All In or Nothing
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I never thought I'd find myself here.
The grand entrance of the Crimson Royale Casino loomed before me, its golden doors reflecting the city's dazzling skyline. The moment I stepped inside, I was swallowed by a world of opulence.
Chandeliers dripping with crystals, a soft hum of jazz music, and the rhythmic clatter of roulette wheels spinning fortunes into existence.
The system had guided me here. After my unbelievable stock win, I hadn't even questioned it. My phone screen still flickers with the message.
[New Mission: Bet on yourself or lose it all.]
I wasn't sure what that meant until the next prompt appeared, directing me toward the high-stakes poker tables.
As if pulled by an invisible force, my feet carried me deeper into the casino, past rows of slot machines and elegantly dressed gamblers who reeked of money and power.
Then, I saw her.
Nicole.
My stomach clenched.
She looked radiant in a red silk dress, her perfectly manicured fingers wrapped around the arm of a man I didn't recognize. He oozed wealth—tailored suits.
Rolex glinted under the chandelier light, the unmistakable air of someone who had never known struggle.
Nicole's gaze swept lazily across the room before landing on me. For a split second, her eyes widened, but then she smirked. She leaned closer to her new prize and whispered something that made him chuckle.
I had barely processed my disgust before she spoke, her voice dripping with condescension.
"Well, well, look who it is." She took a deliberate sip of champagne, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Liam, you know they don't hand out free drinks at this casino, right?
Or did you come here to beg?"
I smirked. The old me might have shrunk under her words, but not tonight.
Her date raised an eyebrow at me before letting out a low chuckle. "You know him, babe?"
Nicole laughed, a sound that once made my heart race but now only filled me with loathing. "Oh, we go way back. But Liam's… let's just say he's fallen on hard times."
She tilted her head, her lips curling in mock sympathy. "And judging by his presence here, I'd say he's taken up gambling as his new coping mechanism."
I let out a slow, amused chuckle. "That's funny, Nicole. Really." I folded my arms, tilting my head as I looked her up and down.
"You talk like you've made it big, but here you are, hanging off some guy's arm like a designer handbag."
Her smirk disappeared.
Her date, the rich-looking idiot, stiffened beside her. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to?"
I barely spared him a glance. "Relax, Rolex Boy. This is between me and her."
Nicole's lips parted slightly, stunned by my sudden arrogance. She clearly expected me to cower, to swallow her insults like I used to.
I took a step forward, lowering my voice just enough for the words to sting. "You dumped me because you thought I was a loser.
That I'd never be worth anything." I let my gaze flick to her date for a fraction of a second before turning back to her, smirking.
"But tell me, Nicole… does it eat you up inside, just a little, knowing that you bet on the wrong guy?"
Her fingers clenched around the stem of her glass. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Am I?" I leaned in slightly, just enough to make her uneasy. "You don't fool me. You see me standing here, and deep down, you know something's different.
You can feel it, can't you?"
Nicole opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off with a smirk.
"I'm going to take over this casino tonight. And by the time I walk out, I'll have more money than that walking credit card you're clinging to." I flicked my gaze at her boyfriend.
"Speaking of which, who is this? Your new 'investment'?"
Her date's jaw tightened. "I'm Joe Calvo, CEO of CALOVO Enterprises. And I don't appreciate your tone."
I let out a short laugh. "Oh, you're a CEO? That's cute." I stepped even closer, lowering my voice as I looked him dead in the eyes. "Let me guess.
Daddy handed you the company, and you pretend to run things while your board of directors cleans up after your mistakes."
His nostrils flared. "You—"
"Save it." I turned back to Nicole, smirking as I took a slow step backward. "Watch closely, Nicole. By the time the night is over, I'll be the one you regret leaving."
Then, without waiting for a response, I walked past them, straight toward the high-stakes poker tables.
It was time to play.
A notification flashed in my vision.
[Ding! Skill Unlocked: Millionaire's Instinct – See through deception & predict risks.]
A strange sensation washed over me, like a fog lifting from my mind. The world sharpened. Details I wouldn't normally notice came into focus.
The slight twitch in Nicole's expression, the way her new boyfriend tightened his grip on his glass.
The flicker of uncertainty in his gaze despite his composed posture. I smirked. Without a word, I strode toward the high-stakes poker table and took a seat. Nicole scoffed.
"Oh, this should be fun." She turned to her date.
"Do you think he even has enough to buy in?" Her boyfriend chuckled. "Let's see how long he lasts." I ignored them both.
The dealer shuffled the deck, his practiced hands swift and precise. I tossed a crisp $1,000 chip onto the felt, the first of many.
The game began. With every hand, the world around me seemed to be slow. The Millionaire's Instinct kicked in, sharpening my mind to a razor's edge.
I saw the micro-expressions on my opponents' faces, the way their fingers twitched ever so slightly when they had a bad hand, the nervous swallowing when they bluffed.
I read them like an open book.
First hand—I won. The pot doubled. $2,000.
Second hand—I played cautiously, let them think I was just lucky. Folded on a weak draw, watching them underestimate me. Third hand—I struck. A full house.
The pot surged to $5,000.
The table murmured. The air shifted. Nicole's laughter faded. Her boyfriend frowned.
The fourth hand—$10,000.
By the time the dealer reshuffled for the next round, I had their full attention. Nicole's arms were no longer draped around her date.
She was leaning forward, her nails digging into the edge of the table, eyes locked on the game. Her date's confidence was slipping.
I could see the frustration in his clenched jaw.
Fifth hand—$50,000.
I was in complete control. Every move was calculated, every bet designed to push them further toward their breaking point.
Nicole's boyfriend let out a forced chuckle. "Beginner's luck," he muttered, but I could hear the strain in his voice.
I met his gaze and smirked. "Or maybe you're just not as good as you think." The next round started. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Sixth hand—$100,000.
The entire casino seemed to be watching now. A small crowd had gathered around the table, whispering amongst themselves. Who was this nobody who had walked in with scraps and turned it into a fortune?
Nicole's face twisted from amusement to disbelief. She turned to Mr. Reed, searching for reassurance, but he was too busy glaring at me, his jaw tight, a vein pulsing in his temple. Then, he slammed his fist on the table.
"One final bet."
I raised an eyebrow and leaned back in my chair, completely relaxed. "And what exactly are you betting?" His eyes narrowed.
"Winner takes all. Everything you have… against everything I have."
A wave of gasps spread through the crowd. People whispered among themselves, eyes darting between us. Even the dealer hesitated, sensing the tension in the air. Nicole's expression turned to panic.
"Babe, don't—"
"Shut up, Nicole," he snapped, waving her off like she was nothing. Then he turned his attention back to me, his lips curling into a sneer.
"You think you're someone special now, don't you, Liam?" His tone dripped with condescension. "You think winning a few hands makes you my equal?"
I held his gaze, unfazed. The old me would have shrunk under his words, but not anymore.
"Equal?" I let out a short laugh, tapping my fingers on the table. "You've got it wrong, Joe. I'm not your equal.
I'm the man who's about to take everything from you." His grip tightened around his poker chips, knuckles turning white
"You talk big for someone who was nobody this morning." I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice so only he could hear. "And yet, here you are, desperate to beat me." His jaw tensed.
For the first time, there was doubt in his eyes. But his pride wouldn't let him back down. He forced a smirk.
"Fine. Deal." The dealer shuffled the deck, the soft sound of the cards the only thing filling the silence.
The final game was about to begin.