Dear Sweetheart Chapter 96 Pawn Myself âThatâs right.â Meredith glanced at the poker-faced Rayna and deliberately raised her voice. âHer husband pursued me because she has a sexual disorder. Am I right, Ms. Garland? Still, youâve really opened my eyes, Ms. Garland. Because of your gentle appearance, I didnât expect you to be so cunning, causing me to be dismissed from Faymon Group. Alas. If I had known this side of you earlier, I wouldâve rejected your husband when he wooed me back then.â
Rayna sneered inwardly. This Meredith is certainly crafty with her words. She managed to whitewash herself while dragging me through the mud with just a few sentences.
âThatâs right. Even the nicest person will retaliate when driven into a corner.â Rayna smiled faintly and parted her red, plump lips.
âI merely defended my marriage using a normal method, so thereâs nothing wrong with that.â
âYouâre so full of excuses, Ms. Garland. If you wish to defend your marriage, you couldâve just divorced him. Why did you have to go to so much trouble?â
Rayna replied in resignation, âThat wonât do. I might be forced to leave him without getting anything out of the marriage if I divorced him. Youâve trained my ex-husband too well, so I had to keep my guard up.â
Feeling humiliated, Meredith glared at Rayna. Sheâs becoming!
The other men sitting around the table merely laughed, listening to Rayna and Meredithâs argument.
They couldnât care less about who was mistress in that complicated relationship as they were enjoying themselves like watching a show.
Gavin asked in amusement, âMs. Garland, do you really have a sexual disorder? This is such a waste because youâre so gorgeous.â
Before Rayna could reply, Meredith uttered sarcastically, âWho knows if thatâs the truth? After all, I heard rumors about sightings of her spending the night in a hotel with Mr. Faymon. I commend you for your diligence in working overtime, Ms. Garland.â
âMs. Garland, weâre all close acquaintances, so weâre just joking around.â Simon chuckled and pretended to comfort Rayna, âWhy donât you take my place to play the game? Iâm getting tired anyway.â
Rayna shook her head and replied tenderly, âMr. Smith, you should find someone else. Iâm not good at playing poker.â
Meredith took a quick look at Rayna as her mind raced. Iâve not seen Rayna giving Mr. Smith any advice from the moment she sat beside him. Julian also mentioned to me that Rayna is very terrible at playing poker.
Then, she inched nearer to Gavin and whispered something beside his ear. He nodded and shifted his eyes onto Rayna, staring at her lecherously as if he was yearning to strip off her clothes.
Meredith got up from Gavinâs embrace and chirped, âYou shouldnât refuse Mr. Smithâs offer since heâs being so kind to you. Iâm not skilled at playing poker too. Will it be fair if I accompany you to play the game then?â
The other man sitting around the table quickly got up and vacated the seat after Gavin shot a look at him.
Then, Meredith took the seat.
âGo on, Ms. Garland.â Simon placed his hands on Raynaâs shoulder and forced her into the chair, seizing the opportunity to brush his hands against her soft skin. âYou can keep the money you win while I cover your losses.â
Rayna glanced at Simon with a conflicted expression. âIs that really fine, Mr. Smith?â
âGo ahead and enjoy the game!â
Subsequently, she complied with their wishes and uttered shyly, âIn that case, I shall join you all to play the game, Mr. Gibson.
However, I hope you donât disdain me because Iâm terrible at playing poker.â
Gavin beamed at her. âThatâs fine. This is just a form of entertainment anyway.â
After the cards were shuffled and dealt, Rayna moved the cards closer to her in an amateur manner. Meredith sneered at the sight of Raynaâs clumsy demeanor.
After the game was played for some time, Gavin revealed the river, to which Meredith showed the cards in her hands and chirped, âIâve got a full house. I think Iâm quite lucky today.â
Rayna bit her lip, seemingly feeling slightly defeated.
After a few rounds, the other players repeatedly won, while Simon had to cough up money after each game.
âMr. Smith, Iâm so sorry for making you lose so much money.â Rayna picked up the glass of wine on the table and gulped the content before throwing a tantrum. âHow ominous. I know Iâm bad at playing poker, but not to the extent of losing every round!
