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    Since Jessica had said that, even though Brian was worried about her, he had to do what she said.

    Brian took his seat at the table, distracted. Shuffling and dealing–his movements were smooth and

    around the game. effortless. Clearly, he knew his way

    Chase and Connor exchanged a look, both tensing up a little, on their guard.

    Spencer still wore that soft, gentle smile, but his hands were obviously clumsy as he arranged the cards.

    When the live stream viewers saw this, they all felt sorry for him.

    [It’s over, totally over.]

    [Vance is definitely gonna lose.]

    [So sad. Neither of the couple can y. They’re gonna get crushed.]

    [Shut up. The game hasn’t even started, and you’re already trashing them. You really have it out for them, huh?]

    [Exactly. So what if he can’t y? It just proves Spencer loves Vanessa that much. He won’t touch anything she doesn’t like.]

    [me the production team. Why even set up a card game in the first ce?]

    [Yeah, they’re totally picking on Vance. That’s so messed up. When the show ratingse out, I’m definitely leaving a bad review.]

    [Hey, you fans need to chill. It’s just part of the show. How is this targeting your idol?]

    [Seriously, that’s some major persecutionplex.]

    [It is targeting. It is!]

    [Hatersb, /bshut up. Haters, shut up!]

    Spencer’s and Vanessa’s fans, plus their shippers, all jumped into the fray. In no time, theypletely took over the live chat. The assistant, who was keeping a constant eye on the mood, quickly reported this shift to Raymond.

    Raymond checked the live stream, his brows furrowing.

    After the first game at the table, the four men had a rough idea of each other’s skills.

    All high–level yers, except Spencer.

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    “I’ll y this one too.” Brian yed a card calmly, winning the first hand of the new game.

    Then he paused and turned to check on Jessica. “Jessi, is your back still hurting?”

    “It’s fine. Focus on the game.” Jessica shook her head, reaching up to turn his face back.

    But Brian swiveled right back. “Are you thirsty, then? Should I get you some water? Or maybe milk?” He started to stand up as he spoke.

    “Brian, if you don’t y your cards soon, you’ll have to pass,” Connor kindly reminded him.

    “Then I’ll pass,” Brian said, not bothered.

    “Alright,” Connor replied, casuallyying down the ace of spades.

    “The jack of clubs.” Spencer yed a card with a nk look on his face.

    Chase grinned. “I won this hand.”

    “Tsk, you got lucky again,” Connor teased, ncing at the table, and quickly mentally calcting his cards.

    “What can I say? Luck’s on my side.” Chase didn’t hold back, turning to show off to Lillian behind him. “See? Told you I’d win.”

    “Yeah, you’re the best. Next round, y the queen of diamonds like I said,” Lillian answered dismissively and started giving Chase advice. Watching him win so easily had made her think she had it all figured out again.

    “Queen of diamonds? You don’t know what you’re doing, so stop bossing me around,” Chase nced at his cards and snapped.

    He thought, ‘Couldn’t she even see my obvious hand? And she still tries to tell me what to do.

    “How am I bossing you around? Getting rid of your single cards first is a good move.” Lillian felt Chase was looking down on her.

    Chase was annoyed by her half–baked ideas and her chatter. He waved a hand. “Whatever, just shut

    and watch me y.”

    up

    “You’re dissing me?” Lillian heard the disdain in his voice and got a little angry.

    She thought, I’m trying to help, and not only is he ungrateful, he dares to diss me? The nerve of

    him!‘

    Chase just stayed quiet. Lillian huffed, raising her fist to hit him on the back.

    “King of hearts.” Connor took the chance to y a card and reminded Brian, who was still peeling walnuts for Jessicab, /bthat it was his turn.

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    “That’s enough. Go y your cards.” Jessica took the walnuts from Brian’s hand and urged him.

    Brian looked back, disappointed, and casually yed the ace of spades.

    Spencer’s face lit up immediately. He held up his cards. “I won this hand.”

    He felt a huge sense of pride. This was his first win at the table, and he’d even beaten Vanessa to it.

    “Congrattions.” Brian didn’t care about losing the hand. He casually said it and took the chance while the others were ying to turn back and keep peeling walnuts for Jessica.

    Chase found it cringeworthy to watch, and to top it off, Lillian was chattering behind him. “Mr. Atkinson is really good at spoiling his wife.”

    Chase couldn’t help but shoot back, “I’m not bad either.”

    To that, Lillian only sneered.

    Chase instantly lost his temper. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

    Lillian put on an innocent look. “Nothing. Oh, don’t get distracted. It’s your turn. I think you should y the seven of hearts.”

    Chase didn’t even think before shooting back, “No, I need to keep this one.”

    Lillian sneered again. Her suggestion was shot down again, and this time, Lillian didn’t bother pretending.

    She thought, ‘Like this, and you darepare yourself to Mr. Atkinson in thoughtfulness?‘

    Chase was so angry that he wanted to stand up and argue with Lillian right then.

    But Lillian, having riled him up, moved on. She turned to chat with Sabrina. “Sabrina, who do you think will win in the end?”

    “Everyone’s pretty good at the game. Hard to say who’ll win,” Sabrina said honestly, though of course, “everyone” definitely didn’t include Spencer.

    “Is that so? But I think Connor’s a bit better,” Lillian said on purpose.

    “Knock.” Chase, with a dark face, yed a card right after Connor. Over the next few rounds, he deliberately blocked Connor several times.

    Chase and Connor were around the same age, both young and hot–tempered. As soon as Connor realized he was being targeted by Chase, he immediately fought back.

    “False call.” Connor calmly showed his cards, taking a big hand from Chase.

    Brian couldn’t care less about the game. The second he had a free moment, he turned around to

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    check on Jessica.

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    That let Spencer sneak in, taking a few cards from Brian, so he didn’t lose every single hand.

    “Bomb,” Spencer said.

    After Brian spaced out again and let Spencer win, Jessica couldn’t stand it

    anymore.

    She reached over and put a hand on Brian’s shoulder. “Brian, focus. If we lose too badly, the babies will be embarrassed.”

    “You got it.” With Jessica speaking up, Brian finally paid a bit more attention to the game. That was when he noticed Chase and Connor were really going at it.

    “Knock.”

    “I’ll y this one too.”

    “I won.”

    “False call.”

    They went back and forth, having quite the time.

    “iSee /iwho’s better now?” Chase looked up, shooting Lillian a triumphant smirk after winning a hand.

    Lillian hated how smug he was but couldn’t think of aeback. After all, she hadn’t yed as well as he had earlier.

    In the end, she goaded him. “What’s so great about that? If you’re really that good, win a streak for

    me.”

    Chase was already ticked off by her earlier attitude, and that goad pushed him right over. “Fine, a streak it is. You wait. Today, I’m gonna make you admit it, fair and square.”