Chapter 6

Selena's pupils contracted sharply, her fingertips pressing into her palm.

The casino fell deathly silent; even the roulette ball seemed to stop spinning.

Charlotte covered her mouth, the jade bracelet on her wrist swaying lightly.

Selena narrowed her eyes.

"Are you serious?" she asked.

Caius unfastened his cufflinks at an unhurried pace.

"When have I ever joked with you? Scared? If you kneel and kiss my shoe right now, maybe I'll consider changing the stakes."

Selena suddenly laughed.

She walked to the gaming table, sat down, and spoke in a tone that was sharp and decisive. "Deal."

Selena drew in a deep breath, her eyes fixed intently on the dealer's hands as the cards were dealt.

Caius sat across from her, a cold smile tugging at his lips, his gaze never leaving her face.

The cards were turned over.

Selena's royal flush crushed Caius's three of a kind.

Gasps rippled through the casino.

Selena rose to her feet and held out her hand to Caius. "The bracelet."

Caius stared at her palm for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

He leaned back in his chair and spoke with lazy indifference. "I've changed my mind."

Selena's gaze turned icy. "What do you mean?"

Caius jerked his chin toward Charlotte, who was standing nearby.

"The bracelet is hers now. If you want it back, you'll have to ask her."

Charlotte froze for a moment, then timidly retreated to the room.

Selena forced down her anger.

"Caius, a bet's a bet."

Caius let out a derisive laugh.

"I make the rules, and I'll change them whenever I please."

He pointed toward the private room, his tone mocking.

"Go beg her. Maybe she'll take pity on you and hand it over."

They remained locked in a standoff for five minutes.

"Fine."

Selena rose and walked into the private room.

"Return the bracelet-name your price," Selena said without hostility. But Charlotte suddenly trembled and backed away.

"Selena, please don't do this!"

Before Selena could react, Charlotte yanked off the bracelet, shoved it into Selena's hand, and then slapped herself hard across the face.

The sharp crack of the slap rang harshly through the room, and a vivid red slapmark bloomed across Charlotte's pale cheek.

"Ah!" Charlotte screamed, collapsing onto the carpet. "Caius, help me!"

The door to the private room was kicked open, and Caius stormed in with a dark expression.

Charlotte stumbled into his arms, weeping like a helpless flower in the rain.

"She-she hit me! And tried to snatch the bracelet!"

Caius's gaze fell on Charlotte's swollen cheek, his eyes instantly turning savage.

He seized Selena by the throat and slammed her hard against the wall.

"Do you have a death wish?"

Selena struggled to lift her gaze, only to see Charlotte hiding behind Caius, a triumphant smile tugging at her lips.

"You'd rather believe her... than me?"

He suddenly let go, and Selena collapsed to the ground, coughing violently.

"I saw it with my own eyes-don't tell me it wasn't real."

Caius turned and gave an order to the guards at the door.

"Drag her out-and make sure she gets a proper lesson."

Alberto hesitated as he stepped forward.

"Godfather, but..."

Caius's eyes grew dark and menacing.

"What? Are you going to defy my orders too?"

Two guards stepped forward, seizing Selena and dragging her out roughly.

As she passed Caius, she suddenly laughed.

"Caius, my father will never let you get away with this. Remember this day-it's the last time you'll ever treat me this way."

In the back alley of the casino, fists and kicks rained down like a storm.

Selena curled up on the filthy ground, clutching the jade bracelet tightly to her chest.

Caius stood over her, looking down from above.

"Go for her hands. Make sure she never wears a bracelet again."

The iron rod came crashing down on her wrist with a sickening crack.

A sharp crack rang out.

Selena's scream tore through the night.

She murmured helplessly, "Mom, I'm sorry-I trusted the wrong person."

Selena's consciousness grew faint.

She suddenly remembered a rainy night seven years ago, when a traitor in the gang had stolen her bracelet.

It had been Caius who risked his life to snatch it back for her, his hands trembling as he wiped the blood away with a cloth.

"Selena, I'll grow stronger. If anyone dares to touch your bracelet again, I'll cut off their hand!"

The man who had once been willing to risk his life for her had now, for the sake of another woman, crippled her hand and nearly taken her life.

Selena fixed her gaze on Caius, parting her lips as blood trickled down from the corner of her mouth.

"Caius, for what you've done to me, my father will make sure you pay with blood."

Caius let out a mocking laugh.

"Selena, you're just a penniless orphan-what father could you possibly have? If you've got the strength to threaten me, you might as well use it to beg for your life."

Just then, the head of security came tumbling in, nearly tripping over himself as he blurted out a report.

"Godfather, bad news! The Menezwa family has sent mercenaries to surround the casino."

The next second, a squad of heavily armed mercenaries stormed inside.

The most powerful mafia godfather strode forward, the dark muzzle of his gun aimed squarely between Caius's brows.

"Was it you who said my Selena has no father?"