Chapter: Chapter 37: CheckmateA few hours had passed since Seraphina was re-offered the Maverick contract, a desperate move by the Lockwoods to salvage their crumbling deal. And now, she was ready to give her answer.She sat at the dinner table with Alexander, her fingers drumming anxiously against the surface as they waited. The tension in the air was thick, but thankfully, they didn’t have to wait long.Her phone rang.Seraphina’s breath hitched as she glanced at the screen. Lady Lockwood. Her grip tightened around the device. She turned to Alexander, hesitation in her eyes."Alex… are you sure about this?" she asked, doubt creeping into her voice.Even after hearing the truth from Jacob Harrington himself—one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Pantheon Valley—Seraphina couldn’t shake the feeling that she was about to gamble away a golden opportunity. Fate had handed her a second chance, a rare gift in a world that seldom forgave mistakes. And yet, here she was, about to throw it all away.Alexander met
Last Updated: 2025-02-20
Chapter: Chapter 36: Beneath the SurfaceEarlierAt Maverick Corporation, Alexander finished his call to Seraphina, a smile of satisfaction tugging at his lips. He had set the wheels in motion—now all he had to do was watch as the Lockwood family found themselves on their knees, forced to acknowledge Seraphina's worth.“Thank you, Archie,” Alexander said, handing the phone back.“Anytime, sir,” Archie replied with a nod of respect.Alexander added his personal number into Archie's phone before returning it. “Let me know if you need anything.”Archie stared, surprised by Alexander’s humility. For a man who wielded power and influence so effortlessly, his humility was almost startling. Archie couldn’t help but contrast Alexander with Daniel Lockwood, who possessed much less power yet flaunted it shamelessly. It was a striking irony that lingered with him.Outside, in his car, Alexander composed a message to Seraphina:“Seraphina, Lady Charlotte will call soon and offer you the project head position for the Maverick contract. W
Last Updated: 2024-11-12
Chapter: Chapter 35: Dumb-dumb“Wait, let me get this straight. Lady Lockwood—the matriarchal bitch you basically thought was going to banish you—called you directly, apologized for the misunderstanding, and went as far as offering you the project head position, and you said no?” Happy yelled, her voice filled with disbelief as she stared at Seraphina like she’d lost her mind."Welllll, technically, I didn’t say no," Seraphina replied defensively, fidgeting with her hands. "I told her I’d think about it."“That’s the same thing, you dumb-dumb! What the hell is there to think about?” Happy threw her hands up in exasperation.“Seraphina, what is wrong with you?” Caroline interjected, her voice tight as she tried to keep her temper in check. “Please, tell me you have a good reason for delaying your response to Lady Lockwood.”Seraphina looked down, avoiding her mother’s piercing gaze. She opened her mouth as if to explain, but no words came out. How could she explain something she barely understood herself?Caroline s
Last Updated: 2024-11-09
Chapter: chapter 34: HangoverSeraphina had passed out, the result of too much alcohol consumed with Happy. They both lay sprawled on her bed, and even in her sleep, Seraphina’s pain was visible. Tears trickled down her closed eyelids, leaving damp trails on her cheeks. Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open, and a voice yelled, “Seraphina!” It was Caroline, her mother. The noise was deafening, but only Happy stirred, squinting against the light. “Hey, Mrs. Caroline,” Happy greeted, her tone casual, as if Caroline hadn’t just stormed in. Caroline shot Happy a venomous glare. How dare she greet me like we’re friends, she thought, remembering the heartbreak Happy had caused her son, Shay. The only thing they shared was a mutual disdain for Alexander. “Happy, what the hell are you doing here?” Caroline asked, her voice dripping with scorn. “What the hell does it look like I’m doing here? I’m helping my best friend after her so-called family betrayed her and kicked her out,” Happy replied, her tone laced with sas
Last Updated: 2024-11-07
