Chapter 2

Now it was my turn to get impatient. “What does it matter to you? So, are we playing or not? If you’re not interested, I’m leaving.”

I gathered my things and turned to walk out, but Taylor rushed over and yanked me back toward the house. “Of course, we’re playing! Don’t be mad, Maisie.”

The three of us entered the living room. Josh was sitting on the couch, scrolling on his phone.

“Come on, Maisie. You don’t even know how to play cards. Aren’t you basically just giving me free money?” Taylor smirked.

“Then let’s play something I can play.”

Taylor thought for a moment before saying, “Dice, then. It’s easy. If you’ve got hands, you’re qualified. You at least know how to compare totals, right?”

I nodded. “That works. Let’s start.”

Then, I walked straight to the card table and sat down on the side against the wall.

“Oh, Maisie, you’re challenging Taylor at dice? You’ve already lost. Taylor’s the queen of dice. Even the pros can’t beat her.”

My aunt and uncle stared greedily at my property deed, grins stretching so wide that their faces almost folded.

Taylor rolled the dice cup in her hand, brimming with confidence. “Maisie, this is your last chance to back out. It’s not too late.”

I shook my head. “No. I’m staying. I want to win.”

As I said this, my gaze drifted to Josh.

Taylor noticed and immediately frowned. “This round we’re only betting money, not people.”

I snorted. “Once I take all your money, betting people will probably be your only option, won’t it?”

Taylor burst into laughter. “Such big talk! Let’s begin then!”

The rules were simple: both sides would roll five dice, and whoever had the highest total value would win.

For the warm-up round, one thousand dollars was on the line.

As Taylor and I started shaking our cups, anyone could see that Taylor was way more skilled.

She lifted the cup to her ear, shaking rhythmically with both hands for nearly a full minute before slamming it down.

“Open!”

She lifted the cup, showing a six, three fives, and two twos—twenty-five points in total.

I had three threes, two ones, and a five—sixteen points.

With that, Taylor won the first round.

“Maisie, I’ll be taking the thousand.”

I immediately grabbed my phone and transferred the money to Taylor. It was just a thousand, but Dad winced like it was the end of the world.

“Didn’t you say the first round was just for fun? Why are you collecting money already?” he protested.

Taylor rolled her eyes. “Your daughter volunteered. If you can’t handle it, don’t play.”

“Relax, Dad,” I said. “We’re just getting started.”

“A thousand bucks isn’t even enough for my drinks. I’m only playing this low because we’re related. Normally, I start at ten thousand,” Taylor said.

“I’m getting serious now. Twenty thousand. You in or not?” She lifted her chin at me.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

I said it confidently and started shaking the dice cup again.

However, for the second, third, and fourth rounds, Taylor won.

And the same for the next few rounds, too.

My two hundred thousand dollars was gone in minutes.

My aunt and her family burst out laughing when they saw my empty balance.

“Maisie, I warned you. I’m the queen of dice. Nobody beats me, but you insisted on trying.

“Since we’re family, I’ll kindly accept this two hundred thousand as a lesson fee. Go back to your books. Nerds like you will never beat me at this.”

My aunt nudged my mom with a mocking smile. “I thought your daughter was supposed to be impressive. But look, she can’t even win a simple dice game.

“Is her luck that terrible? You’d better pray harder when you leave the house. Wouldn’t want her getting hit by a car.”

My parents stood there with pale faces, looking completely defeated, unable to say a single word.