Chapter 754

Nikolas rolled the dice between his fingers, lips curled in a smug grin. "I'll offer you a way out,Daniela. Kneel right here, right now. Apologize in front of everyone. Do that, and maybe I'll let this slide."

Across from Damon, Daniela leaned back in her chair, her voice even and sharp. "You really love hearing yourself talk, don't you?"

Damon's temper snapped. He blurted out, "Fine! Act tough all you want, but once this game starts, there's no going back. When I win, don't come crawling."

Without waiting, Damon signaled subtly to the referee.

Catching the cue, the referee stepped forward."Very well. Let the match-"

Before the words could leave his mouth, Charles rushed over, nearly stumbling as he stopped beside Daniela. "Please reconsider. Damon's no amateur. If you lose here, the consequences will be critical."

Desperation was etched across his face.

He had already burned bridges with the rest of the family, placing every last hope on Daniela to pull him through.

If Daniela ended up losing this gamble and missed her opportunity to enter McCoy Group, his chances of becoming the heir would vanish completely.

Charles begged with genuine concern, "Daniela, please don't act impulsively. There's no need to take it this far. It's just a simple game. Even if you win, it won't carry much weight. Damon is known for being unpredictable. Even if he loses, there's no guarantee he'll actually give up control of McCoy Group. But you're not like him. You were once the wealthiest person on the planet, the leader of Elite Lux. That kind of status means your word can't be taken lightly. Damon knows this, whichis why he's pushing forward without holding back. Please, hear me out. Don't take this gamble with Damon. It's better to swallow a bit of pride now than to face public humiliation later, don't you think?" Charles believed he was making a convincing case.

Still,Daniela offered only a soft smile as she sidestepped him. "Move. You're blocking me."

His jaw clenched as he stepped back. "Fine. But don't come crying to me when you lose. By then, it'll be too late."

Out of options, he slumped back into his chair.

Damon sneered, "Charles, it's a shame you're not on a leash."

Kohen interjected, "Charles, honestly, what's the point? Daniela's about to lose, and you can't save her."

Duran leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "That's right. The moment she loses, I'm snapping a photo of her face. People need to see just how bad her luck really is."

The brothers' sneers grew sharper.

Before the referee could lift a hand, Nikolas leaned in close to Damon and murmured, "Watch her. She's cunning. If you let your guard down, she'll flip the whole thing."

Damon chuckled, unfazed. "Relax, Nikolas. I've done this a hundred times. You think I'd let her beat me?"

Nikolas gave a soft laugh. "Good. I'll be right here waiting to celebrate your win."

Damon gave him a firm nod. "Then you better make it a night to remember."

Nikolas laughed louder. "Don't worry. I'll throw a real party. We'll invite your closest friends and let the whole family see what victory looks like."

Damon's grin stretched wide. "Of course!"

The referee lifted a hand and signaled the start.

The crowd, which had been murmuring just moments before, suddenly went quiet.

Damon started tossing the dice in different flashy styles, shooting Daniela a scornful glance.

Daniela lazily flipped her dice into the air, letting them drop without the slightest concern. Those standing behind Daniela couldn't stop the worry creeping into their faces.

"She's barely trying. Look at Damon-he's thrown more times than I can count. Meanwhile, she's just sitting there like it's nothing."

"No kidding. Even if she's clueless, she should at least fake it."

"Maybe faking it's too hard for her too?"

"This gamble is for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to join McCoy Group. She's really going to let it slip away just like that? What a shame!"

"Honestly, why act bold if she doesn't know what she's doing? I actually thought she had guts, challenging someone like Damon."

"Just give it a minute. Daniela's going to lose-hard."

"Forget this. She's trying to act cool, but there's nothing worth watching here. I'drather grab a drink."

A portion of the crowd did, in fact, drift away to grab a drink.

Leaning in close, the secretary murmured,"Daniela doesn't strike me as the reckless type.So why does she look so relaxed right now?"

Upstairs in the second-floor gallery, Hamilton remained locked in on Daniela,eyes narrowed in thought.

His glass hovered for a second before he took a slow sip, still puzzled by her behavior.

Daniela had never been known to act without thinking.

And when it came to something as serious as earning her way into McCoy Group, she wouldn't throw caution to the wind.

Yet watching her let the dice roll so effortlessly, it became obvious-she wasn't a seasoned gambler.

There was no rhythm in her throw, no control. She wasn't skilled.

Back at the table, the McCoy brothers looked pleased-everyone except Charles, who kept his eyes shuttight.

Nikolas pumped his fist. "Victory's ours."

Kohen leaned forward, grinning. "Honestly, it'd take a miracle for us to lose."

Duran threw his arms wide. "If we don't win, I swear I'll start barking!"