not help but stare at the man again. Xander, was it? His eyes were flickering dark with a gaze of predator as he wrapped his arms around Nora. Nora could feel his heated gaze on her. She knew he would be suspicious of her after the ga. There is no need to drag it. So, she turned to face him and paused.
"Go on, ask, what is in your mind?" Alric titled his head and laughed.
"Then I will not stand on courtesy. How did you know that he was going to gamble shares tonight? You even know the timing and table. It did not look like a planned action to . If you have not edged him, perhaps he had not betted shares at all."
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