Chapter 399
Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)
Connorâs smile was fraying at the edges, a clear sign that he wouldnât need to deal with Brielle himself;
she seemed perfectly capable of causing her own downfall.
$77777uddenly, the overhead speakers in the hall crackled to life, broadcasting a voice crisp with authority.
âLadies and gentlemen, our casinoâs stateâofâtheâart surveillance system offers 360âdegree, noâ
blindâspot monitoring, capturing every nuanced movementâeven the trajectory of a single hair strand.
Throughout this game, weâve observed closely, and I can assure you, Ms. Brielle has played a fair hand.â
No one doubted the capabilities of the casinoâs security. Even the slickest card sharks known to grace the worldâs gambling hot spots could pull no tricks here. Brielle, a mere rookie, stood. no chance of cheating under the watchful eyes of countless cameras, let alone in full view of a captivated audience.
Not to mention the numerous staff backstage who had their eyes glued to this very game, making any deception on Brielleâs part next to impossible.
Connor felt as if his soul had been yanked out of his body. He slumped backward, collapsing onto the floor. It was over. All was lost.
All those chips were squanderedâhis companyâs last lifeline was gone.
14.3 billion. He couldâve won 14.3 billion, but Brielle, that wretched woman, had ruined everything. And now, he was in debtâ4 billion in the hole.
Trembling took over Connorâs frame as he watched Brielle return 4.3 billion in chips to Dustin with a smile playing on her lips. âMr. Lynch, consider this doubled and returned.â
Dustin raised an eyebrow playfully. âShould I say youâre lucky?â
Others might have been unsettled sitting next to Brielle, but her expression remained impassive throughout, a blend of audacity and charm.
Brielle had the remaining 10 billion in chips converted into a check, her smile curving deeper. âThere are 1,326 possible twoâcard combinations in a 52âcard deck, and when you factor in the four suits, each nonâpaired hand has 16 variations, and each offâsuited nonâpair hand has 12. Given the pairs you and Mr. Hatfield held, it narrowed down the range for the last community card. Your blockers were the most decisive cards in determining the odds.â
Dustin chuckled, draping an arm around her shoulder to halt her explanation. âSo itâs not luck. but card counting?â
Brielle nodded with a spark in her eyes. âBut odds can be so unpredictable.â
âSuch brillianceânot at all surprised by your academic accolades.â
The title of valedictorian, in the eyes of people like Dustin, held little value. Yet the more he observed Brielle, the more he was taken by herâshe was smart, beautiful, and gutsy. He took Brielleâs hand, gently kissing itâa gesture devoid of any untoward implication, simply an 11:08 expression of delight.
âLittle Bri. Iâm growing quite fond of you. How about you come with meâ¦â
Dustinâs offer was cut short by Connorâs bellowing. âBitch! You vile bitch! I donât believe it! I donât believe this!â
Connorâs rage was swiftly quelled as burly security guards dragged him away; his figure was the epitome of disarray.
The onlookers exchanged knowing glances at Brielle. The older ones chuckled at the audacity of youth.
They had overheard Brielle and Dustinâs exchange, realizing that this wasnât merely luck at play: Brielle had been calculating her moves all along. The gambling world was rife with. pros skilled in the art of odds, but none so meticulous as this.
Sheâs a true prodigy.
After this night, Brielleâs name would be synonymous with victory in this illustrious casino. The crowd, having gossiped their fill about the nightâs events, dispersed back to their own games.
Brielle, holding the check worth 10 billion, allowed a triumphant smirk to form. It was the perfect infusion of capital her company needed.
Upstairs, Andrewâs cold laughter went unnoticed, as did Tessaâs bitter expression beside him.
Brielle! Tessa seethed with hatred, unable to fathom how this woman kept stealing the spotlight.
Damn it, why her!
Andrew remained oblivious to Tessaâs turmoil. He could have snapped a photo of Brielle cozying up to Dustin and sent it to Max, but he refrained. It was better for them to split sooner rather than later.
Yet, the thought of Max potentially being cuckolded soured Andrewâs opinion of Brielle even further.
Still, as a brother, he had already warned Max twiceâthat was enough.