Chapter 1

She gambled her marriage to save her family. He vowed to break her pride. But when her royal flush identity surfaces, their game turns lethal—where love is the ultimate bet.

"Isabella Taylor, if you can't have a child, get out of the Brown Family!"

At Aiden Brown's birthday party, Isabella of the Brown Family overheard people gossiping that she couldn't have children.

Her husband Michael Brown's mother, Stella Hall, felt embarrassed.

She slapped Isabella in public and gave her an ultimatum.

Isabella covered her swollen face and received a photo as she left the Brown Villa in disgrace.

In the photo, romantic rose petals were arranged in a heart shape, and the birthday backdrop made of balloons was beautifully vibrant.

The girl standing in the center was stunningly beautiful, smiling sweetly and happily at the camera.

Clenching her fingers, Isabella was furious because Michael had refused to attend Aiden's birthday party, causing her to be scolded harshly.

Yet, he had meticulously arranged a birthday scene for his first love and was celebrating her birthday!

Gritting her teeth, Isabella turned around, got into her car, and drove off with a sharp turn.

She also wanted to have children, but in the three years of marriage, Michael had never touched her. How was she supposed to conceive? Asexual reproduction?

But the Brown Family was pressuring her and threatening her.

If she couldn't get pregnant, she feared she wouldn't be able to keep her position as Mrs. Brown in the Brown Family.

After all, Michael only had hatred for her, not love.

If she were kicked out of the Brown Family, he would be the first to raise his hands in approval.

Isabella made a turn and drove onto the main road.

The photo showed a corner of the background, and Isabella recognized it as a well-known hotel in Evergreen City.

When she arrived, the clock struck midnight.

Isabella pushed the door open, and a "bang" exploded above her head.

Fireworks lit up the sky, their dazzling colors making Isabella a bit dizzy.

She pursed her lips and pushed open the door to the banquet hall.

A wave of lively noise hit her, and the crowd was cheering. "Kiss, kiss."

No one noticed Isabella's sudden appearance.

A long table was set in the center of the banquet hall, with four people sitting around it.

Each person had a seductive girl in their arms.

And her husband, Michael, was sitting in the host's seat, holding Bianca Taylor, whose long hair flowed down her back.

Her innocent and pure face was now flushed red from the crowd's teasing, and she looked at Michael with big, watery eyes.

Michael met her gaze, his eyes tender and affectionate.

He had a faint smile on his lips, but it was clear it came from the heart.

In the three years Isabella had been married to him, he had never smiled at her.

"Who would have thought, Michael, undefeated in the casino, would lose on purpose just to kiss Bianca!"

"Yeah, Bianca. In the years you were abroad, Michael didn't have any other women around him because of you. Now that you're back, you can't let him down!"

Hearing this, Bianca's face turned even redder, and her gaze at Michael was filled with pure affection.

From the moment Isabella saw the face in the photo, she knew she wouldn't be able to keep her position as Michael's wife this time.

For no other reason than that Bianca was Michael's first love, whom he could never have!

She was also Isabella's half-sister.

Back then, the Brown Family disapproved of Bianca's status, broke them up, and forced Michael to marry Isabella.

On the wedding day, Bianca left heartbroken. If it weren't for Aiden's disapproval, Michael would have probably left the wedding to chase after her.

The sight of the two gazing at each other with deep affection hurt Isabella's heart.

Seeing their heads getting closer and closer.

Isabella cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention.

She leaned lazily against the door, arms crossed, and said, "I was wondering which woman had such charm that he couldn't even attend Mr. Brown's birthday. Turns out it's you! Long time no see, my shameless sister Bianca! Your mom was a mistress when she had you, and now you're here to seduce Michael. What, is the mistress gene hereditary? Michael lost on purpose just to kiss you. You are a born actress!"

Bianca was still the same as three years ago, always playing the victim.

As soon as Isabella's harsh words came out, Bianca's eyes immediately reddened, as if she had suffered a great grievance. "Isabella, you misunderstood. We were just playing around. At a friends' gathering, everyone suggested playing cards, and since gambling for money seemed boring, we decided to play for other stakes."

