When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 234

“Going back just means drowning in more work, anyway. I’m exhausted.”

Nelly shot Brody a look and laughed, that teasing kind of laugh that always seemed to poke at him. “Brody, I don’t plan to be stuck in a place like this with you.”

Brody pulled his hand away, and just like that, his voice turned cool and distant. “Then we find a way to keep winning. You know there’s always a way for us to come out on top.”

Nelly caught his eye. For a moment, they just looked at each other. No words needed. They both knew exactly what the other was thinking.

The final round for D-section was about to start. Brody and Nelly were a team now—duos only.

A staff member checked their chips and nodded. “Table thirty-seven.”

Since her winning streak began, Nelly had felt the weight of unfriendly stares following her everywhere. Now, those stares were out in the open. Every player at their table was watching, eyes narrowed, sizing them up like prey.

She leaned closer and whispered, “Looks like we’re the ones to beat.”

Brody just nodded, all calm. “That’s how it should be.”

Nelly drew a breath, trying to steady her nerves. She didn’t say anything else, but under the table, Brody squeezed her hand, just for a second.

There was only one way to keep winning. They had to cheat.

Nelly could memorize every card the dealer held, and Brody could figure out what everyone else was holding just by the way they bet. Together, they could control the game, no matter how it was played. The real challenge was swapping out the cards.

Brody’s hands were quick and steady. Before they walked in, he’d shown Nelly the trick, not really expecting her to get it so fast. She nailed it on her first try.

“Don’t worry. We won’t need to swap unless it’s desperate.” Brody leaned in, his voice barely more than a breath. “We just need to trust each other. No one’s going to catch us.”

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