Chapter 226
Chapter 226:
“If you insist on playing,” he said smoothly, “we’ll begin a new game. Just small bets, for now. I can walk you through the rules. Otherwise…” His eyes drifted down to Phillip, still collapsed beside the table. “You may end up like the one at your feet.”
He flicked a hand toward one of his men. “Take Mr. Kirk away. Tell his family to bring the money. If they refuse…” His voice turned razor-sharp. “We’ll cut off his hands.”
“No, don’t!” Phillip cried out, struggling against their grip. Panic overtook him. “I’m a professional racer, I need my hands! Please! Let me go! I can still win!”
At that moment, Rylie reached out with deliberate calm and seized Phillip’s arm, her voice low and unhurried.
“Why all this noise? Why not raise the stakes? Let’s double down, make this a thirty-million-dollar game.”
Her words dropped like a stone in water, drawing stillness, then a sharp ripple of disbelief.
The room erupted in gasps, laughter, and murmurs. “Is she insane? Doubling fifteen million?”
“She looks barely out of school. Does she even know the rules?”
“Tsk. Just another spoiled heiress, burning through her family’s fortune.”
From across the room, a middle-aged man in a loud floral shirt leaned back in his seat, puffing on a thick cigar. A smirk curled on his lips as he sneered.
“Girl, this isn’t some sandbox. Silver Snake walked away with fifty million in Aclogow just last month. Your fifteen million won’t even cause a ripple.”
A sharp female voice rang out from the corner, laced with disdain. “What’s with the bravado? Don’t come crying when you lose everything!”
Laughter rippled through Silver Snake’s entourage. “Boss,” one of his subordinates jeered, “she must be smitten with you, coming all this way just to hand you her fortune.”
Silver Snake gave a lazy squint, his fingers drumming against the neat stack of chips before him. “Miss,” he drawled, “let me offer you some advice. Why don’t we step into a private room? I’ll teach you the rules… thoroughly.” His tongue flicked across his lips, the gesture laced with suggestion.
𝕸𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝖚𝖕𝖉𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖘 𝖎𝖓 𝖌𝖆𝖑𝖓𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖑𝖘.𝖈𝖔𝖒
Rylie didn’t so much as glance his way. Her slender fingers toyed with a gold chip, sending it spinning through the air in flawless, gleaming arcs.
“What was that?” Her crimson lips curved into a faint smile. “Is the famous Silver Snake afraid of me? Or why don’t you dare to start this game?”
The casino manager leaned close, whispering just behind her shoulder, “Miss, Silver Snake is no ordinary player. He’s a professional gambler of global repute. Last year in Phull—”
“I know,” Rylie cut in smoothly, her tone as light as a breeze but sharp as glass. “But these sleight-of-hand tricks? Frankly, they’re elementary. Only someone as witless as Phillip wouldn’t spot them.” The entire casino fell into stunned silence.
Silver Snake’s expression turned thunderous. With a sudden crash, he slammed his palm against the table. “What nonsense are you spewing?”
Unbothered, Rylie took a slow sip of her drink, her eyes never leaving his. “So?” she said coolly. “Are we playing, or are you backing out?”
A murmur rose like a wave from the crowd.