Chapter 3

Hearing her words, Sarah hadn't said anything yet, but I was already seething.

Jessica always lorded her family's better financial situation over us, and with her husband as my junior manager, she hadn't held back on showing off in front of Sarah.

Sarah, for my sake, had endured years of this slight.

This year, when we visited Mark's house, Sarah had barely stepped through the door before Jessica dragged her into the kitchen to help.

She’d been so busy she barely had a chance to breathe, let alone drink water, while Jessica lounged leisurely on the couch, chatting with relatives.

When another relative suggested Jessica was being too demanding, her face hardened.

"I treat Alex's wife like my own sister, so I don't stand on ceremony. What are you implying?"

The relative, thus rebuffed, said no more.

Thinking of Sarah's past humiliations, I suddenly stood up and looked at my dad, David.

"Dad, don't we still have an old house in a nearby rural town? I'll write you an IOU. Consider it a loan from me."

At these words, my dad couldn't stay seated.

"It's just a card game, Alex, why are you playing for such high stakes?"

He quickly put on a placating smile, trying to butter up Mark.

"Don't mind him. He's had a few drinks at the dinner table and doesn't know what he's saying. Let's stop the game, you two go watch TV."

Mark looked at his subservient demeanor and suddenly sneered, speaking smugly.

"Uncle David, I'm about to win. What do you mean, stop playing?"

"It's not impossible for me to stop. Make Alex get on his knees and beg for forgiveness in front of everyone. If I'm in a good mood, he can take back these stakes. I don't even care about this money."

My dad stood rooted to the spot, his body suddenly rigid.

He stared directly at Mark, a flush slowly spreading across his face.

"Son, I'm lending you the house. Go for it!"

The room fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Even I couldn't help but look at my dad.

All my life, he had been a content man, always telling me to bow down to Mark.

Even this time, I thought he'd side with Mark.

I never expected him to actually agree.

Holding the property deed my dad handed me, I was momentarily stunned.

Sarah was about to say something, but my dad quietly waved her off, pulled up a stool, and sat beside the card table.

Seeing the situation, the relatives knew there was no stopping it.

They held their breath and gathered around.

Chloe's hands trembled as she dealt the fourth card.

I still got a Queen, and he still got a King.

Now we each had four cards in our hands.

Excluding the one face-down card yet to be revealed, our three face-up cards were:

Mine were three Queens and a Two. Mark's were three Kings and a Ten.

He still had a better hand than me.

Seeing the cards, my dad's face turned ashen. Jessica, however, couldn't help but let out a snicker.

"Looks like my husband's luck is holding up! Not only is he getting promoted and a raise this year, but he's also on a winning streak at the card table!"

"When money comes, you can't stop it! Nobody leaves tonight; I'm treating everyone to a fancy dinner at a hotel!"

Mark was also beaming, his lips practically stretching to his ears as he looked at his cards.

"You guys probably haven't eaten anything good, have you? Honey, book the best hotel in town later. It'll be an eye-opener for the relatives."

He was always big-mouthed, believing himself to be the most successful among the relatives.

Now, on the verge of winning, he was even more unrestrained.

Chloe's face showed a flicker of shame, but she bit her lip and swallowed her words.

Before the reveal, there was one final round of betting.

As the one with the stronger hand, Mark had to bet first.

He glanced around, saw my dad's ashen face, and sneered.

"Since you're putting up your property deed, I'll put mine up too."

"My place in the city, worth over two million dollars. I'm putting it all in!"