Chapter 2

Chloe looked positively smug, the challenge in her eyes growing even more obvious as she met my gaze. "So, are we still playing, Ms. Nolan?"

Noah fanned the flames from the sidelines. "Come on, let's keep going. It'd be such a waste to stop now. I've already lost quite a bit. At least give me a chance to win it back..."

Zachary said nothing. He simply watched me, waiting for my reaction.

I smiled, my voice calm and steady. "Of course we're playing. That last hand was just the warm-up."

I straightened in my chair. "Let's continue."

Chloe blinked in surprise before breaking into a grin. "Sure. So what are we betting this time?"

Her gaze swept over me before settling on the diamond necklace around my neck. It was the birthday gift Zachary had given me last year.

She pointed at it. "I want that."

The corner of my lips curved into a faint smile as I unclasped the necklace.

The diamonds caught the light, scattering brilliant flashes across the room. The necklace was worth three times as much as the bracelet.

Chloe's eyes widened, and she let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.

Around us, my coworkers covered their mouths and whispered among themselves.

"Isn't this a little too much? She's obviously picking on Ms. Nolan."

"Exactly. Chloe's doing this on purpose. Could those rumors really be true? She and the boss..."

The sentence trailed off, but everyone understood exactly what was left unsaid.

Zachary turned and shot the gossiping employees a cold glare.

The room fell silent at once.

Beneath the table, my hand slowly curled into a fist. So it was true. While I'd been pregnant, Zachary had been having an affair.

Seeing that I remained expressionless, Zachary cleared his throat. "Maybe we should forget it. We can just bet smaller amounts."

"No!" Chloe and I spoke at the exact same time.

Zachary looked at me in surprise. "You really want to keep playing?"

I looked up and smiled calmly. "What? Are you worried I'll lose... or worried she'll lose?"

He studied me for a few seconds. A complicated expression crossed his face before he finally nodded. "Suit yourself."

I gathered up my cards. "Let's begin."

This hand, I played even more carefully than before.

Whenever I built a strong hand, I deliberately held back instead of making my move.

I watched Zachary and Noah.

Soon, I noticed something.

Every time before I drew a card, Zachary made a subtle movement with his fingers. Chloe seemed to understand the signal and adjusted her play accordingly. Noah was helping too. He folded the moment that Chloe needed him too.

The three of them were working together to rig the game, and I was the only one paying the price.

The baby's voice echoed in my mind. 'Mommy, that administrator behind you is acting suspicious.'

Tilting my head slightly, I glanced behind me out of the corner of my eye.

Emily Johnson, a junior HR administrator and Chloe's best friend, stood diagonally behind me. She craned her neck, staring directly at my cards.

So that was it. It was no wonder Chloe always managed to avoid my winning hands and somehow stayed one step ahead every time.

I suddenly spoke. "Emily, could you make everyone a fresh pot of coffee?"

Emily jumped, clearly caught off guard.

I smiled at her gently. "You've been standing there for quite a while. You must be tired."

Her face flushed with embarrassment. She glanced at Chloe before lowering her head and walking to the refreshment table to make coffee.

The game continued.

Without her lookout, Chloe started to panic. She kept glancing at Zachary and Noah.

The hand dragged on.

Finally, it was Zachary's turn to draw.

He picked up a card, and his fingers hesitated for the briefest moment. It was a nine.

"I win!"

"No, I win!"

Chloe and I spoke at the same time.

Her hand ranked higher. Under the house rules, the stronger hand took precedence.

Chloe laid down her cards with a triumphant smile. She had an exceptionally powerful winning hand.

"Sorry, Ms. Nolan." Her smile shone with satisfaction. "I win again."

She took my diamond necklace, fastened it around her own neck, and immediately pulled out her phone to take selfies.

A few people chuckled.

Noah was the first to laugh. "Looks like Ms. Nolan's luck has run out today. Maybe pregnancy's affecting her game.

"Everyone kept saying the company's success came from Ms. Nolan's lucky pregnancy. Looks like the real lucky charm is someone else.

"If you ask me, Chloe's the one with all the luck. Maybe she's the company's real lucky charm."

Zachary looked at me. Triumph gleamed in his eyes, along with something else: arrogance.

"A bet's a bet, Claire. You should keep your word."

I kept my expression calm, burying every ounce of anger deep inside.

The baby's voice came again. 'Mommy, don't panic. They're provoking you. They want you to lose your temper. They want you to start making reckless bets. Don't worry. I'm here.'

I took a slow, deep breath, rested a gentle hand over my belly, and murmured, "Baby, Mommy believes in you."