All In, No Escape

Everyone thought that I would not dare to follow, but I straightened my back and pushed my chips forward, matching the bet all the way.

A wave of shock rippled through the room. The scene unfolding before me was almost identical to the gambling match in my previous life.

The only difference was that there was nothing behind me anymore. No obstacles, no burdens. I refused to believe I would keep losing like before.

The dealer began dealing the fourth round.

I got a king, and Ian got a two.

My entire body trembled with excitement. After being crushed by failure for so long, it felt like a long-overdue reversal. No one else could possibly understand what that moment meant to me.

"You've got the highest card. You call," someone said.

Ian remained seated, calm as ever, like a sly old fox watching me with unreadable eyes.

I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them and pushed all my chips forward.

"One million dollars."

Gasps erupted across the room. Every single gaze snapped toward me.

That was it. One decisive gamble. It all depended on whether Ian dared to follow.

He chuckled.

"Nathan, you've got guts playing this big. Not afraid of losing everything?"

Before I could respond, John cut in.

"Nathan, don't be scared. Go all the way. If you win this hand, your wife won't argue with you anymore."

I clenched my teeth, glaring at John.

That man was smiling like a gentleman, but he was rotten to the core. Of course he could say that so easily.

If I lost, it was on me.

If I won, it would be credited to him.

I was nothing more than a puppet in his hands.

Ian chose to follow, looking completely confident.

The dealer dealt again.

I got a four, and Ian got a five.

He had the higher card, so it was his move.

Ian casually pushed all his chips forward.

"Last three million. Let's make this interesting. Well? Are you in?"

The room buzzed.

"Why even follow at this point? Might as well fold."

"Quiet. Just watch."

Everyone believed I had nothing.

Everyone believed Ian's pair of sixes guaranteed his win.

Suddenly, Helen rushed in with blood-red eyes.

"Darling, don't do this. Please come home with me. Let's just go back and live a normal life, okay? Please get up!"

I wanted to stand. I wanted to hold her.

However, my legs would not move.

I lifted my head and shot John a furious glare.

He only shrugged, as if completely puzzled by my anger.

I told her, "Don't cry. I won't lose. Once I win this hand, I'll come home."

"No, I don't want this," she said, shaking her head.

"If you lose this one, there'll be a third, a fourth… This won't end."

"What are the security guards doing? Get her out of here!" someone shouted.

The guards quickly stepped in and stopped Helen. She could only stand there, watching helplessly.

Ian pressed, "Nathan, are you following or not?"

"I'm in."

I pushed all my chips forward. I was going all the way.

"Not bad. You've got some nerve. Not afraid of dying, huh? We'll see who comes out on top. Let's reveal our cards.

Ian turned over his cards.

Just as I expected, it was a pair of sixes.

At that moment, I could not contain my excitement.

I smiled at Helen and said, "After I win, keep an eye on your bank account. If the money doesn't come in, it means someone's cheating. Someone's stealing our winnings."

I said it loudly enough for everyone to hear.

John scoffed. "Stop talking big. Show your cards."

"Fine. I've got a pair of kings. I win."

I flipped my cards over.

Everyone craned their necks to look, and then they burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! What kings? They're clearly a pair of threes."

The laughter hit me like a slap. I immediately looked down at my cards.

However, what I saw was a pair of kings.

I grabbed the cards and held them up. "Look carefully! They're kings, not threes!"

Even Helen looked at me with disappointment. "That's enough. You lost. Stop acting like a madman."

What was going on?

My face drained of all color.