Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

Tonight will be as dire as last night.Lily lost quite gracefully, barely retaining a trace of confidence so that the men around her would not notice that she was drowning in front of their eyes.She wore one of the most evocative gowns, sheer tulle with black embroidery, giving the impression that she was only wearing a thin layer of lace. Standing among a group of dandies, Lily's expression was as if wearing a calm and happy mask, stiff and lifeless.Her chances of winning Nicole back were slipping through her fingers, and her heart was so empty that if someone stabbed her right now, she wouldn't even bleed.What happened?She asked herself in panic that her luck would never be like this.

She noticed that Rick's eyes had been staring at her, and the disapproval was self-evident.However, Lily didn't care. If someone else was in her own situation and made such a terrible mistake, she would persuade him to try his luck again next time.But she had no time, only today and tomorrow, and five thousand pounds stabbed her like a sharp spur.Fitz—the dealer at the casino—watched her actions without comment, without looking her in the eye.Lily knew she was running too deep too fast, taking foolish risks.She tried to control herself again and again, but it was too late.She is in the typical gambler's consistent law of failure - once you start, you can't want to stop.

With a flick of her hand, she threw three dice recklessly. "Quick! Let's make a three!" The dice were rolled several times until the number came up.One, two, six, gone.She lost almost all her money. "Er," she said with a shrug. "I think I'm going to do the accounting tonight." Rick suddenly appeared next to her and said coldly, "Come on, let's go for a walk first." "I want to play." "How can I play without money?" He clasped her wrist.Lily had no choice but to leave with a smile to the others at the table, promising to be back soon.Rick forced her to walk to Wooth's empty table, where she could talk in privacy without being interrupted.

"Nosy bastard." Lily gritted her teeth and said with a smile on her face, as if the two of them had a good conversation.Why are you dragging me away?How dare you refuse me to pay - I have gambled hundreds of times here, and I always win! " "You've lost your lucky hand," Rick said flatly. "It's gone." She seemed to have been slapped. "That's not true, there's no such thing as luck, just numbers, the perception of numbers and chance—" "Whatever you say, it's gone anyway." "No, I'm going back to the table to prove you wrong."

"You'll just lose more." "Then let me lose!" she said desperately and angrily. "What do you think you're doing... trying to protect me? Is this the entitlement you've recently given yourself? To hell, I have to win back the five thousand pounds or lose Nicole forever!" "What if you lose more tonight?" Lily knew there was no need for an answer, and he knew very well that her only option was to sell her body to the highest bidder. "You'll get your damn money back, or your flesh and blood, whatever you want, I don't care anymore, all I want is my daughter, you understand?"

Rick's tone became heavy. "She doesn't need a whore to be her mother." "Let fate decide," said Lily tensely. "That's your philosophy, isn't it?" Rick fell silent like a stone, then bowed mockingly and let go of her hand.At that moment, Lily felt lost and wandering, just like when Rick let her into the Keshi Club that night two years ago. He was as captivating and changeable as the tides, but once again she knew she couldn't rely on him.There had always been a small part of her hope that he would be there to help her when her luck ran out, and that hope was gone forever.She couldn't blame Rick, only herself, as she had been before.She turned her back on him and strode away.

When she approached the big round table, she put on a smile and said, "Gentlemen, please excuse the interruption just now, now we—" She exclaimed, stopped talking, and looked at the newcomers at the table. Alex and the others wore black trousers, a brocade silk waistcoat, and a dark green coat with gold buttons.He smiled leisurely at her, and her sensuality sparked.He didn't look the same as before, even at his best, there was a tinge of indifference and reserve.Now that reservation is gone, as if a fire burst out from within.Lily had seen gamblers with that kind of smile, with luck in their pockets, and throwing all their fortunes away without a care.

One of her hearts sank even deeper.Although she knew she would face him eventually—but why now?First it was losing money, then it was Rick's abandonment, and now Alex appeared again.Tonight was turning into the worst night of her life. "Master Lei, what a surprise, this is not your favorite place to come. Isn't it?" "I like wherever you are." "A stupid and naive fool." "You left before our last game was over." "I had more important things to do at the time." Alex looked at the table. "Such as regaining luck?" It turned out that he had heard that she was unlucky tonight, these big-mouthed people.Lily shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't believe in luck."

"I believe." "I guess luck is on your side tonight?" she sniffed. "Please don't stop you from betting because of me, sir." Fuqua and Bender made a place for him, but Alex still had her eyes on her. "I'll bet you ten thousand pounds all night." He saw Lily's eyes widen, her throat twitching silently. The movement on the table stopped abruptly. "What did he say?" Tafo asked eagerly. "what?" The news spread among the gaming tables, and other people rushed over upon hearing the news, with a hundred eyes staring at them greedily.

