The night I brought my boyfriend home to meet my parents, my dad insisted on playing cards with some relatives.

When he came back, he collapsed to his knees in front of me, crying. Not only had he lost half a million dollars, but he had even gambled away my boyfriend to my cousin.

He slapped himself and begged me for forgiveness.

However, instead of yelling at him, I helped him to his feet. Then, I took out the savings I’d set aside for my future wedding and the deed to my house.

“Let’s gamble one more time.”

“Maisie, this is my fault. I’ll get a job right now. I swear I’ll earn the money back.”

Dad grabbed my arm, tears streaming down his face.

“You old fool! How could you lose Josh, too? Do you know how hard it is to find such a good son-in-law?” Before I could stop her, Mom smacked him on the shoulder, furious.

I’d heard of people gambling away money, sure. However, this was the first time a person was lost.

My phone had buzzed earlier with a message from my boyfriend, Josh. [Your dad gambled me away to your cousin. Let’s break up.]

He was so eager, probably wanting an excuse to dump me for ages. Now, he finally had a legitimate one.

Dad opened his mouth again, but Mom swatted him before a single word came out. “Enough! You lost everything, and you still dare talk?”

Then she patted my shoulder. “You’ve always been a level-headed kid. I trust you.”

So, the three of us headed to my cousin Taylor’s place. The moment she saw us, a smug, gloating smile appeared.

“Auntie Patricia, Uncle Paul. Why are you all here? What, here to deny the debt?”

This cousin of mine had been trouble since childhood. She hated school and went off to work, having dropped out in middle school.

I had even tried to talk her into staying in school until she turned eighteen. Otherwise, she would have a tough time finding a job.

Unfortunately, she didn’t appreciate my advice and even declared, “I’m not like you nerds. Studying won’t change your fate.”

She disappeared for five years. Then one day she came back a completely different person, wearing a tight miniskirt and heavy smoky makeup. She drank and smoked, pulling out wads of cash like it was nothing.

My aunt didn’t care what she did to earn that money. As long as Taylor brought home stacks of bills, she didn’t ask a single question.

I’d been warning my parents to stay away from them. However, when my aunt heard I was bringing my boyfriend home, she insisted on meeting him.

So Dad took him over and lost everything.

Dad glanced at Taylor and immediately lowered his head, silent.

I stepped in front of him. “Taylor, you took all of Dad’s money. So today, I will play with you.”

Taylor looked me up and down, then snorted. “You’re a complete nerd. Do you even know how to play cards?”

I shook my head.

“Nope. I’ve been studying all these years. When would I have time to learn?” I said openly and honestly, as if I were there just to ruin her vibe.

Taylor rolled her eyes. “If you can’t play, then get out. Don’t dirty our place!”

“Though I may not know how to play, I do have money. And not just money, I have property too.”

I pulled out my phone and the title deed, showing her exactly what I brought to the table.

Taylor froze. “No way! Didn’t your dad lose everything last night?”

Dad had always had a habit of drinking a little too much, and once he was drunk, he'd ramble about anything. Which was exactly why I'd never told him how much I’d actually earned.

Now it was my turn to get impatient. “What does it matter to you? So, are we playing or not? If you’re not interested, I’m leaving.”

I gathered my things and turned to walk out, but Taylor rushed over and yanked me back toward the house. “Of course, we’re playing! Don’t be mad, Maisie.”

The three of us entered the living room. Josh was sitting on the couch, scrolling on his phone.

“Come on, Maisie. You don’t even know how to play cards. Aren’t you basically just giving me free money?” Taylor smirked.

“Then let’s play something I can play.”

Taylor thought for a moment before saying, “Dice, then. It’s easy. If you’ve got hands, you’re qualified. You at least know how to compare totals, right?”

I nodded. “That works. Let’s start.”

Then, I walked straight to the card table and sat down on the side against the wall.

“Oh, Maisie, you’re challenging Taylor at dice? You’ve already lost. Taylor’s the queen of dice. Even the pros can’t beat her.”

My aunt and uncle stared greedily at my property deed, grins stretching so wide that their faces almost folded.

Taylor rolled the dice cup in her hand, brimming with confidence. “Maisie, this is your last chance to back out. It’s not too late.”

I shook my head. “No. I’m staying. I want to win.”

As I said this, my gaze drifted to Josh.

Taylor noticed and immediately frowned. “This round we’re only betting money, not people.”

I snorted. “Once I take all your money, betting people will probably be your only option, won’t it?”

Taylor burst into laughter. “Such big talk! Let’s begin then!”

The rules were simple: both sides would roll five dice, and whoever had the highest total value would win.

For the warm-up round, one thousand dollars was on the line.

As Taylor and I started shaking our cups, anyone could see that Taylor was way more skilled.

She lifted the cup to her ear, shaking rhythmically with both hands for nearly a full minute before slamming it down.

“Open!”

She lifted the cup, showing a six, three fives, and two twos—twenty-five points in total.

I had three threes, two ones, and a five—sixteen points.

