Miles drove his car through the impressive entrance of the Autumn estate, admiring the luxury that enveloped him. Upon parking in the assigned spot, he observed a luxurious, high-end car pulling in next to him, exuding signs of wealth and privilege. Rachael, Nigel’s niece, emerged with an attitude of pride and contempt. Her friend, equally haughty, followed closely behind.The security guard approached them with a polite nod. "Good evening, Ms. Rachael. Welcome to Mr. Marcus's birthday celebration."Rachael didn't acknowledge the greeting. Instead, she eyed Miles's car with a look of pure disgust. "Who allowed that piece of junk onto the estate?" she snapped, pointing accusatorily at the security guard.The guard shifted uncomfortably. "Mr. Miles is here to celebrate Mr. Marcus's birthday as well, Ms. Rachael."Rachael's eyes narrowed as she turned to scrutinize Miles, who was adjusting his tie and smoothing down his suit jacket. The suit, while not flashy, was neat and respectable.
While taking his seat, he couldn't resist pondering on the events of the evening thus far. Rachael and her friend's rudeness, along with the receptionist's condescension, were insignificant in the big picture. He was present for Marcus, marking a significant achievement for a man he deeply admired. Miles reclined in his seat, prepared to handle the remainder of the evening with the same collected and composed attitude he had displayed thus far. The others were unaware that looks could be misleading, and that a person's true worth was not in their clothing or vehicle, but in their behavior and character. Miles sat nearby, overhearing two women engrossed in a lively discussion. "Have you noticed that vehicle in the parking area?" "Is that the elderly one?" inquired one of them, expressing disbelief in her tone. "Yes! I can't believe someone had the nerve to show up in that," the other replied, laughing. "I wonder who it belongs to."Miles sighed inwardly but kept his focus straight
Within, the magnificent ballroom was truly impressive. Shiny chandeliers dangled from above, illuminating the stylishly attired attendees with a cozy light. Before heading to the bar, Miles paused to admire the beauty of the surroundings. He asked for Scotch without any mixers, his voice calm. The bartender nodded in agreement and swiftly made the drink. Upon taking a sip, Miles sensed a presence next to him. He turned around and saw an older man standing in front of him, his eyes filled with curiosity. "The greeting you got from young Rachael was quite something," the man said with a laugh. Miles smiled wryly. "Yes, well, she certainly has her opinions."The man extended a hand. "I'm Marcus Autumn. And you must be Miles."Miles shook his hand firmly. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Marcus."Marcus waved off the formality. "Please, call me Marcus. And don't let Rachael's behavior get to you. She's... protective of the family image, to put it mildly."Miles nodded. "I understand. I
Lola took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "He said it was a chance for us to have some fun, to mingle with influential people."Miles's expression darkened. "Fun? Influential people? Mr. Caleb invited you to this party to embarrass me, didn't he?"Fiona, her face flushed with a mix of anger and desperation, interjected. "Miles, that's not fair. Mr. Caleb might have his reasons, but we didn't come here to embarrass you."Johnathan placed a hand on Fiona's shoulder, his voice weary. "Fiona, let him speak. Miles, we had no idea Mr. Caleb's intentions were anything but genuine."Miles shook his head, frustration evident in his eyes. "Mr. Caleb's been trying to undermine me ever since I won that lottery. He knew bringing you here and getting you involved in this gambling would make me look bad."Lola stepped closer, her voice soothing but firm. "Miles, we didn't know. We didn't come here to hurt you."Fiona's eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. "I just... I though
Lola rushed to his side, her eyes wide with fear. "Miles, please, don't do this. It's too much. We can't afford to lose everything."Miles turned to her, his face calm but determined. "Lola, trust me. I know what I'm doing."Johnathan stepped forward, his voice a mix of concern and authority. "Miles, think about this. You don't have to prove anything. Walk away now, while you still can."Miles shook his head, his gaze unwavering. "I've made my choice, Johnathan. I have to do this."Fiona, with a furious expression on her face, shook as she directed her finger at Miles. "If you happen to lose this money, Miles, I promise you will never live it down." Do you believe you can simply risk losing all that we've built together? Miles locked eyes with her as he spoke, his voice unwavering. I am doing this on behalf of everyone. However, I refuse to be intimidated into giving up. Ethan and his friends shared looks, their faces displaying a mixture of surprise and amusement. Ethan laughed sof
Miles charged through the busy casino, filled with rage and resolve. Ethan's laughter echoed in his ears, adding fuel to the fire inside him. He noticed Ethan and his friends at the bar, their arrogant looks and relaxed demeanors making him even more determined. "Ethan!" called out Ethan's name. Miles's voice broke through the commotion, leading several heads to turn. A smirk appeared on Ethan's lips as he looked back over his shoulder. "Well, look who we have here, the major loser. What do you want, Miles?"Miles marched up to him, his eyes blazing. "You cheated. I know you did."Ethan's smirk widened, his friends exchanging amused glances. "Cheated? That's a pretty serious accusation, Miles. Got any proof?"Miles's fists clenched at his sides, his voice trembling with barely contained anger. "I saw the signals. The glances. You and your friends were communicating during the game."One of Ethan's friends, a tall man with a slick grin, leaned forward. "Easy with the accusations, bud
Collins leaned in close. “Did you really think I chose you at random for our plan? I needed a weak little pawn like you to help set Ethan up without any real threat of blowback. But you proved too pathetic even for that.”As the meaning of Collins’ words sunk in, Miles balled his hands into fists. “You used me? Your whole plan was to make me look like a fool?”“Ding ding ding! We have a winner!” Collins clapped mockingly. “I have to hand it to Ethan though, he played you like a fiddle. Got you dancing to his tune the whole time without you even realizing.”Miles saw red. All this time, he had been nothing more than a plaything for these men to manipulate. The humiliation and anger swirling inside him needed an outlet. “What do you want from me, Collins?” Miles spat.Collins smiled slowly. “I’m just here to offer you a chance to save face. Since you and your little wife and her family will be penniless after today.”“Don’t talk about Lola,” Miles warned.“Ooh, touchy subject! Anyway,
"You sure you want to do this?" Collins asked, raising an eyebrow. His face was covered in an evil smirk. "That's an awful lot of money to risk on one hand."Miles nodded firmly. "I'm sure. My family needs this. Let's play."An uneasy silence fell over the gathered onlookers as Collins pondered his opponent. Miles stared straight ahead, showing no signs of bluff or fear. After an agonizing minute, Collins sighed and pushed his own chips forward to call. "Alright, let's see 'em. What have you got?"Miles flipped over his cards to reveal a full house, kings over queens. It was an extremely strong hand, but not unbeatable. Collins paused for dramatic effect before slowly turning over his cards - two pair, jacks, and sevens. Gasps erupted from the crowd. Miles had done the unthinkable - beaten Collins at his own game with a massive bet. The billionaire grinned across the table at his foe, a mix of irritation and grudging admiration on his face. "Well played, man. I have to hand it to y