"Very interesting," Lily said barely hoarsely. Alex took the cashier's check from his inner pocket and dropped it on the table. She stared at the paper in amazement, then at his face.He smiled slightly, as if he understood the flustered thoughts in her mind.God!He is serious. The situation in front of me was like a dream, but I was like a bystander, not a participant.She had to reject the bet, which was already too outrageous a bet, unacceptably high.However, if she wins, the money can save her daughter...but if she loses... At that moment, she tried her best to imagine it, and immediately her whole body turned cold with fear, and she shook her head slightly.Alex's eyes fell on her quivering lips, the fun in his eyes dimmed, and when he spoke again, his voice was surprisingly gentle.

"And if I add another five thousand pounds?" There were exclamations and cheers from all around. "It's fifteen thousand pounds now!" cried Tarshun, and men began to pour in from the dining-room and smoking-room, and the bystanders spread the word. Normally Lily didn't care to be the center of attention, her wild reputation was well earned, but this wasn't a joke or a prank... it was life and death, and she couldn't put the bets back in his face - she needed the money too badly.She needs help, but there is no one to turn to.Only a pair of piercing silver-gray eyes could see her bravado, her disguise, and her fragile defense.Don't do this to me, she wanted to plead, but just looked at him without saying a word. "It's up to you, Miss Luo." He said calmly. what decision?Her head was buzzing.What the hell decision?She can only appeal to fate, perhaps this strange proposal is a chance from heaven - she has to win, she will win, and use the money to buy more time and safety for Nicole. "No—no dice," she said to herself. "Our usual way?" he asked. It was difficult for her to gather enough breaths to answer. "Pick a poker room and play three—three games?" A satisfied light flashed across Alex's eyes, and he nodded quickly. "Bet accepted!" someone yelled. The Keshi Club had never been so tumultuous. The noise of the crowd sounded like thunder in Lily's ears. People pushed forward, and Lily was uncomfortably nailed to the edge of the table.The man closest to her tried to give her some space, but the outermost man still pushed forward, trying to get a better look. Lily half-turned in confusion, and the corner of the table pierced her side, causing her to flinch. "Don't push, I can't breathe—" Alex moved quickly, reaching out to pull her closer, his arms forming a protective circle for her. Lily smiled vaguely, her heart beating wildly. "Look what you did, my God!" He said softly, "It's okay." She felt herself trembling, whether it was excitement or surprise or fear, she didn't know.But when she asked what he meant, her ears heard Rick calling the shots. "Everyone," Rick yelled, jostling to the front. "Everyone, please step back, let Miss Gypsy have a little room to breathe, back up, back up, so that the game can begin." The crowd gradually moved away, allowing Rick to squeeze into the middle.Alex let go of Lily, and she automatically turned to Rick, asking him for help with her eyes. Rick still had an unfathomable expression on his face, instead of looking at Alex, he stared at Lily's small and nervous face. "Wooth told me there was a little bet here." "Two wins out of three at blackjack," Lily said tremblingly. "We...need a room—" "No, it's here," Rick said with a smile. "It's more convenient, because those of us can't squeeze into one room." Lily was stunned by this kind of betrayal, without a single word of concern, he just let it happen like this, and used this scene to please everyone, even if she was drowning, he would only give her a drink, and would not stretch out his hand to pull her. A wave of anger gave her strength. "As always," she said coldly. "Again juggling." "I, Creek is not in vain, Miss Gypsy," he called the assistant. "Wuss, move a table over here, let's see what the cards say tonight!" For the first time in the history of a casino, activity at the roulette tables was suspended as waiters brought fresh drinks and onlookers placed their bets one after another.Lily bitterly found out that most of the men who gambled with her liked to watch her lose. They thought it would make her remember her identity and dare not venture into the men's club again.Hateful savages, she thought, there is nothing good about these men. "Should I shuffle the cards?" Rick asked. "No," Lily said sharply. "I only trust Woeth." He gave a mocking salute and made way for Wooth to shuffle the cards. Wus seriously wiped his glasses with a towel before putting them on again, and unsealed a deck of cards, and everyone fell silent expectantly.Wus shuffled the cards skillfully, and did not put the playing cards on the table until they were thoroughly shuffled, and looked at Lily. "Please cut the cards." She reached out tremblingly to cut the cards.Woos moved the top stack to the bottom, and with precise gestures, slow enough for everyone to see clearly.He removed the first card and put it aside, his calmness reassured Lily, watching his every movement