Chapter: 247

Caden checked it, seeing Alicia's name flash across the screen.

Her message was brief but cutting. “Forget it. Now I know what kind of person you really are, Mr. Ward. I swear, we'll never cooperate again."

Caden stared at the words, his mind racing for a response, but for the first time in a long while, he found himself at a loss.

At the card table, Alicia found herself outmatched by Mrs. Reyes.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Mrs. Reyes wasn't her only opponent; the others had formed a subtle yet unmistakable alliance against her.

The tension mounted as round after round slipped through her fingers, her losses climbing into the hundreds of thousands.

Alicia clutched her cards tightly, knowing she couldn't rely on skill alone to beat them.

Eyes narrowing, she shifted her focus from the cards to Mrs. Reyes herself.

It was absurd how Mrs. Reyes seemed to win every single hand.

Even the luckiest person in the world couldn't have won this many times in a row.

Alicia's sharp eyes soon caught a pattern—- each time Mrs. Reyes played her card, she would casually lift her hand to support her head, twisting her jade bracelet in a practiced, almost mechanical motion.

Once or twice might have been coincidence, but it happened every time without fail.

What was more telling, the other ladies would only play their cards after Mrs. Reyes performed this peculiar gesture.

Before long, Mrs. Reyes swept the table again, a smug smile playing on her lips as she raked in the winnings.

It was a setup, plain and simple.

Alicia's gaze dropped to her dwindling chips, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior.

If this continued, she'd be drained of every last cent.

"Mrs. Reyes." Alicia spoke, her tone cool but resolute.

Mrs. Reyes's eyes gleamed, as if she had been expecting this. She offered Alicia a saccharine smile. "Ms. Bennett, are you calling it quits already?"

Alicia didn't respond right away.

Mrs. Reyes, feigning a look of understanding, leaned forward with a hint of mock sympathy. “You've lost quite a bit already. If you're short on funds, we could stop."

One of the ladies even ventured, "Walking away over such a small loss, Ms. Bennett? Oh, please-don't spoil the fun! Why not ring up your ex-husband to bail you out?"

The jibe struck like a well-aimed arrow, but Alicia wasn't planning to surrender that easily.

They might have ganged up to rob her blind, but she wasn't about to let them have the satisfaction of seeing her defeated.

“Let's take a break," she said, rising gracefully from her seat. “I need to freshen up. We can continue when I get back."

She needed a moment to collect herself and strategize. There had to be a way to turn the tables on them.

Just as she prepared to step away, the murmurs in the room grew louder.

"Mr. Ward?"

Rachel's voice cut through the din, startled and excited. She darted towards the door. “Randolph said he was treating you to dinner! He knew you'd be coming and reserved the most exclusive private restaurant. In fact, he's still busy arranging the whole thing."

ALL eyes turned toward the gate as Caden entered.