3

Selene’s POV

“So?” the dealer asked, his voice slicing through the tension. “Call, raise, or fold?”

I had already raised. The move had cornered her—if she folded now, I’d take the win. But if she called or raised, we’d go to a showdown.

My earlier expressions had been carefully chosen—a frown here, a sigh there. Just enough to keep her guessing. To make her and Thorne both wonder: Was I bluffing? Or had I pulled the impossible?

Even Thorne couldn’t read me. And Elara—she hadn’t yet learned how to read anything but the cards.

She glanced toward him. He gave her the smallest nod. She turned back to me, lips curving into that mock-sweet smile. “Raise. Two hundred million.”

So Thorne really did think I was bluffing.

I exhaled slowly, then gestured toward the dealer. “Showdown.”

Elara’s grin widened. “Let me go first.”

She laid her cards on the table with a flourish—hearts, nine through king. A flush. Almost a royal flush. Almost.

No wonder she was smug.

She leaned back, smugly sipping from her champagne glass. “How about I give you one last chance, Selene. Fold now. Spare yourself the embarrassment.”

There was laughter in her eyes. Pity, even. “You did help me once,” she added. “Introduced me to Mr. Alden when I needed a job.”

Thorne interjected smoothly, “No need to thank me. You earned that job. You’re smart. Capable.”

Behind them, women whispered loud enough for the room to hear.

“No wonder Thorne likes her more. Elara’s way softer. Not cold and condescending like that one.”

“Right? Did you see those videos? Girl moved like a damn pornstar. Probably tricked him into marrying her.”

“Bet he thought she was some high-class debutante, but she turned out to be just another whore.”

Elara turned back to me, blinking innocently. “So? What’ll it be, Selene? Show your cards? Or let me help you win the videos back?”

I leaned back, smiling faintly. “I don’t need a stupid bitch to help me.”

The gasps around the room were immediate.

The dealer moved toward me, his gloved hands revealing four of my cards—hearts ten, jack, queen, king.

Matching Elara’s.

The room buzzed.

“What the hell? The same hand?”

“Is this some kind of joke? A tie?”

Even Elara’s face slipped. She glanced at Thorne again, uncertain. “No worries,” he said quickly, too quickly. “We’ll just go another round.”

Then, without a word, I placed the last card on the table.

Hearts ace.

Royal flush.

Silence dropped like a blade.

Elara froze. Thorne’s face darkened.

And the dealer—wide-eyed, stunned—looked between us, then finally announced, “The winner is... Mrs. Alden.”

Thorne’s twisted face was the most entertaining thing I’d seen all night.

He leaned over and whispered something into Elara’s ear. She smiled, slow and smug, before clapping her hands like this was all just charming fun. “Still such a lucky gambler, Selene. But tell me… with your family’s situation, do you even have two hundred million?”

Thorne gestured for a staff member, who came forward carrying a sleek swipe machine.

“Mrs. Alden,” the woman said, syrup-sweet and sharp-edged. “If you’re ready, please swipe your card here. We can begin processing.”

Two hundred million.

I handed her my first card.

A beat passed. Then: “Declined. Mrs. Alden, do you have another one?”

The room broke into laughter.

“Thorne,” someone cackled, “did you forget to give your little wife her allowance this month?”

“She’s betting like a queen and doesn’t even have a dime.”

“If you gamble without money, the rule is simple,” another man jeered. “You sell yourself.”

“For two hundred million? I wouldn’t pay a thousand for that bitch. Still too expensive.”

I ignored them. “Try this one,” I said, handing over another card.

The woman barely checked it before shaking her head. “Still declined. Not enough balance. Miss, don’t waste our time.”

Her tone had shifted—sharp, sneering. “Security,” she barked.

A dozen men in black stepped forward. Ready to toss me out like trash.

I looked down at the last card in my wallet. One I hadn’t touched since marrying Thorne. A card I never thought I’d need again.

Quietly, I held it out. “Alright. Try this one.”

She snorted, eyes rolling as she swiped it. “Security—”

Ding.

“Thank you for your payment.”

The entire room fell silent.

Thorne’s head snapped toward the screen. His jaw clenched. “What the fuck?!”

“Wait—what?”

“That went through?!”

“She just paid two hundred million?!”

“Didn’t Thorne say she was broke?”

“Is that—holy shit—is that a central bank black card?”

“That’s an executive-level card. There are only, what, ten in circulation?”

“Who is she?”

Even the payment staff looked stunned, blinking at the machine like it had glitched. “No error,” she whispered. “It’s real. She paid.”

I smiled, finally turning to face them all.