Raising the Stakes: Cheating the King of Cheats

Michael looked at me and sneered. His gaze seemed to say I was a fool who had gotten cocky and reckless with a good hand.

"Alright. Since you brought it up, go ahead. What stakes do you want to raise?" he asked.

I met his mocking gaze and tapped lightly on the ace of spades in front of me.

"For the new port project at Moria, Shaw Corp holds 5%, while Jackson Group holds 3%.

"I want to bet Jackson Group's 3% against Shaw Corp's 5%. How about it, Mr. Shaw?"

As soon as I finished speaking, the entire lounge erupted.

"Nancy has lost her mind! That's the new port and a strategic project! The Shaws, Jackson, and several other major families have spent a lot of money fighting over for years. And she's just betting it away like that?"

"No wonder Mr. Shaw doesn't want to marry her. How is there such an idiot in the Jackson family?"

Someone clicked their tongue. "Mr. Jackson Senior built this business with his life, but Nancy is betting it away like it's nothing. If I were him, I'd claw my way out of the grave and strangle her."

Michael clapped his hands, the crisp sound silencing the noisy crowd.

"Alright! Fine! Since Ms. Jackson is so 'courageous,' how could I refuse? I'll call!"

I nodded in satisfaction and slowly turned to look at Willow.

"Willow, Mr. Shaw has called. Will you?"

Willow bit her lip.

She was a fake heiress, and the Jackson family's fortune had nothing to do with her. Her father, Peter Baker, had married into our family, so what could she possibly bet with? The 30 million dollars in chips was already the most money she had ever seen.

She opened her mouth, then helplessly glanced at Michael for help.

Naturally, Michael didn't want his beloved Willow to suffer, so he immediately said, "Willow, go ahead and speak. Whatever you want to wager, I'll—"

"Be careful, Mr. Shaw!" I raised my tone abruptly, interrupting Michael with a cold stare. "This is a bet between us women. It's best you don't get involved."

After saying this, I looked down and slowly twisted the antique ring on my middle finger—the one that symbolized the Shaw family's fiancee.

I continued, "Don't worry, Willow. As your sister, I know you don't have those kinds of resources. You can't come up with an equal stake."

I paused, then slipped the ring off my finger. With a clack, I tossed it into the chip pool.

"How about this? I'll raise the stakes to include the position of the Shaws' daughter-in-law.

"I want you to bet that you'll publicly admit you aren't the Baker family's adopted daughter at all, let alone an heiress of the Jacksons. You're Peter Baker's illegitimate child, whom he had with the nanny while my mother was pregnant."

Shock rippled through the crowd.

Willow paled. Furious, she slammed the table and shouted at me, "That's nonsense! I'm my father's adopted daughter. You're just jealous that he favors me, so you're spouting nonsense!

"Michael, don't believe her! She's slandering me!"

Everyone in the room knew that what Michael hated most was the label of an "illegitimate child". Years ago, the sudden appearance of a half-brother had forced him to leave home for five years.

Michael nearly died overseas, but a mysterious mentor saved him, allowing him to return to the Shaws and reclaim everything.

Michael's face betrayed nothing. He simply hissed at the furious Willow, "Sit down."

Then he turned to look at me, his eyes carrying a warning. "I will thoroughly look into this matter."

I met Michael's gaze, seemingly unaffected by any pressure. I could even tilt my head and laugh lightly.

"Willow, it's just a bet. Calm down. If you don't dare to bet, you can always fold. Why get so angry and embarrass yourself?"

My casual tone only made Willow angrier.

She immediately snapped back, "Fine! Of course, I dare to bet with you! I'll call!"