Chapter 3

After the Lin Corporation stabilized, my grandfather focused all his energy on grooming me.

Who would have thought my father would be so useless, nearly squandering the family fortune in just a few short years.

"Carter, please explain to everyone. It was because I loved you that I agreed to make those videos when you insisted. It's not what they think. Tell them! Please clear my name. If you're tired of me, I'm willing to leave. But you can't play with my reputation like this."

Lily carefully tugged at Carter's sleeve, but he shoved her to the ground.

"Stop bothering me. If you're so capable, why don't you win back those videos yourself?"

Lily clutched her chest in pain. The light had gone out of her eyes.

"Carter, let's start a round! Just watching that preview got me all worked up, haha!"

Lily's face turned ghostly pale.

Forget about whether she could afford to play at their level. She couldn't even keep a poker face while betting and showing her cards.

She had always been a passionate and sincere girl, unable to hide her feelings. For her, playing Texas Hold'em would be no different than playing with her cards face up.

Those men leaned in close, surrounding her and making crude, insulting gestures.

They had nearly pushed Lily to the brink.

"Look at that pitiful expression. Why don't you come with me tonight? I'll help you win back those videos and we can watch them together. Isn't that better than having so many people see them?"

Lecherous laughter echoed all around.

Carter drummed his fingers on the table and crossed his legs. As if granting Lily a favor, he said to her:

"If you're willing to kneel down and apologize to Zoe, and promise to hand wash all her clothes, including her intimates, for a year, I'll consider letting you off the hook tonight. How's that sound?"

Lily seemed to waver. She opened her mouth, about to agree.

Carter added another condition, as if toying with Lily brought him immense pleasure.

"Of course, I can't guarantee what will happen tomorrow night."

He exchanged a look with Zoe. The two of them burst into raucous laughter.

Seeing Zoe's smug face, I suddenly remembered - she was the daughter of our former housekeeper.

How dare she think she can look down on my sister Victoria!

Rage bubbled up in my chest.

I crushed the poker chip I had been fiddling with, snapping it in half.

Pushed to her limit, Lily defiantly got up from the ground and sat down at the poker table.

"I'll play against you!"

Disappointed that Lily hadn't been crushed, Carter's face showed his displeasure.

He rapped his knuckles on the table, signaling the dealer to deal the cards.

Those beastly men were all eagerly rubbing their hands together. Some were even licking their lips in anticipation.

Three cards were pushed in front of Lily.

She didn't look at them, not wanting to give away her hand easily.

Everyone at the table spent their days in casinos. They were experts at mind games in Texas Hold'em.

"Look! The video is starting! What a body, absolutely incredible!"

The next second, the screen froze on a shot of Lily's bare back.