Chapter 282
Whispers rippled through the casino.
"The legendary Winner actually lost?"
"Who is that woman?"
"Can fortune-telling really be this accurate? Do me next."
"Are they in cahoots?"
Vivian Laurent smirked. "I won fair and square. Show me proof if you have any."
She hadn't cheated this round.
Her luck had surprised even herself.
Even if she had cheated, no one would've noticed.
She turned to the impostor. "Good game."
"Don't flaunt what you don't have. If becoming Winner is so easy, maybe I should take the title."
Her crisp voice echoed through the hall.
Though her face remained hidden, everyone could tell she was young.
Brazen enough to challenge Winner openly.
The impostor's face darkened. "Again!"
"Just a lucky streak. You won't win twice!" His tantrum made him look like a clown.
Losing to a woman was unacceptable.
Luck couldn't last forever.
Vivian remained unruffled. "By all means. I'm looking forward to it."
The second round began swiftly.
She pushed all her chips forward.
Players hesitated—some followed her lead, others stuck with the impostor.
The impostor panicked after his first loss.
Another defeat would cost him his reputation.
He had to cheat now.
Vivian exchanged a glance with Ethan Roscente.
Understanding immediately, Ethan raised his phone as if browsing, secretly recording.
Vivian played calmly as the game progressed.
When he played pairs, she matched.
When he went for straights, she countered.
The impostor dismantled his own hand trying to block her.
Vivian discarded weak cards early, setting up her endgame.
The impostor was already unraveling.
Her final move—two triples with a single—sealed her victory.
Both had cheated this round.
But Vivian's sleight of hand was undetectable.
She'd mastered these tricks before this impostor even learned to shuffle.
Against rule-breakers, she played dirty too.
Her chip tower grew taller.
Sweat beaded on the impostor's forehead.
Two consecutive wins earned Vivian newfound respect.
Winner's performance, however, was disappointing.