Chapter 4

The game paused.

Everyone crowded around Chloe, showering her with compliments while she smiled from ear to ear.

Off to the side, Zachary took a phone call with a satisfied smile on his face, as though everything had gone exactly as he'd planned.

Noah walked over to me with an expression of feigned concern. "Ms. Nolan, why don't we just call it here?"

I ignored him. "We're not done."

My voice carried across the room, and the chatter died instantly.

Chloe turned to me, confusion written all over her face. "You still want to play?"

She waved the signed agreement in her hand. "What else do you even have left to bet?"

I sat down and slowly swept my gaze around the room. "All in. I'm betting every share I own, my personal trust fund, and half of my personal assets."

The room fell silent. Everyone seemed to think I'd completely lost my mind.

Zachary ended his call and hurried over.

"Claire, enough!" He lowered his voice, anger flashing in his eyes.

I knew he wasn't angry because I'd been losing. He was angry because I refused to give up. Because I was making a scene. Because I was no longer the graceful wife he expected me to be.

I glanced at him before looking back at Chloe. "Didn't you want to play? I'll play with you until the very end."

Hesitation flickered across Chloe's face, but unmistakable excitement and ambition lurked beneath it. "I... I don't have that much money."

"You can borrow it," I answered for her. "Borrow it from your Mr. Bush."

Zachary narrowed his eyes, clearly weighing the situation. "Are you sure? If you lose, there won't be a place for you in this family anymore."

He knew exactly how much money sat in my personal trust fund. It was my separate property, and he'd had his eye on it for a long time.

"I'm sure." There wasn't the slightest hesitation in my voice.

Noah quickly tried to persuade me. "Ms. Nolan, don't let your emotions get the better of you. You're pregnant. Don't get so worked up."

The other employees joined in.

"Come on, it's all just for fun."

Just for fun—what a wonderful phrase. It could disguise every cruel intention.

Chloe turned to Zachary. "Mr. Bush, can I borrow the money?"

She deliberately put on an uneasy expression.

Zachary remained silent for a few seconds before smiling.

"Of course." He rested a hand on my shoulder, his voice as gentle as it had been years ago. "Don't worry. If you lose, I'll take care of you. You can stay home, focus on your pregnancy, raise our baby, and leave the company to me."

His words sounded thoughtful, but every sentence drove straight through my heart. His intentions couldn't have been clearer. He wanted me out of the company so he and Chloe could take complete control.

I let out a cold laugh and turned to Daniel. "Please bring in a notary public and prepare a new agreement. We'll sign it immediately. This is a one-on-one wager. No one else is allowed to participate."

Zachary and Chloe frowned at the same time. The stakes had suddenly become much higher.

I let out a quiet scoff. "What? Without Mr. Bush and Noah helping you throw the game, are you scared now?"

Chloe's face flushed bright red. She pouted defiantly. "Why would I be scared? I won fair and square before."

Smiling, I tapped the agreement and tossed the pen to her.

Zachary pressed his lips together, deep in thought.

A moment later, he signed as the guarantor.

Daniel collected the documents. Then he and the notary set up cameras around the room to ensure the entire game would be recorded and witnessed impartially.

Everyone except Chloe and me stepped away from the poker table, staying at least 15 feet back.

The deck had been shuffled and reset.

Chloe sat across from me. Without Zachary and Noah helping her, she looked noticeably more nervous.

"Let's begin."

The game began.

This time, I kept my cards face down on the table, revealing nothing until each hand was over. Even if someone tried to peek, they wouldn't learn anything about my hand.

Chloe grew even more anxious. She had become accustomed to reading my cards. Now she couldn't.

Out of the corner of her eye, she kept glancing toward Zachary in the distance. His fingers moved subtly, as though he were still trying to signal her. Even he seemed hesitant now.

It was my turn to draw.

The moment my fingers touched the card, my heart skipped a beat. This was the card I'd been waiting for.

I picked it up without looking at it.

Then I raised my head and smiled at Chloe. "Chloe, do you know why Zachary's helping you?"

She froze, confusion and unease filling her eyes.

"It's not because you're young or beautiful. It's because you're naive."

Her face turned deathly pale. "What are you talking about? Stop wasting time and play!"

The corners of my lips curled into a smile. "Whether I'm telling the truth... you'll find out soon enough."

A crisp snap echoed through the room as I turned over the card in my hand.