Dice and Slice Chapter 2

The air around the table seemed to turn colder, while Brandon seemed to tighten his arm around Wanda's waist.

His brows were creased as he glared at me hostilely and threateningly.

Wanda was herself surprised, but she soon giggled and nudged Brandon. "Alright! Since Angie wants to play, we should be gracious hosts."

Martin too promptly tried to pacify the situation. "Yes, that's right! Let's play together—it's more lively that way! Anyway, the rule is simple: highs or lows, and the player with the smallest roll starts drinking, as well as picks one gift from the pool for the player with the highest roll.

"Obviously, one can stick to drinking without giving away anything…"

He trailed off, pointing at the pile of watches and jewelry on the table as he finished, "But that would be boring."

I nodded in understanding, and everyone was handed dice.

Wanda was deftly shaking her cup, while Brandon barely shook his twice before slamming the cup on the table, his eyes still fixed on me.

I had my face turned away, avoiding his scorching gaze, clumsily picking up my cup and clearly not used to it.

Even through the music, I could hear the voices around me.

"What's an obedient girl like her doing here? Doesn't she get sick of being a buzzkill?"

"Trying to mark her territory, I bet. But Brandon just isn't having it."

As I paled a little, Wanda giggled, "Oh, Angela—should I teach you how to roll properly first?"

I ignored her and shook my dice cup carelessly, then gently dropped it.

"Showdown!"

Everyone lifted their cups.

Wanda rolled an eleven, while Brandon rolled a ten.

The others were in between, but when I lifted my cup, it revealed a one and a two: only three points.

Everyone burst out laughing right then.

"Haha! Three points?! That sure is the lowest!"

"Oh, Angela. What luck…"

Martin was holding back a smile as he slid me a glass of wine.

"A bet's a bet. Drink up, and…"

He trailed off, staring pointedly at my earrings.

Brandon finally spoke then, his voice cold and harsh, "If you don't know how to play, don't. Just drink."

Wanda leaned against his chest, beaming, "Oh, that's terrible luck! Guess Angela will be getting us our wedding presents. Do you mind? Those earrings sure look nice."

I looked between the glass of wine and the earrings. They were pink diamond earrings that Brandon had spent a fortune to buy from an auction.

At that time, he vowed to give me all that was good in the world…

Smiling self-deprecatingly, I slid the earrings to the center of the table toward Wanda.

"A bet's a bet," I said evenly, looking up. "Here's your present."

While Brandon scowled, Wanda happily picked up the earrings, admiring them against the light. "Thanks, Angie! Oh, they are beautiful…"

Martin then quickly whooped, "Alright! Round two!"

With that, the game continued.

Wanda rolled a nine—not the best, but Brandon rolled a hard six right after her.

"Woah! You're the best, darling!" Wanda whooped.

Everyone was cheering too, while Martin smiled and explained to me, "Table rules: hard six is the highest score, and he can pick anything."

Brandon wasn't looking at me as he held Wanda, grinning sweetly, "Then my one-night wife can choose. What do you want?"

Wanda was scanning my side of the table, ultimately stopping at my dull bracelet. "That bracelet Angela has… It looks quite unique. Can I?"

I paused ever so slightly.

It was my grandmother's keepsake and not all that valuable—even the clasp was loose as it was just that old.

However, she had put it on my wrist before she died, and I never took it off wherever I went, no matter how far from home I was.

When Brandon first saw it, he had solemnly told me that he would never joke around with it.

He knew better than anyone that it wasn't an average bet.

There was a moment of silence, until Wanda hollered, "What? We agreed that we will bet everything. Or maybe Angie is a sore loser? Or maybe…"

I was going to speak, but Brandon coolly cut me short. "Table rules. A bet's a bet—hand it over, Angela."

I turned sharply toward him.