74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceQkXqHsWW
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORheyrGiqg
The room was still filled with whispers and amazement. Some gamblers hadn't yet grasped how Elizabeth had managed to best William at his own game. Others looked at her with admiration, as if they had discovered a new legend in the world of gambling.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwyIIJ0Gys
William, however, remained seated, watching Elizabeth with eyes that bore no trace of defeat. On the contrary, he seemed to enjoy this challenge more than anything else.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP62Guwa1dX
🃏 William (quietly, leaning back in his chair): "So, what are you going to do now?"
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXIKqxEEaI
♠ Elizabeth (with a faint smile, gathering her chips on the table): "I'm leaving here, of course."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQNrTGDPvS
🃏 William: "Oh, and you think that's it?"
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwkNbj2lN4
Elizabeth paused for a moment, then looked directly at him.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk33JSIef7
♠ Elizabeth: "You win, William. The game is over."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbPk59POAJ
🃏 William (with a slow smile, raising his drink): "Games don't end so easily, dear."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ltGE8lyBf
Before Elizabeth could reply, John approached, his eyes still filled with concern.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vXU4d61XF
♠ John: "We must leave now."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw6xcNTcZu
❤️ Madeline (leaning across the table, her eyes studying Elizabeth curiously): "I didn't expect this from you, Elizabeth. But I'm sure of one thing..."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANRx2Ocl5g
♠ Elizabeth (eyeing her cautiously): "And what is it?"
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc3eZatxug
❤️ Madeline (smiling slowly): "You're not here just to gamble. There's something else driving you, isn't there?"
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBrmlzYLGd
Elizabeth didn't reply, but the silence that followed Madeline's words was enough to make everyone realize that something deeper was going on in the background.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnMXX2ruro
🃏 William (looking at Madeline with a half-smile): "You're good at reading people, Madeline. But Elizabeth... is still a mystery, even to me."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYkHldLkSa
♠ Elizabeth (looking at him steadily): "Keeping you guessed is part of my fun."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMokp4FU8q
William laughed, but said nothing else. He simply stood up, picked up his jacket, and prepared to leave.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0TJ87cY9k
🃏 William: "This won't be our last meeting, Elizabeth. I'm sure you know that."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0sSxIAgsB
Then he turned and left the room, leaving behind a heavy air of unfinished expectations and possibilities.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJKuYGh9Q0
♠ John (in a low voice, after he was certain he was gone): "You shouldn't have played along with him in the first place."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhWp7EZGYK
♠ Elizabeth (quietly, picking up the cards from the table): "On the contrary, I should have."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWlsJFsozG
❤️ Madeleine (looking at her with shining eyes, as if beginning to understand something): "So, what is your real purpose here, Elizabeth?"
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgppPLLYMXd
♠ Elizabeth (pocketing the cards, then smiling faintly): "All in due time."
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rCVpGt6jn
Then she left the table, leaving John and Madeleine behind, each trying to read her mind as she had with the others.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm75i2wp1er
But the truth was clear to only one person in the room—William, who stood outside, quietly lighting a cigarette, his eyes still holding the same mysterious look.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGfAnY8BtA
🃏 William (whispering, slowly exhaling the smoke): "A new game has just begun..."
ns3.142.83.171da2
