Chapter 3

My eyes burned as my tears threatened to fall.

I had tolerated the many times he sided with Wanda but still didn't expect such humiliation.

Brandon's eyes flashed in annoyance, but he decided he had gone too far to back off.

Even Martin sensed the conflict brewing. "Come on, Wanda. It's just a bracelet—I'll buy you two later, okay?"

Wanda, however, scowled. "We agreed before we started. A bet's a bet."

Brandon chuckled coolly too. "I told you to go home, but you insisted on playing. Now, hand it over."

My fingers were trembling, but I fought back my tears and took off my bracelet.

Brandon didn't look at it twice as he took it and threw it at Wanda.

She then held it against the light and pouted after a brief glance. "Ugh. Junk."

She dropped it nonchalantly on the table, and that was when she accidentally knocked over the glass beside her, spilling red wine all over the bracelet.

I rushed over to pick it up, but I moved too quickly and struck the table with my fingers.

Wanda smiled at me, scoffing, "Sorry, Angie. Butterfingers."

At the same time, she pulled out some tissues and wiped it haphazardly, while wine kept trickling off the chain.

Brandon frowned. "Just leave it aside if it's filthy. Don't be a buzzkill."

I was clenching my knuckles before I knew it, feeling a weight in my chest.

Soon, Wanda was pressing again, "Let's keep going! Why is everyone spacing out?"

I rolled a seven on the third round—neither here nor there.

Wanda got nine, while Brandon got two ones—the lowest possible combination.

"Such terrible luck, darling," Wanda snickered.

Brandon ignored her, picking up his glass to drink.

However, Wanda grabbed his hand and drank it whole before he could.

Brandon pursed his lips. "Come on, don't chug it like that. It'll damage your liver."

Wanda winked at him flirtatiously. "Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry, we are still going to consummate tonight."

I watched as they held hands so comfortably, remembering how Brandon was always scowling and turning down clients who were encouraging me to drink at parties.

He would insist that I had a bad stomach, and that anyone who made me drink was an enemy.

And now, it was the same thing for Wanda, and he protected her like he used to protect me, while not sparing me a glance.

I listened as everyone cheered, my emotions numb.

Over the next few rounds, I skirted the edge of danger, drinking repeatedly while losing the rest of the jewelry I had to Wanda—and even the bag I had just bought.

I paused as I put the bag on the table, remembering that I had bought it while shopping with Brandon, as he said it suited me best.

Nonetheless, Wanda took it with a smile and waved it in Brandon's face. "You won't get upset if I take this, right?"

Brandon spared it a brief glance and shook his head. "Nope."

Meanwhile, my cheeks were flushed and my gaze distant, while my hands seemed unsteady as I held my dice.

To everyone else, it was a sign of gambler's high.

After another round, Martin announced a new rule. "Come on, guys—highs and lows is getting boring! How about betting on points? Bet big if you think you can roll higher than eight, and we are raising the stakes. These little bets are really a bore!"

"Alright!" Wanda promptly agreed. "I'll bet on my West End boutique!"

She owned plenty of businesses, but that boutique in the West End was one of the more lucrative ones.

Naturally, the others were thrilled to see the stakes were being raised.

Brandon eyed me, and then said quietly, "Call. I'll bet my yacht, the Brangela."

The yacht was worth millions, but most importantly, it was a portmanteau of my name with Brandon's.

As the pressure on me mounted, everyone watched me, while Brandon finally spoke, "This has gone far enough, Angie. You can go home now."

Wanda promptly giggled, "Come on, Brandon—don't be such a coward. Angie's lucky streak might just be starting!"

I jerked my eyes toward her as if provoked. "Call! I'll bet… My Shallow Bay apartment!"