carefully.Make sure he deals fairly. "Blackjack, two wins out of three," Wus said. "A stands for one or eleven, at the player's discretion." He deals two cards to each person, one face up and one face down.Lily's card is an eight and Alex's is a ten. Wus said calmly: "Miss Luo?" The person on his left had the right to call first. Lily turned over the folded card and bit her lower lip.two o'clock.Look at Wus, she gestures for another one.When he dealt the card, it was nine o'clock, and everyone around had an obvious reaction!Chewing and sighing, everyone wins or loses.Lily began to relax, and secretly reached out to press her forehead. She was holding nineteen o'clock, and the points were in her favour. She watched Alex flip the cards, seven, and his total was seventeen.He signaled for another card, and the dealt card was a Jack, with a total of more than twenty-one points.Lily breathed a sigh of relief, she won the first game.Several congratulated her by patting her on the shoulder impulsively, making her grin. Wus put the cards aside and dealt the cards again, and everyone fell silent immediately.This time Lily took eighteen, and it would be too reckless to bid another card. Frowning, she glanced at Alex's face-up card, the king.He flipped another card, and Lily's heart sank, it was nine, and now they each won a game.She looked at Alex, who had no smugness or worry on his face, just a calm and certainty that bothered her deeply.How could he be so calm and collected when her whole life was on a flimsy playing card? Wus dealt the cards for the third time, the room was unnaturally quiet, and everyone held their breath.Lily looked at the card in front of her, a queen; flipped over another card, it was a three.She motioned for a third, and Woos sent her a seven, and her total was twenty. "Thank goodness!" she grinned at Alex, who was doomed this time.With a relaxed and happy mood, she thought about the fifteen thousand pounds, perhaps such a large sum that it would be enough to bribe Shidi to let Nicole go forever.Or at least buy her time, and she can rehire the private eye she was forced to abandon due to lack of money.She looked at Alex triumphantly. His first card was a ten, and he turned over the second. Heart A. He looked at Lily's startled face. "Blackjack." Blackjack is born. There was absolute silence all around. Rick was the first to speak. "You can't live with your own crimes," he said gently. The shouts of the crowd were like the beginning of a primitive jungle ritual. "The game is over, the winner is Sir Lei!" Wu Si announced loudly.But his voice was drowned out by the uproar, and the guests behaved like primitive savages rather than civilized English gentlemen. Wine was overflowing, papers were flying, a large group of people shook hands with Alex, patted him on the shoulder, and some even poured vodka on his head.Alex ducked to avoid the wine, then got up to search for Lily.Shocked by the outcome, she made her way through the crowd, toward an exit. "Lily!" Alex tried to follow, but the crowd made it difficult for him to pass.He watched her disappear cursingly. Lily fled in panic, stomach knotted, too scared to see where she was going, until she hit something hard and was almost out of breath.She gasped in surprise and began to stagger to the ground.Rick, who was blocking her way, reached out and grabbed her to stand upright, staring at her with those green ice-like eyes. "Let go of me," she hissed. "Women have no self-esteem, want to gamble and then want to escape. Right? Cowardly and timid women!" Lily grabbed his arm desperately. "Rick, I can't do this! I can't!" "You can. It's no big deal, you'll pay your wages, Miss Gypsy, even if I have to drag you to bed myself. If you leave, I'll get you back, now go to my apartment and wait for him there .” "Why here? I... I'd rather go to my house." "You have to be here, so I know you won't run away." "No," she shook her head numbly, tears were already rolling down her eyes. "No!" Rick suddenly changed, and his gentle smile bewildered her. "No? It's too late, Miss Gypsy. It's a hard load, but you must take it." His voice became kind and gentle, as if addressing a stubborn child. "There's no place in London where you'll bet if you don't keep your bet!" "Why didn't you stop me just now?" Lily blurted out through gritted teeth. "If you cared a little about me, you wouldn't let it happen! You'd keep me from getting into this—he'd hurt me, Rick, you don't understand—" "I understand, he won't hurt you, he just wants to spend some time with you, my dear." To her surprise, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Go, have a glass of wine to strengthen your courage, and wait for him to come up." He tried to take her hand away, but she held it tighter. "What am I going to do?" She choked up, looking at him pleadingly with her big eyes. Rick's brows frowned, and his tenderness suddenly disappeared, replaced by an insulting smile. "Go to bed and lie down, it's easy. Go now, and don't ask me which side to lie on." His mocking smile was the only weapon that could drive her away. Lily let go of his sleeve. "I will never forgive you." Rick just pointed to the stairs leading