One Hand Ruined, One Throne Taken

The crowd cheered, eager for the spectacle to unfold.

"Play with her, Ms. Conti! Make her lose and shut her mouth!"

"Exactly! This is your territory. What's there to be afraid of?"

Liliana's face flushed, then drained of color. She snorted coldly and responded, "Fine! I'll play with you. However…"

Her voice turned vicious when she continued, "If you lose, you won't just lose your hand. I'll make sure you disappear into the black market. I'll make your life a living hell!"

I ignored her threats and turned to the dealer standing nearby. "I'll shuffle."

The dealer glanced at Liliana. Only after receiving her tacit approval did he hand me the cards.

Liliana folded her arms. A smirk of contempt spread across her face as she waited.

I knew how tricks usually played out in a casino.

If the dealer pulled even the slightest trick while dealing, I'd lose for sure. However, my father had always said my hands were made for the cards.

The cards danced through my fingers as I cut, stacked, and flicked them with ease.

Everyone stared, stunned.

Even Liliana's expression changed. She hadn't expected a seemingly ordinary rookie to possess this level of skill.

At the end of the shuffle, I flicked my thumb lightly.

The top card spun through the air and landed squarely in the center of the table.

It was an ace.

Then I flicked out the second card the same way, placing it on top of the first.

I finished and slid the remaining deck back to the dealer. "Deal."

Liliana's expression shifted.

I had cut off every possible angle for them to play dirty.

As the hand progressed, her face grew paler. Sweat beaded on her forehead.

When it was my turn to draw a third card, I didn't even bother looking at my hand. Instead, I smiled at her and said, "You busted."

Her hand totaled 22. She went bust.

My hand totaled 21.

"No! Impossible!" Liliana's face turned paper white. She suddenly shrieked and flipped the table over.

She pointed at me and yelled, "She cheated! She must've cheated! Grab her! Beat her to death!"

Four bodyguards rushed at me.

I grabbed an empty bottle from the table and smashed it on the nearest bodyguard's head.

The sound cracked through the air.

Seeing that, the other bodyguards froze.

Right then, the doors of the casino burst open.

Cesar strode in wearing a black suit, followed by more than a dozen armed enforcers.

I had to admit, he was exactly my type.

The moment Liliana saw him, she burst into tears and threw herself into his arms. "Mr. Romano! You're finally here! This woman came to stir up chaos. She cheated and even injured our people!"

Cesar's gaze fell on me.

I straightened up and met his eyes. "Cesar, I'm Victoria Corsini, your fiancee."

I thought those words would be enough for him to grasp the situation.

However, he sized me up and said, "Who are you to impersonate someone from the Corsini family? Victoria is well protected. She's graceful and refined, not a lowly dealer slumming it in a casino."

To appease Liliana, he ordered me with contempt, "Since you're not without looks, kneel and beg Liliana for forgiveness. After that, stay here and work as a hostess."

I looked at him and announced, "The engagement is canceled. Cesar, trash like you isn't fit to marry into the Corsini family."