Chapter 1

Everyone on the Upper East Side knew Julian Sterling despised me to the bone. To him, publicly humiliating me at galas was nothing short of a sport.

"The Sterling empire was built on casinos and cards," he sneered into the crowd. "And Nadia Vance? She's just a trophy who can't even tell spades from clubs."

"Marrying her would be about as thrilling as sleeping with a blow-up doll."

Yet our grandfathers had arranged our engagement years ago. And his precious little mistress couldn't bear children. So, to solve his problem, he dragged me straight to his high-stakes poker table.

"If you lose, you give up your womb," he leaned in, his whisper dripping with venom. "You'll bear my child via C-section. Zero anesthesia."

I had long reached my limit with his petty cruelty. I offered him a faint, chilling smile.

"Deal. But if I win, Julian... I want your manhood."

The room erupted into mocking laughter. They thought I had lost my mind. Who didn't know that Julian Sterling was the crowned 'Ghost Hand' of the New York gambling scene?

I kept my eyes down and said nothing.

Ghost Hand?

Five years ago, on a storm-drenched night in a Las Vegas alley, it was my hands that held his, teaching him how to cheat just to stay alive.

Ignoring the snickers echoing through the ballroom, I casually took my seat at the velvet-lined poker table.

Seeing how unfazed I was, Julian raised an eyebrow, a flash of amusement crossing his eyes.

"Not bad, Nadia. At least you've got some spine."

Then came the sneer.

"Pity it's purely out of stupidity. Since you don't even know the suits, do I need to explain the rules of Five-Card Stud to you?"

I glanced at the green felt. A wave of bone-deep familiarity washed over me.

I shook my head and held up a hand.

"Save your breath, Julian. Five cards. One face down, four face up. Highest hand takes the pot. Even a trophy knows that much."

"Fine. Since you know how to lose, let's play."

Julian smirked and waved at the dealer waiting by the table.

"Wait!"

A sultry voice sliced through the murmuring crowd.

"Julian, stud is so much more fun with more players."

"Just the two of you is boring. Why don't you deal me in?"

Dressed in a revealing slip dress, Chloe Miller stepped forward. Without missing a beat, she planted herself directly onto Julian's lap, draping her arms around his neck. She shot me a provocative glare.

"You don't mind, do you, Nadia?"

Flaunting herself like that right in front of his legitimate fiancée.

Julian didn't shove her off. Instead, he stroked her cheek with a playful grin.

"Now, Chloe, behave. Nadia's just a beginner. You really want to gang up on her at the table?"

Chloe pouted, ready to whine.

I narrowed my eyes. From this angle, this fake socialite's profile looked disturbingly like mine.

Before she could speak, I cut in smoothly.

"Let her play. One more soul at the table makes no difference. Dealer, deal the cards."

Julian blinked, clearly thrown off by my eerie composure. But looking at me, he remained convinced I was nothing but an amateur bluffing her way through.

Suppressing his doubt, he patted Chloe's waist with a frown.

"Fine. Go sit down and behave."

Pouting, Chloe reluctantly stood up and slid into the chair next to him.

A waiter stepped forward in silence, stacking three neat piles of thirty-million-dollar chips before each of us. Chloe's eyes practically glittered with greed.

The dealer unsealed a fresh deck, fanned them out, separated the required twenty-eight cards, and began a dazzling shuffle.

The crisp snap of cards filled the air, then stopped.

The game was on.

With a flick of the dealer's wrist, the first hole card slid facedown in front of each of us.

Then came the upcards.

Julian showed the 6 of Hearts. Chloe showed the Jack of Diamonds. And I was dealt the Ace of Spades.

The dealer scanned the table and announced, "Ace of Spades is high. Ms. Vance to open the betting or check."

"Check? Not quite," I murmured, tracing the edge of an ivory chip.

I didn't push it forward right away. Instead, I let out a soft sigh and looked at Julian with mock disappointment.

"Julian, you dragged me all the way here for a game. Playing for just money is terribly dull, don't you think?"

"Why don't we raise the stakes?"