to his private quarters.She gathered up the remaining self-esteem, straightened her shoulders, and strode away. As soon as she left, Rick's smile disappeared instantly. He walked into the hall, his eyes met Wuss, and he silently asked where the Areks were?Woos nodded towards the edge of the crowd as Alex was about to shake off a few of the men following him and head for the door. Alex ignored the harsh congratulations and walked through the crowd.He looked in the direction of the coffee room and the study, hesitating for a while, not knowing where Lily was. "Master Lei!" Alex turned around and saw Wus calling him, and at the same moment, Kerak appeared.There was a certain rough, hard look on his face that made him look more like a city hooligan who had made a fortune but still couldn't let go of his dark past, and his green eyes stared coldly at their silver-gray owner.There was no rivalry between them, but a strong sense of discord. "My lord," Rick said quietly. "I just told Miss Gypsy she did it on her own. Worth is fair, no one can say—" "Where is she?" Alex interrupted him. "First I have something to say." "what?" A strange expression flashed across Rick's face, as if he was searching for words, as if he wanted to say a lot, but he was afraid of revealing his secret. "Be nice to her," he finally said, his voice calm and menacing. "Take your time, or I'll make you pay dearly." He waved to Wus. "He'll take you upstairs, my lord, Lily just..." He paused, the corners of his mouth twisted impatiently. "There she waits." "It's so convenient!" Alex said tensely. "You don't just share your women, you provide rooms. Rick sneered nonchalantly. "My things are never shared, understand? Yes, I see you understand." Alex stared at him in bewilderment. "Then you and her aren't—" "Never." Rick shook his head. "But before you must—" "I only sleep with prostitutes." Alex looked blank, and Rick smiled coldly. "Lily is a good girl, I wouldn't touch her with these hands, she's too good for me." Alex was full of frustration and surprise. Could the rumor be false?No romance between them?How could he believe such an unbelievable thing?But what purpose do they lie?Unreasonable, god damn it!Is it possible for him to discover Luo Lili's thoughts? Rick waved to Wuss and walked away quickly. Alex was dumbfounded, watching Rick leave in a hurry. "What's going on between these two?" Woos looked at him calmly. "It's okay, as Mr. Ke told you, Mr. Ke has always maintained a platonic friendship with Miss Luo carefully." After speaking, he motioned for Alex to follow him through the winding corridor. "Why?" Alex asked. "What's wrong with her? Or is there something wrong with him?" He stopped and grabbed Wooth. "tell me!" Wus broke away gently. "My personal opinion," he said quietly. "It's because he's afraid of falling in love with her." Alex's hands dropped, and he felt as if he was on the verge of some great catastrophe. "Ugh, hell!" Woos looked at him. "Should we continue upstairs, my lord?" Alex nodded without further words. Wooth opened a door, and a narrow staircase led to another door.He looked at Alex, with a look on his face that he had something to say, the same as Rick just now but depressed. "Let me assure you, my lord, you will not be disturbed. If you need anything, just ring the bell. The staff here are extremely efficient and their words are more careful." He passed Alex and disappeared like a shadow. . Alex found himself frowning at the closed door, remembering the look on Lily's face when she had lost to him - terrified, obviously expecting the worst from him, especially after she tied him up .But he didn't want to hurt her.Suddenly, impatiently, he wanted her to understand that it wasn't out of revenge.He grabbed the knob and turned it, pushing the door open. Woos found Rick in a small, rarely used room, consisting of only chairs, a table, and a bench so that business could run smoothly in privacy.Rick stood by the window, almost hidden by the curtains.He remained silent, though aware of Wooth's entry, and rolled up the red velvet curtain restlessly. "Mr. Ke?" Wu Si asked hesitantly. Rick seemed to be talking to himself. "My God! She's got a face as white as chalk, with shaking knees and chattering teeth. I bet Ray didn't expect that." He grinned harshly. "I don't envy the poor bastard." "Really, sir?" There was no answer, just silence, Rick's face turned away, and there was a strange sound in his breath.After a while, he spoke hoarsely. "I'm not good enough for her, but I know what she needs, someone of her type... who hasn't spent her life in the ghetto. I think... I think she might care about me, but I can't let that happen, I ...I want her to live better." He covered his eyes with one hand, smiled bitterly and laughed at himself. "If only I was born a gentleman," he whispered gruffly. "If I'd been born into a good family, I'd be with her now, not that damned Lord Wolverton," he swallowed hard, trying to contain himself. "I want a drink." "What wine?" "It's okay, as long as the sooner the better." He waited until after Woos had left before pressing his face behind the curtain and rubbing his cheek with the velvet cloth.