It caught Karl slightly off guard —perhaps because he had never expected Adelyn to agree so promptly.

However, Adelyn herself wasn’t surprised at all. Maybe because she hadn’t thought deeply at all.

At that moment, she was only thinking about putting an end to this situation. And if agreeing to something this simple could give her that chance, she would accept it without hesitation.

"Didn’t you say that only if I agreed to your condition would you allow me to bet on your car?" she asked, lifting her brows at him slightly.

Karl noticed the ease in her tone and immediately frowned.

"I did —but how could you agree just like that? For a car, you’re willing to give up my brother? How could you? Do you even know how precious my brother is? He alone can —"

Adelyn placed a hand lightly over his shoulder and gave it a gentle pat.

"Don’t tell me you suddenly want to call me sister-in-law."

"Definitely not!" he snapped instantly. "You’re the last woman I would ever accept as my sister-in-law."

Adelyn almost felt like pinching his cheeks and praising him for that answer. But she restrained herself, forcing a polite smile instead as she nodded.

"Good. Then don’t criticize and make me regret agreeing."

Karl frowned, but didn’t argue further.

"Fine. Then I hope you don’t regret it later," he said before turning away.

Adelyn paid no attention to his contradictory attitude.

Instead, she turned back to the men and asked calmly, "Can we begin now?"

The man frowned slightly, then glanced at Karl for confirmation.

Karl still looked reluctant —but in the end, he nodded.

"She’ll bet on my car. Let her play in my place."

Excitement spread instantly across the room.

Every pair of eyes turned to Adelyn, as if they had already won.

But Adelyn didn’t react to their visible arrogance. She remained composed, meeting their gazes with quiet calm. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Well?" she prompted again when the man still hadn’t moved. "Shall we?"

Finally, the man stepped forward.

Pulling out a chair, he sat down at the table and picked up the deck. The cards began to move in his hands —swift and smooth ... precise and practiced.

Every flick of his wrist carried the confidence of someone ... deeply skilled.

His eyes stayed fixed on Adelyn, as though silently questioning whether she truly had the courage to follow through.

Karl noticed that look, and his frown deepened.

Just as Adelyn stepped forward to take her seat, he suddenly grabbed her arm.

"Hey... are you sure you want to take this risk?"

Adelyn glanced at him, her brows lifting slightly before her gaze dropped to the hand gripping her arm.

Karl immediately noticed and let go, clearing his throat as he tried to sound casual.

"I mean ... it’s not like I’m worried about you. But these men ..." his eyes flicked back to the dealer, "he’s not simple. I played against him. He has tricks. He won’t go easy on you."

Adelyn smiled faintly.

"If they don’t go easy on me, then ..." she tilted her head slightly, "... wouldn’t that be a win for you?"

Karl frowned, confused —until her next words landed.

"You won’t ever have to call me sister-in-law."

His expression stiffened instantly.

"You—"

Regret flashed clearly across his face.

Why had he even bothered?

If she was so eager to embarrass herself, why should he care?

But Adelyn simply smiled at his reaction.

Turning away, she pulled out the chair to sit—

Only to feel a small tug on her sleeve.

She turned back.

Eira stood there, holding onto her, her expression hesitant.

Adelyn immediately crouched down to her height.

"Baby, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you?"

Her gaze instinctively swept toward the man who had been near Eira earlier.

He stiffened under her look.

"I didn’t do anything! She just ran to you on her own!"

Adelyn didn’t respond immediately. She looked back at Eira, waiting for her answer.

But the little girl simply stared at her.

Her eyes weren’t crying —yet they shimmered as if tears could fall any moment.

"Baby ..."

"Mama ... are you going to abandon Eira again?"

This time, Adelyn froze.

Abandon her ... again?

For a moment, she didn’t understand.

But then —

It clicked.

Her gaze shifted briefly toward Karl. And she understood.

Looking back at Eira, her expression softened completely.

She reached out, gently cupping the girl’s face, and shook her head. "Mama is not going anywhere leaving you, sweetie," she said softly. Her voice as gentle as a caress.

She then paused and explained to her more patiently, "Mama is just going to play a few rounds of game that your Fourth Uncle had been playing before. As long as Mama wins ... we’ll go home together. Don’t you want to go home with me?"

Eira nodded immediately.

"Eira wants to go home with Mama."

Adelyn smiled.

"Then let Mama finish the game. Then, we will leave together."

The little girl hesitated for a long second. Her gaze drifting towards the table. She seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

Adelyn could already guess what it was.

Taking her small hands in hers, she asked softly, "You don’t trust that Mama can win?"

Eira shook her head immediately. "Eira trusts Mama the most," she said without even a second of hesitation.

Then she turned to look at Karl and added firmly, "If Mama says she can win, then she can win."

Karl understood perfectly that the words were directed at him. He opened his mouth to respond—

But before he could, Eira had already turned away.

Adelyn couldn’t help but smile.

Her thumb brushed gently across the girl’s cheek.

"That’s right. Since Little Eira trusts me so much, how can Mama disappoint her. I’ll definitely win."

Eira nodded confidently.

Then, after a brief pause ... she leaned forward, and kissed Adelyn on the cheek.

Adelyn stilled for a moment —

Then her expression softened into a warm smile.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "With this ... no one can stop me now."

Eira released her and obediently returned to her seat.

Adelyn watched her for a brief second longer —just to make sure she was settled—

Then, she finally turned back toward the table.

Pulling out the chair, she sat down.

Her posture straightened, and her gaze sharpened.

"Let’s begin."