Mr. Smith, letâs not have you pay for the losses anymore. Iâll use my own money. I donât believe Iâll continue to lose!â
Simon filled her glass with more wine and replied cheerfully, âSure. Play the game as you like.â
Rayna didnât seem to have luck on her side because the cash in her wallet was depleted after a few more rounds.
Gavinâs and Meredithâs eyes glinted as they exchanged a sly look.
On the other hand, Rayna grew grumpier in reluctance to admit defeat, as if she was determined to gain the winning hand.
Whenever her glass was filled with wine, she would swag the alcohol in frustration. In the end, she even pledged her earrings, rings, and necklace.
âMs. Garland, I think thatâs enough.â Taking in Raynaâs drunken mien, Simon knew she wouldnât last much longer, so he put on an act to persuade her, âYouâve even used your necklace as collateral. You donât have any more money to continue.â
Meredith was overjoyed, seeing Raynaâs pathetic appearance. She said, âRayna, if youâre out of cash, I can loan you some.
However, if we resume the game, I suggest we raise the stakes. Otherwise, the game is getting boring.â
Rayna got to her feet unsteadily as if she didnât want to play anymore.
Still, she refused to accept the outcome of losing for the whole night. A hesitant look flashed across her reddened face.
âI donât need to borrow money from you because I still have something that can be wagered.â She pointed at herself. âLetâs play one last round. Iâll pawn myself. I donât believe Iâll lose again!â
Meredith curled her lips into a wicked smile as Rayna stepped into her trap. âThat wonât do. Youâre so drunk right now. What if you deny that youâve made this bet when youâre sober and turn around to sue us?â
âLetâs sign an agreement then!â Rayna slammed her hands on the tabletop and announced, âI must win today. I donât believe Iâm that unlucky!â
Then, she shifted her gaze onto Gavin and Meredith and muttered, âMr. Gibson, Iâm pledging myself for this final round. What are you depositing as security? It wouldnât be right for you to bet only your money, isnât it?â
She wobbled and accidentally fell into Simonâs embrace.
âOh. Youâre here too, Mr. Smith.â Rayna grinned at him coyly and wrapped her arms around his neck alluringly. âDo you want to place a bet too? I-Iâll give you very good odds!â
Simon was aroused as he caught whiffs of her body fragrance. He was just about to grope her when she abruptly slid out from his embrace like a slippery eel.
He knew Rayna couldnât escape his palm that night, so he uttered confidently, âSure. Iâll pledge the mansion that I recently bought at Zenisan Villa. What do you think of my sincerity, Ms. Garland?â
Rayna feigned exasperation. âYouâre so bad, Mr. Smith. Youâre even betting your mansion worth hundreds of million. Youâre just a lustful man who wants me to lose, right?â
Gavin laughed. âFine. Since youâre being so generous, Mr. Smith, I shall wager my house at Yaleview and two percent of my companyâs share.â
Rayna grumbled coyly, âMr. Gibson, youâre just as naughty as Mr. Smith. Both of you want to see me embarrass myself.â
âOf course not.â
Seeing Rayna flirting with Gavin, Meredith was overwhelmed by the urge to rip Rayna to pieces. Sheâs such a pretentious woman. Sheâs so sl*tty that sheâs even trying to seduce my man. If I do not ruin her reputation tonight, Iâll change my family name!
Meredith glowered at Rayna for a few seconds before looking away and saying with a grin, âI donât have any mansion or company to stake, so Iâll wager two million. Is that fine?â
âTwo million is too little.â Rayna frowned in displeasure. âNo way. You must add something else. Donât forget that Iâm pawning myself for this round.â
Meredith gritted her teeth while maintaining the smile on her face. âWhat do you suggest then?â
âFour million plus an extra condition for you to run around Lunaria Lake naked for one day if you lose.â
Meredithâs facial expression changed drastically after she heard that.
Acting as if she hadnât noticed Meredithâs grimace, Rayna mumbled in vexation, âAh! This wonât do. Iâve not won once the entire night. Yet now, Iâm placing such a huge bet against three people. Thereâs no way I can win.â