With that, Taylor won the first round.

“Maisie, I’ll be taking the thousand.”

I immediately grabbed my phone and transferred the money to Taylor. It was just a thousand, but Dad winced like it was the end of the world.

“Didn’t you say the first round was just for fun? Why are you collecting money already?” he protested.

Taylor rolled her eyes. “Your daughter volunteered. If you can’t handle it, don’t play.”

“Relax, Dad,” I said. “We’re just getting started.”

“A thousand bucks isn’t even enough for my drinks. I’m only playing this low because we’re related. Normally, I start at ten thousand,” Taylor said.

“I’m getting serious now. Twenty thousand. You in or not?” She lifted her chin at me.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

I said it confidently and started shaking the dice cup again.

However, for the second, third, and fourth rounds, Taylor won.

And the same for the next few rounds, too.

My two hundred thousand dollars was gone in minutes.

My aunt and her family burst out laughing when they saw my empty balance.

“Maisie, I warned you. I’m the queen of dice. Nobody beats me, but you insisted on trying.

“Since we’re family, I’ll kindly accept this two hundred thousand as a lesson fee. Go back to your books. Nerds like you will never beat me at this.”

My aunt nudged my mom with a mocking smile. “I thought your daughter was supposed to be impressive. But look, she can’t even win a simple dice game.

“Is her luck that terrible? You’d better pray harder when you leave the house. Wouldn’t want her getting hit by a car.”

My parents stood there with pale faces, looking completely defeated, unable to say a single word.

However, even the kindest person has a limit. Losing money wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

Mom took a deep breath, steadied herself, then came over to pull me up.

“Come on. We’re going home. We’re not taking part in this anymore!”

I let her pull me to my feet.

Taylor, seeing I was about to leave, immediately shouted, “Wait!

“Let’s go big this time. Yesterday, Uncle Paul lost half a million. If you win this round, I’ll give it all back.”

I pulled my arm free from Mom’s grip. “Fine. I’ll play.”

“But, Maisie, do you have any money left?”

I took out my property deed and said bluntly, “Let’s cut the crap. This is what you really want, right?”

I had bought the house for my marriage, and though it wasn’t much, it had cost me over five hundred thousand.

“No! We are not putting the house on the line!” Mom snatched the deed instantly.

“Patricia, what are you screaming about? Taylor is doing you a favor by even agreeing to play with you. Who wants your tiny half-million shack? Taylor lives in actual luxury homes,” my aunt countered.

“Maisie, stop this. Let’s go home. I’ll start working to earn what I lost tomorrow. Please, I’m begging you.” Dad grabbed my hand, pleading.

Seeing us like that, Taylor slapped the table and stood up. “Okay, okay, just leave then. If you can’t afford to play, don’t show your face here again.

“Maisie, seriously? You’re a grown woman, and you still listen to Mommy and Daddy? What a total mommy’s girl. Let me tell you something. Money isn’t for saving, but to be spent. You have to spend it to make it. Look at me. I spend big, so I earn big.”

Although her words were saying not to play, every word was a calculated jab, meant to provoke me and sow discord between my parents and me.

Sure enough, after she said all that, she stared right at me, waiting to see how I reacted.

Her words hit their mark. My expression tightened, my steps slowed.

Taylor immediately pressed harder.

“That old little apartment of yours? Please. I wouldn’t touch it. If you don’t want to play, then don’t. It’s not like that brain of yours could beat me, anyway. You’re an overseas graduate with a Master’s degree, yet you’re losing to someone who didn’t even finish middle school. Honestly, you should’ve followed me to work back then.”

Growing up, I had always been the perfect daughter. My parents were always proud of me. After all, not only had I gotten into a top university, but I was able to study abroad.

My education was my greatest advantage, and Taylor was tearing it apart like it was worthless.

I turned around, sat back down hard, and said, “Deal me in.”

Taylor smirked at her victory and signaled to my aunt and uncle to block my parents so they wouldn’t interfere.

My parents knew they couldn’t stop me anymore. They didn’t argue and just took out their phones, already planning to call friends to borrow money.

Taylor, determined to strip me down to my last penny, squared her shoulders and began shaking the dice cup again.

She even stood up, planted one foot on the table, closed her eyes, muttering some words while her hands flailed around.

“Open!”

We all looked at her dice cup. Three sixes and two fives—twenty-eight points!

In all the previous rounds, no matter how I rolled, my highest was twenty-two.

Even so, Taylor put on a fake disappointed face. “Oh no, only three sixes? I clearly asked the spirits for five. Looks like this time I’m going to lose.”

I smiled. “Taylor, superstition isn’t the way to go. We’re gambling on luck. You’re going to offend the God of Wealth if you keep this up. Looks like you really might lose this time.”

Instead of getting upset, Taylor burst into laughter. “You idiot. I was being polite, and you ruined it. This is twenty-eight points. Have you ever rolled anything close to that?”

I didn’t bother replying and lifted my dice cup.

When everyone saw what was inside, they all gasped in shock.