At my engagement party, my best friend and my fiancé Preston were playing strip poker. When I walked into the cabin, my best friend had stripped down to just a thin camisole, sitting brazenly on Preston’s lap. I frowned and confronted them, but Preston seemed completely unfazed. “Regular card games are boring. Just wanted to try something new.” Claire smiled sweetly, her eyes flirty. “We’re just playing regular Texas Hold’em. Besides the usual bets, whoever loses has to take off an article of clothing. It’s just the rules—you don’t mind, do you?” I was about to speak when Preston’s expression turned cold. “We aren’t even married yet, and you’re already trying to control me?” So I nodded and sat down at the card table under everyone’s gaze. “Oh, it’s just a card game. I might as well join—I’ve got nothing better to do anyway.” Preston frowned and glanced over at me. I looked away. “Since I’m already here, I might as well play.” The cabin fell silent as everyone’s eyes turned to me. Preston gave me a soft smile. “This kind of game isn’t for you. Go back to bed early. Tomorrow when the yacht docks, I’ll buy you that handbag you wanted.” In the past, when Preston spoke to me so gently, I would have been completely charmed, forgetting everything, foolishly doing whatever he asked. But today I just smiled faintly and stayed put. The atmosphere grew awkward for a moment. Claire batted her eyes. “If you don’t like this game, we can play something else instead.” But even as she said it, she made no move to get off Preston’s lap. Preston let out a cold laugh, looking at me with a rather unpleasant expression. “Mara, the engagement party isn’t even over, and you’re already giving me attitude and trying to control me? Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?” Everyone said Preston was a playboy, but I was the only one he’d publicly acknowledged. I thought once he got tired of playing around, he’d settle down. I’d followed him faithfully, finally waiting for this proper engagement party, yet he was still openly humiliating me on an occasion like this. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, but still met his gaze calmly, pretending nothing was wrong. “Since you said it’s just a game, I’m not someone who can’t join in.” Claire spoke to me in a chummy tone. “Exactly! It’s all just for fun anyway. You’re usually too much of a goody-two-shoes. Preston always says I’ll be a bad influence on you.” I scoffed inwardly. Claire’s family, the Hayes, was just a minor family to begin with, but she had no shame, was sweet-tongued, and knew how to work a room. Little by little, she’d managed to weasel her way into the upper-class socialite circle. Even a dog needs to be fed bones now and then, and over the years she’d been my sidekick, I hadn’t treated her badly. But I never expected her appetite to be so big that she’d dare set her sights on Preston. I gave her a soft smile, still using our usual fake-friends tone as I laughed. “Of course not, you’re overthinking it.” The onlookers finally snapped out of it and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Exactly! The night is young—it’d be a shame not to play a few rounds.” The speaker was Preston’s good friend Kyle. He quickly glanced at me. “Mara, we never knew you even knew how to play Texas Hold’em. Lucky for you, Preston’s a pro at the card table.” As he spoke, he shot Preston a meaningful look. “Tonight you two can team up—just don’t destroy us too badly.” But Preston didn’t give him any face at all. He kept his arm around Claire’s waist, giving me a cold laugh. “At the card table, it’s every man for himself. Either go back to bed now, or don’t cry when you lose later.” My heart ached, but I forced a smile. Claire seemed emboldened. She exchanged a suggestive glance with Preston. “How about we raise the stakes? Besides betting and stripping, the biggest winner of each round can make anyone at the table do one thing.” “But fair warning—Mara’s new at this, so go easy on her. Don’t pick on her.” The cabin immediately got lively as everyone started talking at once. “That sounds awesome! If I win, I’ll make Preston give me that westside property.” “Come on, no one who can beat Preston has been born yet.” “Then if I win, can I have a night with Mara? Hahaha.” Amidst the chatter, I slowly sat up straight, pulled out a stack of chips from beside me, and tossed them onto the table. “Deal the cards.”