Isabella curled her lips into a cold smile.

She understood Bianca's little schemes.

She was subtly flaunting that Michael's friends included her in their activities but excluded Isabella, implying that as Michael's wife, she was actually nothing.

But no matter what, Isabella was Michael's wife now.

No matter how much Michael loved Bianca, she still had to bear the label of a mistress.

Moreover, it was Isabella who are originally engaged to Michael.

Michael and Bianca's love was never accepted by everyone from the start!

Isabella was stunningly beautiful, with striking features, and when she sneered, her aura was overwhelming.

Bianca, with her delicate demeanor, was completely overshadowed in front of her.

"If you like playing around, come to me. I know plenty of games that will leave you wanting more!" Isabella said.

Bianca pursed her lips, hiding the disdain in her eyes. "Isabella, you might not know, but the way Michael and his friends play cards is different from what you learned in the countryside. It's very complicated; Michael taught me all night, and I still couldn't get it."

Everyone knew that Isabella was not favored by her father, Indigo Taylor. When she was young, she made a mistake that angered Indigo, and she was sent to the countryside.

She wasn't brought back until she was an adult.

"You couldn't learn because you're stupid, spending all your time thinking about how to seduce men," Isabella mercilessly exposed. "As for me, I've been playing cards since I was a child. No matter how difficult the game, it's a piece of cake to me."

Humiliated repeatedly, Bianca couldn't maintain her composure.

She looked at Isabella with teary eyes, "Isabella, I know you've never liked me, thinking I stole Dad's love. When we were kids, you pushed me down the stairs, almost making me spend my life in a wheelchair. Now you're jealous of my past with Michael and falsely accuse me of seducing him. I stayed abroad for three years to make way for you. Today is just a normal friends' gathering. Just because you're Mrs. Brown, does that mean you have to restrict Michael's basic social interactions?"

Then she looked at Michael with teary eyes, "Michael, if that's the case, then we shouldn't see each other anymore. I'm afraid... I'm afraid Isabella will misunderstand again."

From the moment Isabella appeared until now, Michael hadn't given her a single glance.

It wasn't until now that he looked at her coldly, "She has no right to control me. She's just an irrelevant person; who cares if she misunderstands."

Bianca's lips instinctively curled up, but she tried to restrain herself. "Michael, don't say that about Isabella..."

Michael raised his hand to pat her head, looking at Isabella with eyes as cold as ice. "Get out. This isn't a place for you!"

Isabella was so angry that she laughed, her eyes cold. "This shabby hotel is indeed unworthy of me. Michael, celebrating your first love Bianca's birthday, couldn't you have chosen a better place? Is Bianca unworthy of the top banquet hall at The Grand Majestic Hotel?"

The Grand Majestic Hotel was the most luxurious hotel in Evergreen City.

The top banquet hall there could directly host state guests.

Although Bianca knew she wasn't worthy, hearing Isabella say it so bluntly still made her feel bad.

Especially since Isabella kept emphasizing her status as Mrs. Brown, it was like a slap in Bianca's face.

Bianca was furious but couldn't say anything, feeling utterly stifled!

Michael frowned and glared at Isabella, "Shut up!"

"Fine." Isabella obediently shut up, walked over in her high heels, and disdainfully looked at the crease on his pants, which was caused by Bianca sitting on his lap.

"Throw away those pants. They're so wrinkled, even a tramp wouldn't wear them!"

With one sentence, she insulted both of them.

Everyone around gasped; Isabella's words were indeed sharp!

Isabella didn't care how ugly Michael's face looked and pulled a chair to sit next to him.

She elegantly crossed her legs, "The fireworks are done, the cards have been played, isn't it time to go home?"

"Go home?" Michael's deep eyes shot out two sharp, mocking glances. He sat up straight, towering over Isabella, exuding a sense of oppression. "Go home for what? To watch you act like a bitch in heat, trying to seduce me in every possible way?"

Isabella was infuriated.

But her personality was such that the angrier she got, the brighter her smile became.

No matter how much it hurt inside, she would never admit defeat on the surface.

"As my husband, isn't that your duty? If you can't do it, then naturally, I have to work a bit harder."