Chapter 2

Vivian Hayes is the first one to break the silence after Olivia's little performance.

"Liv, come on. Even if you've known Seb since you were kids, that joke was way over the line."

She glances at me nervously. "Clara literally gave up nine times for her wedding. And she even prayed at church every time before her wedding. You can't just..."

Olivia pops a grape into her mouth. "Too bad prayers don't fix a bad match."

I look at Sebastian.

"Your best friend just humiliated me in front of everyone. You have nothing to say?"

He sighs like I'm being exhausting. "Babe, come on. A bet's a bet. You knew what you were signing up for."

Something inside me snaps clean in half.

I step toward Olivia. She barely has time to flinch before I grab her by the collar and shove her backward. She stumbles into the poker table, chips scattering everywhere.

The room erupts.

Sebastian is on me in a second, yanking me back. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

He's looking at me like I'm the problem.

"Why did you lose on purpose?" I ask, my voice barely steady.

"What?"

"You never lose. You've never lost a single hand in your life. So why do you always lose to her?"

Sebastian goes quiet. Then he runs his hand through his hair and says, like it's nothing:

"Olivia gets upset when she loses. She has since we were kids. I promised her I'd never let her lose."

I stare at him.

When I was twenty, I got kidnapped by one of his family's rivals. He showed up covered in blood, fought through a dozen men to get me out. I was shaking, crying, and he held me so tight I thought he'd break my ribs.

He said he'd never let anything hurt me again.

I guess promises only count when they're made to Olivia.

I'm done pretending.

I reach down and unclasp my watch, a Patek Philippe, worth more than most people's houses, and set it on the table.

"Olivia. One hand. High card. My watch against your little bet with Sebastian."

The whole room stares.

Nobody's ever seen me play. Every time Sebastian's friends came over for poker night, I just poured drinks and stayed out of the way. I told everyone I had zero interest in gambling.

They all think I can't play.

Olivia smirks. "You sure about this, sweetie?"

"Flip."

She draws a six.

I flip mine. Nine.

Dead silence.

Olivia blinks. Then her face crumples, and she grabs her wrist. "Ow, Seb, my hand, I think she hurt my hand earlier when she pushed me—"

Sebastian doesn't even hesitate. He's at her side instantly, cradling her like she's made of glass. "I'm taking you to the ER. Don't move."

He scoops her up and heads for the door. Over his shoulder, he throws me one last look, annoyed, like I've ruined his night.

"Clara, just... go home. I'll deal with you later."