Rewrite Her Thrilling Life (Lillian and Sebastian) novel Chapter 281

Chapter 281: The Bet

The scene that unfolded before them was nothing short of breathtaking. Resting on the table in front of the man was Janus’ hand, palm facing upward—an immaculate twenty-one.

Opposite him, the moment the dealer revealed Lillian’s cards, the entire room fell into an expectant hush. She held the exact same total—twenty-one—but with a natural blackjack, a perfect hand that immediately commanded respect.

Lillian’s lips curved into a slow, confident smile. “Thank you for the game,” she said with a hint of casual grace.

Janus locked eyes with her, his voice calm and measured as he asked, “How did you know you’d win? You didn’t even glance twice at your cards.”

Her expression remained composed, radiating quiet assurance. “I’ve always believed in my luck,” she replied smoothly, her tone carrying a subtle edge of certainty.

His low chuckle broke the tension. He hadn’t expected anyone at the table to attribute their victory purely to luck; it amused him more than he cared to admit. With a relaxed shrug, he said, “You win. A bet’s a bet. Whenever you want, come find me to cash in that favor.”

Lillian was about to respond when the sharp sound of applause cut through the silence like a knife.

A group entered the room, drawing every eye. Leading them was a man whose dangerously charming smile held an intensity focused solely on the girl at the table. Beside him stood a woman dressed in a finely tailored designer suit, her linen-colored curls cascading elegantly over her shoulders. She carried herself with an effortless poise that made her presence impossible to ignore.

“Never thought I’d see Mr. Janus admit defeat,” the man said with a teasing drawl, amusement clear in his voice. “Now that’s a sight you don’t get to witness every day.”

The crowd gasped, whispers rippling through the room. Could this really be the Mr. Janus they all suspected?

Janus smirked, eyes gleaming with mockery. “Losing to a beauty hardly counts as a loss, don’t you agree, Mr. Whitmore?”

Immediately, the room erupted into a buzz of excitement and chaos. No one had expected to see Kingston’s two most influential figures standing together in the same place.

The woman standing beside Sebastian furrowed her brows just slightly before smoothing them out, her smile flawless and polished. Turning to Sebastian, she asked, “And this must be the Ms. Harrington who has Mr. Whitmore so captivated?”

Lillian’s eyes flicked toward the woman at Sebastian’s side. She had noticed her the moment Sebastian entered—a striking beauty brimming with sophistication, radiating the confidence of a woman who owned every room she stepped into. Unlike the pampered heiresses they often saw, there was no trace of entitlement or bratty arrogance about her—only a sharp, clean edge that demanded respect.

“And you are?” Lillian inquired lightly, her tone polite but curious.

Before Sebastian could respond, Janus sauntered over with his usual relaxed swagger, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Never thought I’d see the ruthless Mr. Whitmore playing bodyguard. Aren’t you worried someone might try to snatch what you’ve been guarding so carefully?”

Sebastian’s expression didn’t even flicker. With quiet patience, he brushed a stray lock of hair from Lillian’s face, his voice calm but edged with steel. “The girl I raised isn’t going anywhere. And if some fool can’t tell what belongs to him and dares to touch her, I won’t hesitate to teach him the cost of growing up.”

Though his words were soft and steady, they sent a chilling wave through everyone within earshot, a warning that was impossible to ignore.