These two... they had been unexplored for a lil' too long don't you think? I won't linger though... need to keep moving.
She looked radiant. His eyes took in everything about her. She was wearing a lilac dress that brought out the colour of her eyes. Those eyes shone with easy confidence and joy. How long had it been since he had seen her like that in the flesh? How had he not realised when that faded? It felt like every time he saw her. He was realising the good that had been sucked out of her and he had failed to notice. It felt like every time he laid his eyes on her, he questioned everything about their marriage.He had thought he had been providing for her… Why did he feel like he was the one who had been wrong in the marriage when she had been the one to step out? Even now, he felt like it was his fault she had gotten close with Felix. He should have tried harder to explain to her that his brother was not a grand influence. He should have done more to keep his brother away from his wife. But it was too late.He had just got the message from his lawyer that the divorce hearing date was set. Adrea w
Adrea had made it far enough that, as a newcomer to the international games, and having made it this far in the games, the poker channel back home wanted to get an interview with her. Sofia had not been interested in spectating on the interview.“An interview?” she had asked, “I’d rather drown in my own boredom. I’m going to the beach. You three can be famous without me.”With that, she’d waved at them with a mischievous smile and walked off to towards the beach. Aris had called after her that they would meet her on the yacht. She had waved over her shoulder and her brother had shaken his head at her retreating form.The interview had been set up in one of the hotel’s upper rooms, with a window overlooking the endless blue of the sea. Cameras and lights had been arranged neatly, and as the door opened, Adrea found herself greeted by a familiar figure.Chichie. The young woman jumped up from her seat, all bright eyes and open warmth.“Adrea! And Sanne, Moreau—look at you three, still s
The cards had been dealt, and the table was silent except for the faint hum of the audience beyond the cameras. Adrea could feel the tension pressing against her skin. Her fingers toyed with her chips. Her eyes were locked on the pot even as she considered her pocket cards. A pair of Aces. The strongest starting hand. Her pulse quickened, but she forced her face into composure. This was not the time to get carried away.Sanne and the rest of the table had already folded early, leaving the tension squarely between Adrea and Moreau. The man’s expression was, as always, unreadable. That cool, faintly disinterested mask of his made her itch.The dealer laid out the flop: Ten of Diamonds, Seven of Clubs, and Four of Spades.Not terrible. Her Aces were still sitting strong. She met Moreau’s gaze across the table. Nothing. Just that faint arch of his brow as though this were all routine.The next card turned: a four of hearts.Adrea narrowed her eyes. Three of a kind was possible now, but un
The main floor blazed with light. Giant screens hung from every corner of the hall, magnifying players’ faces, the shuffle of cards, and the rise and fall of chips. Cameras hovered overhead like watchful hawks, and there was a constant low hum of voices—spectators, commentators, dealers, and staff moving in synchronised rhythm.Adrea inhaled the charged atmosphere and felt the familiar spark flare in her chest. This was her element.Sanne waved her over, her blonde hair gleaming under the lights, and Moreau gave his small, composed nod of greeting.“You’re at the main table,” Sanne announced with the grin of someone who already knew the reaction she’d get.Adrea blinked, the words taking a beat to sink in.“Wait… the main table? With you?”Sanne’s grin widened. “Yes. And with Moreau, too. It’s the perfect line-up. We’ll be stuck together today. I’ll try not to knock you two out.”“You wish you could,” Moreau muttered even as Adrea who’d not heard the last statement said, “That’s incre
The world was still wrapped in twilight when Adrea stirred awake. The soft sway of the yacht lulled against her senses, reminding her where she was before her eyes even opened. She blinked into the dimness of the cabin, the faintest trace of silver light creeping around the edges of the curtains. It was far too early to be awake, yet sleep refused to return once she had surfaced.Quietly, she slipped from the berth. She didn’t want to wake Aris, or Sofia. Her bare feet padded softly against the polished wood as she climbed the short flight of stairs to the deck.The air met her instantly, cool and sharp with salt. The sea lay spread before her in endless velvet darkness, touched here and there with glimmers of moonlight. The horizon was only just beginning to pale.She wasn’t alone.Sofia was perched on one of the cushioned benches, her dark hair spilling loose around her shoulders, catching threads of silver in the dim light. She had drawn her knees up to her chest, one hand wrapped
The sea was a dark stretch of velvet beneath the stars, the yacht’s deck glowing in soft pools of lamplight. The three of them had settled into the cushioned seating after dinner, champagne glasses glinting between them. Sofia had stretched out, barefoot and smug, while Aris leaned back in his chair with the heavy sigh of a man regretting a decision he had never actually made.“You’re enjoying this far too much,” Aris muttered, glancing at his sister sprawled like she owned the yacht.“Of course I am,” Sofia replied sweetly, popping a grape into her mouth.“Do you know how many years I begged you to let me on one of these boats?” she asked him as she stretched in her seat, “And now, not only am I finally here, but I get the added bonus of you sulking like a storm cloud.”Adrea bit back a smile, covering her mouth with her hand. “She does have a point, Aris.”He turned his head to her with exaggerated betrayal. “You’re taking her side already?”“Obviously,” Adrea said, laughing outright