Night had swallowed the city whole, and with it came the glow of neon and gold. Downtown pulsed with energy, the streets alive with laughter, music, and the distant growl of exotic engines.
Ethan's Mercedes-Benz GLE glided through the flow of traffic, its polished black body reflecting the electric hues of billboards and signs. His grip on the wheel was steady, but inside, his chest hammered like a drum. Every block brought him closer to the place Victor had promised to meet him—the place the system had ordered him to gamble with everything he had.
The grand casino appeared before him like a vision from another world. The building rose high and wide, its facade gleaming under a wash of golden light. Marble pillars framed the entrance, chandeliers glittered through the tall glass doors, and a crimson carpet stretched down the valet lane like an artery leading to the heart of the beast.
Lamborghinis and Bugattis purred softly as they pulled up ahead of him. A custom Rolls-Royce glided past, its driver stepping out in a suit lined with diamonds. Even the humblest cars in sight cost more than anything Ethan had owned before the system entered his life.
His jaw tightened. He had walked into classrooms where people mocked him for his shoes, where his very existence was a punchline. Tonight, those same kinds of people were here, but he couldn't afford to flinch.
The Mercedes eased to a stop at the valet station.
A young valet in a perfectly pressed uniform stepped forward, bowing slightly, his voice polished and professional. "Welcome, sir. May I take your vehicle?"
Ethan forced himself to nod with calm authority, passing the keys into the young man's waiting hand. He didn't let his hesitation show, didn't let his nerves slip past the mask he wore. The valet slid into the driver's seat smoothly, and within seconds the car had disappeared into the underground garage.
For a brief moment, Ethan stood still at the entrance, surrounded by laughter and the faint strains of live piano music drifting from within. Men in tailored tuxedos passed by without sparing him a glance, women in gowns glittering with jewels swayed on the arms of their companions. Waiters glided gracefully through the crowd, carrying crystal glasses of champagne on silver trays.
Ethan took a deep breath. The suit hugged his shoulders perfectly, the watch gleamed faintly on his wrist. He belonged—at least in appearance. He clung to that thought like a lifeline.
The glass doors opened automatically as he stepped forward, and the casino revealed itself in all its grandeur.
It was a world drenched in gold.
Rows of roulette wheels spun under chandeliers the size of small houses, dice clattered across green felt tables where fortunes changed hands with every roll. The hum of voices was steady but never chaotic—controlled, powerful, as if everyone here knew the weight of the money being played.
At one table, a man laughed as he tossed down a stack of chips taller than Ethan's fist. At another, a woman leaned forward, her diamond necklace catching the light as she whispered to her opponent. Everywhere he looked, money was being treated like paper, fortunes tossed carelessly as if they were pebbles on a beach.
The slot machines glittered along the far wall, their cheerful chimes almost drowned by the gravity of the main floor. Waiters wove through the sea of wealth, champagne bubbling in crystal flutes, trays of exotic foods balanced with practiced grace.
Ethan's heart beat faster, but his steps remained steady.
He reminded himself of why he was here: the mission, the reward, the future he needed to protect. He remembered his mother on the ground, begging the landlord for mercy. He remembered Anna's small voice, trusting him to fix everything. He remembered the system's cold prompt, forcing him to wager everything he had.
This was no longer about pride. It was survival.
But still, he couldn't shake the thought gnawing at the back of his mind. This wasn't an ordinary casino. The air itself carried weight, a heaviness that pressed on his shoulders. The laughter wasn't careless—it was dangerous. These were predators in tailored suits, hunters in silk gowns, and Ethan had just stepped into their den.
He swallowed hard, scanning the sea of faces. Somewhere in this glittering storm, Victor was waiting for him.
And the night was only just beginning.
Ethan's steps slowed as he took in the glittering hall. He had seen wealth before—through glass, in passing, never up close. But here, it surrounded him, pressed in on him, whispered in every clink of crystal and shuffle of chips. He kept his expression calm, his heartbeat steady.
Then a voice broke through the hum of the crowd.
"You look new."
Ethan turned.
She approached like a goddess descending from a throne of gold. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders in waves, catching the light of the chandeliers. Every detail of her dress screamed wealth and elegance, hugging a figure sculpted to perfection. The glitter of jewels at her throat paled against the glow of her skin. But it wasn't just beauty—there was power in her stride, in the way people unconsciously moved aside as she passed.
When her eyes met Ethan's, she smiled. A smile that could topple kingdoms.
"I don't believe we've met," she said softly, her voice smooth as silk. "I'm Selene."
Her gaze lingered, curious. Expectant.
Ethan returned the smile, though smaller, more restrained. "Ethan."
Just his name. Nothing more. He wasn't ready to expose himself, not here, not to someone whose presence radiated danger wrapped in beauty.
Selene tilted her head, studying him with the sharp eyes of a huntress. She could tell at a glance who belonged in this world and who didn't—and yet Ethan was a mystery. His suit was perfect, his watch gleamed, his posture calm. But she had never seen him before. And in this world, strangers did not simply appear.
"What brings you here tonight?" she asked, the curiosity sharpening in her tone. "I make it a point to know all the players in this house, and yet you…"
Her words trailed, an unspoken question hanging in the air.
Ethan's lips parted, searching for the right response. He needed to tread carefully.
But he never got the chance.
"Ethan!"
The booming voice cut through the casino like a blade. Ethan turned to see Victor striding toward him, a wide grin plastered across his face. His presence was loud, commanding, and people instinctively turned to look.
Victor clapped Ethan on the shoulder with the easy confidence of an old friend. "I'm glad you called me, brother. I thought you might back out. But since your luck is always good…" His grin widened, eyes glinting with excitement. "Why don't we play poker tonight?"
Selene blinked, her carefully sculpted expression faltering for the briefest moment. Victor Vale. His family's empire stretched across three states, their wealth so vast it funded casinos like this one all over the world. Men and women lined up for a chance to be acknowledged by him, to share even a passing word.
And here he was, calling this unfamiliar Ethan brother.
Selene's mind raced. Who was this man?
Ethan gave a polite nod, his voice calm despite the storm inside. "Poker sounds fine."
Victor laughed, clearly pleased. "Good! But—" he tilted his head slyly—"why didn't you invite Mary? She loves poker as much as I do."
Selene froze. Mary. Even in her circles, that name carried weight. Mary was an enigma, one of the most influential women in the states. No one knew her family, her background, or where her fortune came from—but everyone knew her name. She was power, whispered in boardrooms, feared in high society.
Ethan hesitated for only a moment. Then, with a quiet confidence that shook Selene to her core, he pulled out his phone.
"I didn't want to disturb her," Ethan said simply. "But if you think she'd enjoy it…"
Victor leaned back, smirking. "Of course she would. Call her."
Selene watched, barely breathing, as Ethan dialed. The thought burned through her mind—he actually has her number.
The line rang, and then Mary's cool, elegant voice answered. Ethan spoke quietly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "Mary. It's me. Victor and I are at the casino. Would you like to join us for poker?"
There was a pause, then a soft laugh from the other end. "You? Inviting me to a game? …Alright, Ethan. I'll come."
The call ended.
Ethan slid the phone back into his pocket as though nothing extraordinary had just happened.
Selene, however, was shaken to her core.
Who is this man?