Chapter: Chapter 33: The Lunch DateEarlier That DayGrace’s heart began to race as Alexander’s calm but insistent voice came through the phone.“You’re with Daniel Lockwood, correct?” he asked.Grace was taken aback that he knew this. How could he possibly know that? She hesitated before responding, “Yes, sir.”“Good. I need you to relay a message to him.”“Of course, sir. What should I tell him?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.Alexander’s voice remained steady, but there was an edge to his words. “Inform Mr. Lockwood that Maverick Corporation will only accept Seraphina Lockwood as the project head for our deal. And as a response to his actions, we have decided to terminate our two hundred billion-dollar contract with the Lockwood family if Seraphina is not restored to her rightful position.”Grace’s eyes widened. She struggled to hide her surprise. Daniel Lockwood had been sitting here, trying to charm her into putting in a good word for him with the head of Maverick Corporation… and now Alexander himself was instru
Last Updated: 2024-11-01
Chapter: Chapter 32: RosesEarlier That DayDaniel Lockwood pulled into the parking lot of Maverick Corporation in his sleek blue Chevrolet. As he stepped out, adjusting his tailored suit and straightening a bouquet of roses in his hand, he couldn’t help but replay his earlier conversation with Lady Lockwood. It had taken some careful maneuvering, but he had successfully managed to persuade her to keep him as the head of the Maverick project.Lady Lockwood, after watching Ethan Bishop’s confession, had initially texted Seraphina, asking her to come see her. The intent was to apologize for the misunderstanding and crown her as project head. But the moment Daniel heard of this, he rushed to Lady Lockwood and urged her to reconsider. He argued that the midnight confession seemed suspiciously convenient, likely falsified to cover Seraphina’s shame. Even if it were genuine, he argued, would the media and the elite of Pantheon Valley really buy into it? The scandal was still too fresh, too hot to be cooled down by a
Last Updated: 2024-10-29
The Gambling System
In a world where gambling dictates status, power, and survival, Peter Donovan—a seventeen-year-old delivery boy who despises gamblers—has spent his life avoiding risks. But when his ailing mother’s life hangs by a thread, Peter is left with no choice but to enter the high-stakes world he’s always loathed. Desperation forces his hand, and Peter bets everything—only to lose it all.
Beaten, broken, and left for dead in a rain-soaked alley, Peter prepares to fade into the darkness. But as the last of his hope slips away, the impossible happens.
A faint glow pierces through his pain—a semi-transparent interface appearing before his eyes.
[System Initialization… Loading Player Data…]
Name: Peter Donovan.
Status: Uninitiated Gambler.
Class: None.
[Welcome to the Gambling System]
The mysterious system offers Peter a second chance—an opportunity to rise from the depths of despair and claim the title of Gambit King. With every gamble he takes, Peter unlocks new abilities, refines his skills, and challenges the world’s most notorious players. From roulette wheels to strategy-driven death matches, Peter will face impossible odds, mind-bending risks, and dangerous opponents who’ll stop at nothing to crush him.
This is the story of a boy who risked it all, lost everything, and dared to gamble again. This is the tale of how Peter Donovan rose to become the Gambit King.
Read
Chapter: Chapter 83: Interference In the soundproof observation chamber, Grant was practically buzzing with relief and joy. His fists clenched in silent triumph, his eyes wide with excitement.“Peter…” he whispered, eyes wide with admiration. “You’re amazing. You really pulled it off again. You knew exactly what I was thinking! We’re actually doing it.”He leaned back in his seat, a breathless grin overtaking his face for the first time since this nightmare began. Maybe they could win this. Maybe this hellish gamble could actually end in their favor.He grinned as he looked down at the next stack of cards laid before him. For the first time since this hellish game began, starting another round felt like good news.“This time, I’ll reproduce her lineup again,” Grant thought, flipping through the cards with eager hands. “Peter will catch on. We’ve got this.”But then—Riiiiing.The moderator's phone rang, sharply, slicing through the air like a guillotine. The moderator, ever calm and unreadable, picked it up and
Last Updated: 2025-04-17
Chapter: Chapter 82 – Beautiful Wicked DevilThe room went silent.Not just quiet—but utterly, viscerally still. Time seemed to pause, caught in the tension between two heartbeats.Peter’s gaze didn’t waver.He watched her.He waited.Katherina clutched the empty chalice like a sacred relic, her knuckles pale against the cold metal. Her lips twitched, parted, trembled. Then—She smiled.“…Nothing happened.”Her voice was breathless, disbelieving, colored with tremors of adrenaline and awe.She lifted her head slowly, wide amber eyes locking onto Peter.“I’m not dead,” she whispered, more to herself than to him.Peter didn’t answer.She inhaled—then suddenly gasped. And the floodgates opened.Laughter.Loud. Raw. Rapturous.It burst from her throat with manic abandon, ricocheting off the stone walls like gunfire. Her entire body shook with it as she staggered backward, her laughter evolving into a near-ecstatic shriek.“I’m not dead!” she screamed, spinning on her heel with the grace of a mad ballerina. Her arms f
