Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 637

On the last night of the cruise, Noreen was soaking in the tub on her balcony, enjoying the sea breeze.

The sea was unusually calm. Under the high moon, the night sky was not an endless black but a soft, deep blue. The stars over the ocean were truly beautiful.

The atmosphere was just right… until the sound of a couple arguing from the deck below shattered the peace.

The woman seemed to be begging the man not to gamble away all their money. But the man insisted he had no choice. If they couldn't raise the money for the surgery, the director of their orphanage wouldn't live to see next week.

From their conversation, Noreen pieced together the situation. They weren't a couple, but two young adults who had grown up together in an orphanage. They were desperate for money to pay for the medical bills of the woman who had raised them, and the man had decided to risk it all at the ship's casino.

Noreen never found out what happened next, as their voices faded into the distance.

She soaked for a little longer before heading back into her room.

Sophia knocked and came in, asking if she wanted to go downstairs for a bit. She pointed out that Noreen hadn't really had a chance to enjoy the trip.

For once, Noreen had some free time. Katy was with her therapist for a hypnosis session and wouldn't be coming over, so she agreed to go downstairs with Sophia.

When Noreen arrived at the open-air party, everyone else was already there. And they all had a strange, excited look on their faces. The way they looked at her was full of anticipation. But when she tried to meet their gazes, they all looked away.

"Ms. Gilmore, have a seat here. This spot is perfect."

Someone specially cleared a seat for her.

Noreen smiled. "Perfect for what?"

"Oh, nothing," the person mumbled, becoming vague.

As she wandered towards the casino, the conversation she'd overheard earlier came back to her.

She decided to go inside.

Here, gambling was legal. For many people, the chance to strike it rich overnight was the whole point of being on this cruise. It was also the ship's most profitable enterprise.

The interior was a dizzying mix of flashing lights and opulence. The lavish decor was designed to make people lose themselves. There were no windows, no clocks—only bright, day-like lighting that made you forget the passage of time.

Noreen wasn't interested in gambling; she was just looking around. As she passed a roulette table, she heard a familiar voice.

"It's landed on red ten times in a row. The eleventh time has to be black! I'm betting everything!"