“That’s two losses now, huh?”Peter’s voice rasped out of him, rough as gravel. The words hung in the air like smoke, bitter and heavy.The pain was there—undeniable, ragged, raw. Noir didn’t just hear it. She felt it.Sitting at his bedside, she watched him with narrowed eyes. Her usual sharp composure was there, but beneath it flickered something rare: genuine concern.“Peter,” she began, her tone tight but softening at the edges, “do you want to tell me what happened?”She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing with focus. “I went over the replay. You were winning, Peter. Dominating. It wasn’t even close. I’ve never seen anything like it.”Her gaze sharpened, confusion curling into her features like smoke. “But then, the final round—you placed such a simple, careless bet. Almost like… like you were throwing the towel in on purpose.”Peter’s eyes, bloodshot and rimmed with fatigue, met hers briefly.For a heartbeat, he saw everything in her expression. Curiosity. Confusion. Concer