Chapter 971
Under the table, Lena felt her mother’s foot nudge her—a dear signal: Let Xandra win. Lena gritted her teeth. Why was everyone fawning over a girlfriend who hadn’t even officially joined the family? Annoyed, she huffed inwardly. The more you tell me to lose, the harder I’ll fight to win.
The game began, and Lena’s starting hand was exceptional—practically a heavenly draw. She was only one card away from winning while the others still struggled with mismatched cards. It seemed like an easy victory was in the cards for her.
But then, as if under a spell, her luck took a sharp turn. None of the cards she needed showed up. Worse, every time she reached for a card, Xandra would intercept it with a call, blocking her progress entirely.
As the rounds continued, even her mother, Briana, reached a ready hand, while Lena was still stuck with the same cards she started with. Soon, her grandmother joined the fray, and eventually, even Xandra declared readiness. Three players were now poised to win, leaving Lena the odd one out.
Game after game, Lena found herself in the same frustrating position. Her starting hands were promising, but they always ended in disaster. Her grandmother couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s wrong, Lucky Aces? Did your Aunt Xandra jinx your luck?”
Briana chimed in, her tone half-teasing. “Lena, it’s fine to let her win a few games. You don’t have to lose every single one!” Lena wanted to scream. Who’s letting her win?! It’s not me—it’s my useless cards!
She glanced at Xandra, who fumbled with her cards like a complete beginner. She was clumsy, arranging her deck with a nervous energy that reminded Lena of herself when she first started playing.
Back then, her victories were thanks to Aaron’s subtle coaching. Today, Xandra’s wins clearly followed the same pattern. He was guiding her, making sure she came out on top.
The realization lit a spark of defiance in Lena. If he can make her win, why does that mean I have to lose so miserably? Fueled by frustration, Lena decided to shake things up. She started playing erratically—breaking up good hands, ignoring opportunities to fold, and sabotaging her strategy entirely.
Her unpredictable moves threw the game into chaos. Xandra stopped winning, and the victories shifted to their grandmother instead. Deborah was ecstatic. “I’ve never had such a lucky streak in all my years of playing! Xandy, you’re my good luck charm. Marrying Aaron will surely bring prosperity to the family.”
Lena silently rolled her eyes. It’s my chaos that’s helping her win, not Xandy. But she held her tongue, thinking, At least Grandma’s happy. If she’s smiling now, maybe tomorrow’s announcement won’t hit her so hard.
The games stretched on until ten at night. By the end, everyone except Lena seemed content. Still, she took some satisfaction in disrupting Aaron’s plans.
As they were getting ready to leave, Xandra approached Lena. “Lena, can we exchange numbers?” Lena hesitated, wanting to refuse. But since she had already accepted the renaming fee and Xandra was likely here to stay, it seemed impolite to say no. She pulled out her phone to share her contact info.
Before she could open her Whatsapp, Aaron appeared, his earlier warning in the bathroom flashing through her mind. She paused, then smiled sweetly at Xandra. “Aunt Xandra, maybe you should ask Uncle Aaron first. He might not be okay with you adding me.”
Her response left Xandra flustered, unsure of what to say, while Aaron’s expression remained unreadable as his gaze lingered on Lena.