Chapter 225
Chapter 225:
Phillip stared at his cards: 7-8-9-10-J, all in the same suit — a straight flush, the strongest hand on the table so far. Unless the man across from him, known as Silver Snake, held the elusive Royal Flush, the win was his.
The woman’s whisper drifted to his ear like a practiced calculation. “Think about it, when was the last time anyone actually pulled a Royal Flush in this place? Odds like that don’t favor caution. This is your opportunity. Win here, and rebuilding your racing team stops being a fantasy; it becomes a strategic comeback.”
Phillip gritted his teeth, his trembling hand pushing forward another towering stack of chips. “All in!”
The man across from him let out a slow chuckle, his voice slick and cold like a serpent’s hiss. “Mr. Kirk, you’re already ten million in debt to this casino. Keep bleeding money like this, and you’ll have to start offering up Kirk Group shares. Though… from what I hear, that company isn’t exactly swimming in liquidity. If not cash, maybe an arm or two would suffice?”
Phillip growled, his jaw clenched tight. “Cut the crap! Are you in or out?”
With a casual flick of the wrist, the man waved. “In.”
Phillip blinked, stunned. He hadn’t expected him to call. His pulse thundered in his ears, the weight of the gamble pressing down like a vice. The man smiled lazily. “Show your cards.”
The dealer reached forward, flipping both hands over with practiced precision, and the outcome sent a collective gasp through the table.
Phillip’s hand was undeniably strong; under normal circumstances, it would’ve sealed the win. But Silver Snake revealed the rare, untouchable Royal Flush. “Royal Flush!” someone gasped. “No way! The odds of that are astronomical!” The crowd erupted in shock, voices overlapping in disbelief. But at the edge of the commotion, Rylie’s lips curled into a smirk, laced with scorn.
He cheated. That was obvious.
Poor Phillip didn’t have a clue. All he knew was that he had just lost over fifteen million dollars, failing to raise a cent for his racing team and wiping out what little remained of the Kirk family’s fortune.
He collapsed into his chair, numb and defeated. As he looked up, his empty gaze locked onto Rylie, who stood out sharply from the crowd, impossible to miss.
“Rylie…” Phillip’s voice cracked, barely more than a whisper.
Rylie approached, her heels clicking softly as she came to a stop in front of him. She looked down, a cool glint in her eyes.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“I must say, this game has a certain charm to it.”
Rylie’s gaze swept the table, sharp and deliberate, before she stepped forward and claimed Phillip’s vacant seat with quiet authority. Without hesitation, she motioned to the attendant standing nearby.
“Chips worth fifteen million,” she said coolly. As the chips were brought over, her fingers began to tap the table in a slow, steady rhythm, her mesmerizing eyes locked onto the man they called Silver Snake.
“Let me join,” she said, her voice calm but edged with challenge.
The casino dealers, each one polished and photogenic, suddenly seemed like background actors beside the woman now at the table. Silver Snake’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. With a subtle tug, he adjusted his suit.