The hall erupted into a clamor of whispers.
"Has Aria lost her mind? Betting her own mother's keepsakes all for a man?"
"Her mom passed away so young. Everyone knows those things are the last cherished mementos she has left..."
"She just can't let go of Thayer."
"What good is clinging on? Can't you see Thayer is completely..."
I turned to look at my father.
The look in his eyes had shifted, a flicker of something sharp and unreadable. He stared at me for a long, heavy moment, and then finally spoke. "A gamble that stakes everything... it's a bet on your life, and your heart. The person who dares to place such a wager has a reason that leaves them no choice. And the person being wagered on? They have no right to refuse." He paused. His voice was soft, but the entire banquet hall went dead silent. "Althea qualifies. And you... you qualify too."
"Then let's gamble," I quickly said.
As I sat down, Colin seized my wrist, his teeth grinding so hard I could almost hear them c***k. "Didn't you say you'd accept the outcome, win or lose? I volunteered to expand into overseas markets for you. I busted my ass to fly back on your wedding day. And now you're going to break your promise... for him?"
I looked at his red-rimmed eyes and smiled, just a little. "If I lose, I'll absolutely keep my word. But today was supposed to be my wedding day. What makes you so dead certain I've already lost?"
My father, seated at the head of the table, swept his gaze straight at us. "If you're going to gamble, then set the rules."
I rose to my feet. "Dad, Thayer is in the jewelry trade. His specialty is emerald gambling. He and I each pick one from a pile of rough stones, cut them open on the spot, and whoever's stone has the better quality wins."
The words hadn't even hit the ground before a storm of sharp gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Emerald gambling? Against Thayer? Aria is practically walking straight into the line of fire!"
Thayer rushed forward a step. "Well, that's not fair. I've been appraising rough stones for years and she's never even touched one. A bet like that would be far too stacked against her. How about a game of chess instead?"
The corner of my mouth curved up.
Exactly what I wanted.
Thayer and I grew up together. Our families arranged a childhood betrothal. The whole city believed his talent for judging emerald was something he was born with. But only the two of us knew the truth.
The one who had always been behind the scenes, appraising the raw materials, setting the prices, gambling on emerald mine prospects... that was me.
And his real forte? Actually, it was chess.
I knew absolutely nothing about chess. He figured dragging me onto the board would let him seize control without breaking a sweat.
Gazing at that painfully familiar face, a wave of indescribable sorrow washed over me. He was fighting tooth and nail to beat me, terrified I'd force him to marry me.
"Dad, I agree to the chess match." My voice came out flat. Calm.
The chess board was set up in a flash. One game, winner takes all.
Althea sat off to the side, a knowing smirk curling at the corner of her lips. She knew all too well how formidable Thayer was at chess, and she knew I didn't have the slightest clue. But what she didn't know was that in my previous life, after Thayer broke off our engagement, he played a game against the country's highest-ranked chess player.
That game, he was crushed.
And I, from the opening move to the very end, watched and burned every single move of that player into my memory.
Once the game began, I replayed every move from memory, forcing him to respond. Thayer's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. At last, once I managed to checkmate him, he laid his piece down with a soft click in defeat.
My father burst out laughing, slamming his palm against the table. "Outstanding! That's my daughter! Dares to bet, and knows how to win! She's got guts! Now, tell me... what do you want?"
"Thanks, Dad." I leaned in close to my father's ear and whispered a few words.
He listened, fell silent for a few seconds, then lifted his head. His voice boomed across the entire room:
"Aria's wedding today is off. Seven days from now, my daughter will hold a grand wedding anew, and I expect everyone to attend. It will be even more lavish than today."
Aksara