Last Updated: 2025-04-16
Chapter: Chapter 81: Gambling with his lifeThe silence inside the observation room was suffocating.Grant sat in front of the camera, cards faced down on the cold steel table, his palms pressed together in a quiet, desperate prayer. The weight of the moment sat heavy on his chest.His eyes drifted to the monitor—Peter’s face stared back at him from the soundproof chamber, unreadable as always. Calm. Silent. But Grant could feel it—beneath that still exterior, Peter was waiting.Waiting for him.“Please…” Grant whispered inwardly. “Please tell me he sees it. Please let him understand what I’m trying to do.”This time, there was no bluff. No fabricated signal. This time, Grant had chosen a deliberate card pattern—one he believed Peter could read.He has to. We’re gambling with his life.Come on, Peter… trust me.He leaned forward.And flipped the five cards.One by one.Heart. Spade. Club. Heart. Diamond.His breath hitched.That was it. That was his line of thought. That was his message.Now, it was out of his han
Last Updated: 2025-04-15
Chapter: Chapter 80: It's time for the second round “It’s time for the second round,” the moderator announced, her voice cold and clinical, like the clang of steel in a surgical room.All the chalices were changed and two new set of three chalices were placed before them both.Katherina leaned back in her chair, lips twitching into a devilish smile. Her golden eyes narrowed to slits. Her fingers drummed softly against the edge of the table—an erratic, hypnotic rhythm.Look at him.Peter Donovan.Sitting there with that maddening calm, that illusion of control. But she saw it. Of course she saw it—the twitch in his fingers, the subtle tension in his jaw, the slight shimmer of sweat glistening at his temple like dew on a blade.He was in pain. Suffering. Barely holding himself together.And it was beautiful.She inhaled slowly, deeply, savoring it like a connoisseur would fine wine.Delicious.They all thought the same, at first.“She’s insane.”“She’s bluffing.”“She won’t go that far.”Fools.They didn’t understand her.
Last Updated: 2025-04-15
Chapter: Chapter 79: The Taste of Ecstasy“It was pure ecstasy…”Katherina’s voice dripped like warm honey, slow and indulgent. Her breath, heavy with memory, misted in the chill of the dimly lit underground chamber. She leaned closer to Peter, the gleam in her amber eyes not just wild — but hungry."My brain went completely numb,” she confessed, her lips curling into a sultry smile that was far too intimate for the moment.Peter said nothing.He knew he should look away, but her tale — her madness — had a magnetic pull. Against his better judgment, he found himself listening with a strange, dangerous fascination.Katherina’s gaze never left him. She watched him the way a predator admires prey not for its fear, but for its resistance.“I finally understood," she continued, her voice dipping lower, huskier, her fingers tracing lazy circles on the rim of her chalice, "why people fall so helplessly in love with gambling. It’s the rush… the moment you offer something you can’t afford to lose, and feel your heart clench tigh
Last Updated: 2025-04-14
Chapter: Chapter 78: Katherina’s ObsessionEver since she was a child, Katherina had always known something about her was off.Not wrong. Not defective. No, far from it.She was simply… too perfect.Her life was a string of effortless victories. Money, power, fame — she won them all with ease. Her family, the number one gambling clan in all of Monaco, had raised her among card sharks and high-stakes predators. Even though she was not a professional gambler, Katherina had bathed in that glittering world, outwitted her elders, and devoured her rivals.Yet, no matter how much she took, no matter how high the stakes, she felt nothing.Not joy. Not thrill. Not satisfaction.The crowd could roar her name.The cash could flood her account.Her opponents could sob and beg for mercy as they lost everything.But inside, there was only a yawning, empty void.Until the day she met Her.The Queen.Noir Quin.The moment their eyes met across the gambling table, something inside Katherina twisted — knotted in ways she had never
Last Updated: 2025-04-14
