Female Novel
Chapter 2142
Sylvia picked up the smallest cards earlier, but this round she had hit the jackpot. Turning toGabriel, she asked, "They're all different this time, you still in?"
Gabriel eyed her curiously, "Different how?"
She whispered, "None of the suits match."
Gabriel took a deep breath, leaned in closer, and patiently explained, "You only need to worry aboutsuits when you've got a straight, like a 3-4-5 or 6-7-8. What you have is called a 'set'—all threecards have the same number."
Sylvia listened intently, murmuring, "Why didn't you teach me before?"
Gabriel said casually, "You need a strong mind to gamble, to control yourself. Otherwise, it's easy tolose your grip. You were too young back then, not ready to learn."
"But Nightingale learned," Sylvia whispered.
"Comparing yourself to her? She's single-minded, and you?" Gabriel chided coldly.
"I'm focused when I learn things. When have I ever gotten distracted?" Sylvia retorted, feelingindignant.
"Nightingale never talks back," Gabriel pointed out.
Sylvia fell silent.
Magdalen glanced over, smiling, "What's this secret chat about? Speak up, let us all in on it."
Sylvia looked up, her smile blossoming like spring, "He’s just saying my hand could go anothercouple of rounds."
She paused for effect before adding, "Could be a winner."
"That's the spirit." Magdalen tossed a chip into the pot, "I'm with you."
This round, nearly everyone followed suit.
After two rounds, Emily folded, Marina raised the stakes, and after exchanging glances, Estelle andJonathan threw in their cards.
Two more rounds and only Marina, Evelyn, and Sylvia remained.
Carson threw in five chips with a laugh, "With cards this good, why not bet? What are we waitingfor?"
Marina looked supremely confident, "Indeed, if I lose, it's Mr. Foster's loss, not mine."
Carson's smile froze for a moment, and the room erupted in laughter.
Marina folded, smugly reclaiming her five chips.
Magdalen, ever curious, leaned in to see - her card was essentially nothing.novelbin
She laughed so hard she doubled over, "Mr. Foster, that's quite the bold bluff."
Carson remained unfazed, "If she hadn't lost her nerve, I could have taken this hand to the bank."
Marina scoffed, "Even the bravest young masters don't have your guts."
Carson looked at her amusedly, "Is that an insult?"
Marina's smile was enigmatic, "Cultural references, huh? You got it."
And then it was down to Evelyn and Sylvia.
Jonathan pulled Estelle close, feeding her a piece of cake, chuckling, "This showdown's gettingdramatic, isn't it?"
"Hmm?" Estelle glanced at him.
Jonathan looked down at her with a smirk, "Just enjoy your cake, sweetheart."
Evelyn held a strong hand indeed, so Timothy had been egging her on to stay in the game.
With only two players left, Timothy was keen to show off, tossing ten chips into the pot withouthesitation.
Gabriel matched the ten.
Without missing a beat, Timothy pushed in twenty more, and Sylvia did the same.
Evelyn whispered to Timothy, "Do we keep up?"
Timothy looked across the table. Gabriel and Sylvia were unreadable, making it impossible to tell iftheir cards were genuinely strong or if they were bluffing like Mr. Foster had earlier.
With the hand Evelyn was holding, calling early felt like leaving money on the table.