The atmosphere in the cabin turned awkward and tense. Kyle glanced nervously between us and forced a smile. “I’ll be the dealer for now, guys.” With that, he pushed all the chips into the center of the table. “Betting starts now.” Preston’s cards lay on the table. He didn’t even lift a finger, slouched lazily in his chair as he casually tossed out another chip. “Raise.” Claire giggled flirtatiously as she called, practically melting into Preston’s arms. I pinched the corner of my cards and peeked. It was a mediocre hand. When my turn came, I didn’t hesitate and pushed out matching chips. “Whoa, Mara’s playing for keeps today?” Someone nearby egged us on. I tugged at the corner of my mouth and smiled faintly. “Just playing the game.” The first three community cards were dealt. The board looked unimpressive. After a few betting rounds, chips started piling up on the table. Preston seemed bored, and his raises got bigger, with an arrogant, bullying edge. Claire followed his lead closely, looking at me provocatively. “You gonna call or not? If you can’t handle it, just fold early and save yourself.” I gripped those two cards in my hand, my knuckles whitening slightly. I knew my hand was already behind. Preston most likely had a solid made hand. He was waiting for me to back down, waiting for me to show weakness in front of him, then forgive my overreaction with his usual fake magnanimity. My heart turned ice cold. I looked at the cozy couple across from me. Preston’s hand was even resting casually on Claire’s bare thigh. “Call.” I heard my own calm voice as I pushed another stack of chips forward. Preston raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised. The fourth community card was dealt. Nothing changed. My heart sank. “All in.” Preston said casually, pushing all his remaining chips to the center of the table. The huge pile of chips drew gasps from everyone. The pressure immediately fell on me. I had very few chips left. Calling meant betting everything I had. Claire covered her mouth and giggled softly. “Just fold. Preston’s being nice—he doesn’t want to see you lose too badly.” Everyone’s eyes were on me. Whispers filled my ears. “What’s Mara even thinking? Why is she trying to embarrass Preston?” “Oh please, everyone knows Mara’s head over heels for Preston. She’s usually too scared to even speak up. Now that they’re engaged, she thinks she can play the wife.” “Yeah right, like Preston would ever settle down.” My right hand balled into a fist without thinking. Ever since I was fourteen, when Preston saved me from those street thugs, I’d been following in his footsteps. I didn’t care about the teasing or the jokes. I only wanted Preston. But tonight of all nights, our engagement party, why did I suddenly not want to play this game anymore? “I call.” I pushed all my remaining chips forward. Showdown. Preston revealed two pair. And I had nothing but garbage cards. “Heh.” He let out a faint scoff, hard to read. Claire laughed sweetly. “My luck’s not bad—I’ve got a baby straight.” “A bet’s a bet.” Claire whistled at me. “Take something off.” The cabin went quiet, leaving only the sound of waves and the engine’s hum. Preston gave me a cool look but didn’t say a word. My face went a little pale. Without a word, I slipped off my jacket. Kyle let out a relieved breath and quickly said, “C’mon, let’s keep going.” “Wait.” Claire spoke up suddenly. “If I remember right, I won this hand.” She dragged out her words, like a cat playing with a mouse. “According to the rules, I can make anyone do anything, right?” No one said a word. The vibe got weird. “Then I’ll pick Mara…”
Claire’s voice wasn’t loud, but everyone in the cabin heard it clearly. “Earlier Vincent said he wanted to get to know Mara, so I pick Mara to kiss Vincent.” She extended her finger and pointed lightly at an unfamiliar man sitting in the corner. He was a known player in our circle who’d hit on me plenty of times before, but out of respect for Preston, never dared to be too obvious about it. I snapped my head up, instinctively looking at Preston. His face was red with anger, but he didn’t say a word. The cabin went dead silent. Even Vincent looked totally confused. Kyle frantically tried to signal Claire with his eyes. “Haha, the drinks are hitting hard tonight.” But Claire ignored him, just smiling mockingly. “What’s wrong? This is how we always play. You’re usually such a goody-goody. You’re engaged now—what can’t you handle?” The atmosphere froze again, until Preston spoke up. “Rules are rules. Mara, a bet’s a bet.” That casual comment was like a poisoned dagger, piercing straight through my heart. So he could let Claire sit on his lap. So he could watch coldly as I took off my clothes one by one. So he could now, with his own words, push me into another man’s arms to endure this humiliation. A wave of absurdity and icy cold washed over me. I looked at his handsome but cold face and suddenly found it completely unfamiliar. I walked numbly toward Vincent, like a puppet on strings. Under everyone’s eyes, I bent down and gave his oily cheek a quick peck. The cabin was so quiet you could hear the waves hitting the hull. I stood up, my eyes stinging with tears I couldn’t hold back. “Is that enough?” Claire paused, then smiled sweetly. “Of course.” Kyle quickly said, “Alright, Mara, you must be tired. Why don’t you head to bed early?” I took a deep breath, but under everyone’s gaze, I sat back down at the card table. “No. I want to keep playing.” I stood there, my gaze moving past Preston and finally settling on Claire. I never thought the lapdog I’d kept would have such ambition. Always so eager to please, so well-behaved and sensible. Turns out the quiet ones are the ones you have to watch. “That last round—Claire won as dealer and had the right to