"We''re ying King''s Game," Carolyn said with a smile.

    Tessa grinned and stretched out her hand. "Deal me in. I want to y, too."

    "Of course." Carolyn turned to the group. "Everyone, this is Tessa, a friend I met while I was studying overseas."

    With a new yer joining, everyone tossed their cards in and drew fresh ones. A new round started.

    This time, Eason ended up with the King card.

    He looked around the circle, trying to hide a mischievous smile. “Three of Spades -pick someone of the opposite sex and confess your love."

    "Who''s got the Three of Spades?" Brian called out, halfughing.

    People checked their hands. Olivia, looking like a nervous honor student, quietly raised her hand. "That''s me," she said, barely above a whisper.

    Eason paused, surprised. He hadn''t really thought about who''d get picked. He just threw out the challenge without thinking.

    For a second, he felt awkward. Olivia was always so reserved and quiet. He didn''t want her to feel ufortable. "We can switch it up if you want," he offered. "I''ll think of something else."

    Olivia shook her head, her voice steady. "It''s fine. If everyone else can do it, so can I."

    She nced around the room, weighing her options. Joshua and Brian were immediately out—both were dating her close friends, and even as a joke, that felt off-limits.

    Her brother would''ve been the easy choice. If she confessed to George, everyone would justugh it off.

    But then her eyes flicked to George''s side, where his wife Tracey sat watching. The idea of "confessing love" to her own brother in front of her sister-inw? Even as a joke, it felt wrong.

    Olivia was nothing if not considerate. She''d never do something that would make Tracey ufortable.

    That left Watson and Eason.

    Her gaze moved between the two. Eason felt his heart rate pick up.

    She hesitated for just a second, then looked

    shook ht at Eason. Her voice

    little as she stumbled

    through the words. "I... I like you.

    Would you go out with me?"

    Eason tried to y it cool, but a huge grin threatened to break out. He

    t was just a game, but hearing

    hy it still made his chest flutter.

    He answered softly, his voice warm. "I''d love to."

    Olivia nodded, cheeks a little pink. "Thank you."

    Everyone else justughed and rolled their eyes, treating it like any other round.

    No one realized Eason waspletely serious-except Allison, who caught his eye and raised an eyebrow.

    The game rolled into another round.

    This time, Tessa picked up the King card.

    She shed Carolyn a sly, loaded smile. "Ace of Hearts-French kiss Joshua for ten minutes."

    The whole room froze.

    Was she serious?

    She''d just called out Joshua, right in front of everyone? After that whote drama between Joshua and Tracey deck, too? Was she trying to stir things up on purpose?

    on

    Everyone knew Joshua and Allison were together.

    For a long, awkward moment, nobody moved. The lounge was so quiet, you could hear the clock ticking.

    Tessa just kept grinning, acting like nothing was weird. "Who''s got the Ace of Hearts? Come on, don''t be shy!"

    Carolyn suddenly remembered the look Tessa had given her a minute ago.

    She nced down at her card and ran her finger along the back-there was a tiny bump, a crease she hadn''t noticed before.

    That card had been marked.

    And Tessa had been the one shuffling the deck.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!