The Heiress's Wager Chapter 2

Leo picked up the deck, acting as the makeshift dealer. He looked uncomfortable, his eyes darting between Julian and me.

"Alright, ante up. Let's go."

He dealt the hole cards.

Julian didn't even look at his hand. He leaned back, one hand still resting on Sienna’s bare thigh, the other lazily pushing chips forward. "Raise."

Sienna giggled and called, practically embedding herself into Julian’s chest.

I peeled up the corner of my cards.

A pair of Eights.

Decent, but not amazing.

When it was my turn, I pushed in matching chips. "Call."

"Oh, Seraphina is playing for real!" someone shouted.

I ignored them.

Leo dealt the Flop—the first three community cards.

8♠ K♥ 3♦

My heart skipped a beat. Three of a kind. Set of Eights.

But my face remained a mask.

Julian increased the bet without blinking.

Sienna followed.

I called.

The Turn—the fourth card.

Q♣

Julian suddenly sat up straighter, a flicker of interest in his eyes. He shoved a massive tower of chips forward. "All in."

The room gasped.

Sienna looked at her cards, hesitated, and then called.

The pressure was on me.

I didn't have enough chips in front of me to match Julian’s all-in.

If I called, I was pushing every cent I had on the table into the pot.

Sienna covered her mouth, hiding a smirk. "Sera, sweetie, maybe fold? Julian clearly has a monster hand. There's no shame in saving your dignity."

The whispers around us grew louder.

"She's gonna fold. She's not that stupid."

"No, watch. She's pissed. She'll call just to prove a point."

"Whatever happens, this is damn good entertainment."

I looked at Julian.

He was waiting for me to back down.

Waiting for me to do what I had done for ten years: be obedient, know my place, and retreat.

Waiting for me to prove him right—that I was just a naive little girl playing a game with the big boys.

My fingers tightened on my cards.

Then I shoved every chip I had into the center.

"Call."

Julian’s eyebrows shot up.

Leo sighed and dealt the River—the final card.

2♥

"Showdown," Leo said, his voice tinged with resignation.

Julian leisurely flipped his cards.

K♠ K♦

Three Kings.

It beat my three Eights.

Sienna squealed and flipped hers. "Straight! A baby straight, but a straight!"

Her 5♦ 4♥ connected with the board for a wheel straight.

She won.

I flipped my cards.

Three Eights.

The losing hand.

"Hah," Julian let out a cold scoff.

Sienna clapped her hands. "Oh, babe! You tried! So brave!"

Then her smile turned venomous. "Now, take it off. Rules of the game."

The salon went quiet.

Only the hum of the yacht's engine and the waves slapping the hull remained.

Julian looked at me, his eyes devoid of warmth.

He said nothing.

He just watched.

My face went pale.

But I stood up and shrugged off my jacket.

I was left in a silk slip dress.

"Moving on," Leo said quickly, trying to save the mood.

"Wait."

Sienna spoke up suddenly.

She stood, sliding off Julian’s lap, and walked to the edge of the table. In her heels, she towered over me where I sat.

"I won the hand, right? That means I get to make someone do anything."

No one spoke.

The air curdled.

Sienna’s grin widened. She extended a manicured finger, pointing to a man in the corner.

Brody Prescott.

The circle’s most notorious sleazebag.

He’d been trying to get into my pants since college, but never dared to be blatant about it because of Julian.

"Brody mentioned he’s been dying to get to know you better, Seraphina."

Sienna drawled the words, like a cat toying with a mouse. "So, I’m using my winner’s privilege. Kiss Brody. Just a little peck. On the lips."

The air was sucked out of the room.

Shock flashed across Brody’s face, followed immediately by excitement.

Leo shot to his feet. "Sienna, that’s—"

"Rules are rules," Sienna cut him off, her eyes snapping to Julian. "Right, babe? You said it yourself—everyone is equal at the table. Rules are rules."

I looked instinctively at Julian.

Waiting for him to say something.

Waiting for him to step in.

Waiting for him to say "Enough."

But he just leaned back in his chair, staring at me with ice in his veins.

Then he spoke, his voice flat.

"Rules are rules, Seraphina. You wanted to play. So play."

In that moment, I felt my entire world collapse.

Ten years.

Ten years of waiting.

Ten years of sacrifice.

Ten years of love.

All traded for this one sentence.

He was personally pushing me toward another man.

In front of everyone.

At our engagement party.

I stood up.

My legs felt like jelly, but I stood.

I walked toward Brody.

The greasy, sweating Brody Prescott.

He licked his lips, his eyes full of naked lust.

I leaned down.

Under everyone’s gaze.

Under Julian’s indifferent stare.

I pressed a quick kiss to Brody’s oily lips.

It was over in a second.

But the nausea rose in my throat instantly.

I straightened up, my eyes burning. "Happy?"

Sienna clapped. "See? Seraphina is such a good sport! I knew my girl could do it!"

She said "my girl" like we were still friends.

Like she hadn’t just violated my dignity.

Like Julian hadn't just betrayed me.

Leo stood up. "Okay, that's enough. Sera, you should go rest—"

"No."

I cut him off.

I walked back to the table.

I sat down.

"Deal again."

Everyone froze.

Julian’s eyes turned dangerous. "Excuse me?"

I looked up, staring directly into his pupils.

For the first time in my life, I wasn't looking up to him.

I wasn't adoring him.

I wasn't loving him.

I hated him.

"I said, deal the cards. I'm not done playing."