Chapter 1

Shane Norris stood there looking smug, like he was certain he was going to win.

With a lazy smirk, he said, "Lucas, you don't look like someone who knows how to play. Let's keep it simple then—high-low."

As he spoke, he shot a look at the others around the room and raised his voice.

"But just betting money is boring. How about the loser has to bark like a dog in front of everyone? Sounds exciting, right?"

The room erupted in laughter, and countless pairs of eyes turned to me, waiting for a show.

One classmate I knew somewhat well leaned in and whispered, "Lucas, don't be rash. Shane learned his dice skills from Hillary herself, and she's placed in international competitions. Playing against him is basically suicide."

Naturally, I hadn't forgotten that fact.

My wife, Hillary Sheffer, could make dice dance like magic in her hands. So, the several million dollars she'd just lost to Shane had to have been somewhat deliberate.

Frowning, Hillary walked over and reached for my arm. "Why are you even gambling? You don't know anything about this. Get up. We're going home."

I took a step back, avoiding her hand.

"What? Afraid your old flame won't be able to beat me? You won't even let me give it a go?"

She instantly bristled, like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on. "What nonsense are you on about, Lucas Murray? Shane and I are completely innocent! If there really was anything going on between us, why would I have even married you? I only think of him as a younger brother!"

I let out a self-mocking laugh.

It was the same old line again. Every single time.

Yet in the three years that we'd been married, during every holiday, she'd always find all kinds of excuses to fly abroad so she could be with Shane.

Even on my birthday, she'd abandoned me and a whole table of food without a second thought just because Shane had called her drunk.

Even on our wedding night—because she'd heard that Shane was crying—she'd left me behind, alone in an empty room.

If things between them were truly innocent, she wouldn't have put him first in everything.

Under the crowd's amused, eager gazes, my anger and humiliation grew a hundred times over.

Shane pulled Hillary over in one quick motion and sat her down directly on his lap. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he chuckled, playing the peacemaker.

"Alright. Lucas is a newbie. I'll go easy on him. We'll just do best of three. I'm not the type to bully people."

Then, he leaned down and kissed Hillary on the cheek, his tone suggestive. "I'm so nice, right, Hil? You'll have to give me a little reward tonight."

A blush spread across her cheeks. She gave him a playful shove, but she didn't get off his lap. "What kind of reward? A hot-and-cold special?"

The men around us howled knowingly.

Instantly, the blood drained from my face.

Shane lifted his chin high, looking even more smug.

"Lucas, betting without stakes isn't fun. What do you have to wager? If you've got nothing to bet on, we can't start."