make someone do something, right?” I spoke slowly. “So next, do you dare play a few big rounds with me? Just the two of us?” Claire froze, then laughed like she’d heard something funny. “Mara, you want to play against me? Play what?” “Texas Hold’em. But we can make the stakes even higher.” “You’ve always wanted that beauty spa I own, right? If you win, I’ll sign it over to you.” I paused, looking at her, enunciating each word. “If you lose, you take off all your clothes. And… you leave this table. Get off Preston’s lap. Now.” The cabin exploded. Claire’s face instantly soured. She looked to Preston for help. Preston’s brow furrowed deeply. He finally looked at me properly, his tone warning. “Mara, cut it out!” Provoked by me, Claire immediately took the bait. “Fine! I’ll bet with you! But just leaving the table is boring. If I lose, I won’t go near Preston for the rest of the night—not within three feet. But if you lose, you transfer the spa immediately, and…” “You personally pour my drinks and apologize.” “Deal.” I agreed without hesitation. Kyle tried to talk us down, but seeing how heated we were, he reluctantly dealt the cards. Only Claire and I remained in this round. Preston sat off to the side, scowling, not playing. Three community cards were dealt. The board looked uneventful. Claire looked at me with growing disdain. Her usual careful act was gone. She acted like she already won, not taking me seriously at all. After the fourth community card, she went all in. “Mara, you gonna call or not? If not, admit defeat and start pouring!” Preston spoke up too, with the last of his patience. “Mara—” “I call.” I cut him off calmly, pushing all my chips forward. Showdown. Claire showed her cards—a pair of Kings, making three of a kind with the community cards. A triumphant smile already spread across her face. Kyle flipped my cards over, looking sorry for me. “Mara, your Ace and Queen…” “Just random cards…”
The mocking laughter around me got louder. “Mara’s totally lost it. If I embarrassed myself this bad, I’d die of shame.” “First time I’ve seen someone try to act like the girlfriend only to crash and burn.” Claire covered her red lips with her hand, looking victorious. “Gambling should be fun. Getting this worked up is bad luck at the tables.” With that, she kicked a wine bottle on the table with her high heel. The insult in that gesture was crystal clear. “We’ve known each other so long, but this is the first time I’ll drink wine poured by Mara herself.” I took a deep breath. “I get it. A bet’s a bet.” I stood up under everyone’s watchful eyes and poured her glass after glass of wine. Preston, quiet for so long, finally spoke up, sounding annoyed. “Mara, haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?” For the rest of the night, just about everyone on the yacht knew that Mara had been totally humiliated on her engagement night. Someone who’d never played Texas Hold’em before acted like a stubborn gambler, losing until she was completely beaten. Almost everyone at the table had taken off several pieces of clothing. I was down to my last piece of clothing—a tight red dress. Tonight was my engagement party. This red dress represented my most shy, girlish hopes. I’d wanted Preston to take it off me personally on this happiest of nights. But that day would probably never come now. My hand holding the wine glass shook a little. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them not to fall. From age fourteen until now, a whole ten years. Thanks for using the cruelest, most humiliating way to end our story once and for all. “Preston.” “I don’t think the earlier games were exciting enough. Since we’re in international waters, why not play for something bigger?” Preston frowned. “What are you up to now?” I met his eyes. “I only have this one piece of clothing left, so I want to bet one final round with all of you.” “I’m betting all the assets in my name.” When I said that, everyone was shocked. Preston’s eyes sharpened immediately. He sat up straight. “Mara, do you even know what you’re saying?” I gave him a faint smile. “Don’t worry. I know exactly what I’m doing.” “If I win, I want you to agree to one thing. And you and her—” I pointed at Claire, then looked toward the deck, at the calm ocean. “Jump off my yacht and swim back yourselves.” Total silence. The yacht had been sailing all night. No one knew what would happen to someone jumping into the ocean now. Claire’s face changed. “Are you out of your mind?” But I stayed calm. “You too scared? That’s more money than you’ll ever see in your life.” Claire swallowed hard. The huge temptation was right in front of her. Preston laughed coldly. “I’ll match whatever you put up. If you lose, you swim back alone. Mara, I’ve given you too many chances. You’re the one pushing this.” The dealer started dealing cards. This time, neither Preston nor I moved. Neither of us looked at our cards, just kept raising the bets. After three rounds, Claire couldn’t take the pressure and folded, bowing out. Only Preston and I were left at the table. Kyle’s voice sounded dry as he announced the final river card. The board was complete. Preston’s eyes locked on mine. “Mara, admit defeat now, and I can pretend you were just drunk tonight, acting out.” “Forget the ocean jump. I can manage those assets for you.” I said nothing, just slowly lifted my two hole cards that had been face down on the table. Ten of Diamonds. Jack of Diamonds. And the community cards on the table were: Ace of Diamonds, King of Diamonds, Queen of Hearts, Eight of Spades, and that final, deciding Queen of Diamonds. When that last card was revealed, Kyle gasped, his eyes widening. The smile on Preston’s face froze instantly. He jumped to his feet. “This can’t be!”
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