Everyone had been waiting for ages when Boa Hanks finally entered the venue at the last possible minute. They all breathed a sigh of relief.
Boa Hanks had become the dark horse of this International Gambling Tournament. After her match with Mandy, she’d become a sensation. Everyone was eager to see her next move and whether she’d blow everyone away with her skills.
Shermaine appeared in high heels and a long dress with a slit that revealed glimpses of her beautiful legs as she walked.
Everyone noticed she seemed even more alluring than usual. Her every movement radiated a sensual, captivating aura.
Perhaps it was her good mood that softened her usually cold expression with a hint of a smile, enough to make every man in the room fall under her spell.
Unfortunately, Boa Hanks already had a lover. Some people noticed the ring hanging from a chain around her neck, and that same man wore a matching one on his left ring finger.
In the Kingdom of Xyperia, wearing rings meant only one thing–marriage. Only married couples wore wedding bands.
What was more, that man seemed to be the only one who could transform her from cold and distant to warm and passionate. When she looked at him, her eyes held a gentleness reserved for him alone.
Simon had fallen for her at first sight. He’d even abandoned Mandy without a second thought. A man like that wouldn’t give up easily. Nobody knew what lengths he might go to claim Shermaine.
A storm was brewing. It was only a matter of time before blood was spilled.
The question was whether Simon would win Shermaine’s heart or if Joshua would prove stronger and keep his woman safe.
The emcee’s voice rang out across the venue. “Player Boa Hanks has entered the arena. Please follow the staff to your designated seat. The competition will begin shortly.”
The rules came straight from the World Tournament Organization. One hundred players would be narrowed down to eighty. Twenty would be eliminated.
The moment Shermaine took her seat, everyone at her table felt the weight of her presence. The pressure was immediate and undeniable.
Meanwhile, in the room, Joshua started a livestream. Shermaine appeared on camera for a few seconds before the feed quickly cut away.
He got up and changed his shirt. The one he’d been wearing had gotten wet while giving her a massage. Her scent lingered on the fabric. The thought made Joshua’s breathing grow heavier.
He touched his lips. ‘Sheary tastes amazing,‘ he thought. ‘Sweet and intoxicating.‘
After changing, Joshua returned to his usual cold and distant demeanor.
When Damien entered, he could still sense the testosterone radiating from Joshua. He was clearly aroused and frustrated.
As men, Damien understood the situation perfectly. Given how little time had passed, Joshua probably hadn’t gotten very far.
Damien felt oddly amused by Joshua’s predicament. “What are your orders, boss?”
“Bring Jasmine in,” Joshua said.
Damien signaled to the others to fetch Jasmine.
Chapter 473
When Jasmine entered the room, she felt uneasy because Shermaine wasn’t there. Facing so many people alone made her nervous.
However, the sight of Joshua’s violet hair calmed her fears. ‘That’s violet hair,’ she thought to herself. ‘The royal family has this unique hair color. It’s one of a kind.‘
Still, Joshua’s background was too mysterious for her to dare speculate about his true identity.
“Sheary told me you’re from a branch of the royal family,” Joshua said. “By our family hierarchy, that makes you my cousin.”
Jasmine was stunned. His words could only mean one thing–Joshua was a descendant of the royal family.
She never imagined this could be possible. After their royal family’s ancestors vanished a thousand years ago, she’d assumed the pure bloodline had died out completely. Yet here was Joshua, claiming to be of pure royal blood.
She was struck with a sudden realization. ‘Oh my God, so Ms. Hanks is my cousin’s wife? What incredible luck!‘ The thought made her so happy she nearly jumped up and spun in circles.
Out of all the people in the world, the person she’d been drawn to at first sight turned out to be her own relative. Life couldn’t get any better.
Still, Jasmine didn’t quite dare to look Joshua in the eye.
When Shermaine was around, Joshua seemed warm and approachable. But the moment she left, his presence became overwhelming, making it difficult to breathe.
Fortunately, Gracie woke up and instantly lightened the atmosphere.
She couldn’t see Shermaine but spotted Joshua right away. Joshua lifted Gracie from her crib. Her eyes were still a bit puffy from crying earlier, but it didn’t diminish how adorable she looked.
Jasmine felt a pang of envy watching them together.
Usually, Gracie would start crying whenever she woke up and couldn’t find Shermaine. But now, she was being remarkably well-behaved.
Joshua’s movements were awkward as he held the baby. “How do I warm up Gracie’s milk?” he asked Jasmine.
The question about baby care made Jasmine relax considerably. “Just put the bottle in hot water for about ten minutes,” she explained.
Seeing Gracie made Jasmine want to hold her. “You should also check if she needs a diaper change. If she’s wet, she’ll need a fresh one.”
Joshua nodded and checked Gracie’s diaper. It was indeed wet.
He placed her back in the crib and went to find a clean diaper. When he returned, his movements were clumsy as he changed her, but Gracie remained perfectly calm throughout.
Meanwhile, Jasmine had already placed the milk bottle in hot water to warm it up.
Once the milk reached the right temperature, Joshua fed Gracie. She drank quite a bit this time.
Even Damien, watching from the side, couldn’t help but soften at the sight. “Boss‘ daughter is absolutely adorable,” he thought to himself.
When Gracie finished most of her milk, Joshua wiped her mouth gently. “Do you miss Mommy?”
Gracie couldn’t speak, but she looked up at Joshua and suddenly broke into a smile.
Both Jasmine and Damien melted at the sight. ‘Oh my god, she’s so cute,’ they thought simultaneously.
Seeing Gracie’s smile, Joshua raised an eyebrow. It seemed she had the same idea as him. He placed an adorable bunny hat on her head: “Daddy taking you to find Mommy.”
Chapter 473
Shortly after the competition began, Joshua appeared at the VIP section of the auditorium, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
His striking good looks made him impossible to ignore. He stood there like a breathtaking view, made even more captivating by the baby in his arms.
Shermaine felt the audience’s attention shift toward the auditorium. She instinctively looked over and saw Joshua holding Gracie. Their eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like sparks flew between them.
‘Joshua’s being way too bold, not even wearing a mask,’ Shermaine thought. She made a quick gesture. “Wait for me.”
Simon noticed, and his eyes turned cold. He gave a meaningful look to one of his men in the auditorium.
The subordinate caught Simon’s signal. Clearly, Simon found Joshua’s presence too annoying and wanted him removed from the scene.
But Joshua was surrounded by several dangerous-looking men. They wouldn’t be easy to deal with, leaving Simon’s man with no viable options.
Joshua seemed to read Simon’s mind. He casually shifted his gaze toward him, and their eyes met briefly. Joshua raised his wine glass, took a sip, then looked away as if nothing had happened.
It was definitely Shermaine’s fastest victory ever. Just thirty minutes later, as she left the stage, the host handed her an invitation. “Congratulations, Ms. Hanks, on advancing to the top eighty. Here’s your invitation to tonight’s masquerade ball. You’re welcome to bring a date.”