Since childhood, Mom and Dad decided everything between me and my brother Caleb through various games for the sake of "fairness". At five, rolling dice, he won the spot for the city kindergarten, I was sent back to the countryside. At ten, during the earthquake, brother flipped a coin and won the chance to be rescued first, I was crushed under the rubble for ten full hours. I always blamed my bad luck, never suspected anything. Until this New Year, the old house in Texas was sold for a huge sum, Mom and Dad proposed to use a poker game to divide the family fortune. One game decides winner and loser, winner takes all properties and money. I wanted to refuse, let them keep it for retirement, but accidentally heard Mom and Dad talking: "Why did you make the rule winner takes all, what if Caleb loses?" Dad didn't care: "Oh, Scarlett will marry out sooner or later, isn't this afraid of cheapening outsiders." "Besides, Caleb has been protected by the Family Luck Charm since childhood, when has he ever lost these years." At that moment, I finally knew the reason why I lost from childhood to adulthood. But what they didn't know was, Just yesterday, the Luck Charm chose me. ... Chapter 1 Mom didn't notice someone eavesdropping, still whispering tangled: "Back then I heard your mom mention, the Luck Charm seems to have an expiration date." "What if it suddenly fails, Caleb loses, isn't the family fortune cheapening that girl?" Dad impatiently slapped her hand away: "Panic what, later let them juniors play two rounds to warm up first." "If Caleb's luck is still good, I will give him a wink again, use the family fortune as a bet." Two people's voices gradually faded away. I leaned against the wall and slid to sit on the floor, brain blank. The scar on my lower back was aching faintly again, left from the earthquake when I was ten. After Mom and Dad saved Caleb first, aftershocks came, three steel bars from the beam pierced straight through me. Luckily my life was tough, avoided vital points. At that time Mom cried to death, said sorry to me, would compensate me later. Later indeed compensated. They took me to an amusement park once, also bought an ice cream, secretly told me not to tell Caleb. I foolishly treated this as exclusive love. Totally forgot when I was five sent back to old house, living under relative's roof eating leftovers, Caleb had long played the city amusement park until vomiting. So-called fairness, just their means to trick me. My heart twitched with pain, tears couldn't help surging out. Outside door came Caleb's voice, and several cousins' laughter: "Sis, roll out from room play cards, today I want to kill you until no armor left." He shuffled cards happily. I haven't had time to speak, was forced pressed on chair by Mom and Dad one left one right. Caleb naturally became the dealer, shuffling, dealing, movements skilled. The rule is simple. Everyone five cards, compare points to decide winner. When betting, everyone only bet ten dollars. When my turn, Mom snatched to shout for me: "Our Scarlett bets $500!" Voice just fell, surrounding silence. Know that, we usually bet won't exceed $20, even cousin who made fortune outside at most only bets $100. I stared straight at her, Mom guilty touched nose, indifferent said: "Big New Year just for a good luck, you as sister, of course want set a good example for brothers." "Lose then lose, wait land sale money come, Mom pay for you." She patted chest guarantee, satisfied accepting everyone's praise for her loving daughter. Loving daughter is fake, wanting Caleb to win more money is true. I dead pinched palm, finally still agreed. First round cards dealt, my hand was trash. No matter how combine, couldn't win. I annoyed scratched hair, resignedly scanned $500 to Caleb via Venmo. Next, my luck was bad to extreme. Either lose, or smallest point. And Caleb completely opposite, every hand was huge point cards. Last hand, he directly slapped cards on table, shouting: "Look clearly, Royal Flush!" Cousins instantly wailed: "Holy sh*t, Caleb your luck also too good, who can beat you." Caleb proudly raised chin: "That is natural, I am born with lucky life, from small to big various games, cards, my sister never won me." He took out phone show QR code, extended to my face: "$1500, pay money." I expressionless scanned code, gaze swept Mom and Dad relieved expression, I pulled corner of mouth. Towards Caleb word by word said: "Win point small money count what ability, dare not dare play point big?" Getting along with Caleb so many years, I know how to enrage him. Sure enough, he heard my words, face angry red: "Just you this trash also embarrassed mock me." "Before bet Christmas Money, which time you not lost clean." "Don't forget also 6 years old that year, you lost by me using dice until pants off run all over village, photographed by whole village people." He vividly described the scene then, I was ashamed and angry. Relatives laughed teasingly, Mom and Dad also followed laugh: "Yes ah Scarlett, your luck better not compete with your brother." I didn't care: "Then try see, from now on, $1000 a hand bet, how about it?" Paused, I pointed at him: "Just us two." Caleb stunned a bit, immediately laugh wild: "Okay, come then come, fear you not succeed." Mom fake patted my shoulder, dissuade said: "Almost enough, all one family don't hurt harmony." Dad pulled Caleb's arm: "Exactly, Caleb don't impulsive, your sister teasing you play ne." Although they said so, look at me eyes had hidden expectation. Caleb a throw away Dad's hand, clamored: "You guys today who don't manage, I must let this trash lose convinced, come." Cousins were dismissed, on table only left me and Caleb two. War touch immediate hair. Just I didn't expect, my luck still bad outrageous, not few hands lost these years savings clean. Originally annoyed, hear Caleb show off like open payment notification sound, my face more ugly. He leaned back in chair, smile proud: "Just you this trash, still play $1000 with me, don't finish New Year even fare can't take out." Big Aunt cracked sunflower seeds, sharp voice praise: "Aiyo this boy just has stamina, don't look grades not good, luck is top one." "Actually year Caleb born, I found master calculate for him, born lucky life." Mom laughed close not mouth, follow echo. Their laughter sharp and piercing ear, anger in my heart rush up. Slap—— I took off gold ring, gold necklace on body, heavy slap on table: "Come again!" Everyone a burst sigh, Caleb looked at that pile gold jewelry, more came spirit: "Aiyo, you this is want cover me marry wife Gold Jewelry ah." He unhesitatingly took out his latest iPhone: "I bet this, latest top config." Bet getting bigger and bigger, relatives watching excitement not fear big surrounded one circle after another. Re-deal cards, I got bad cards again. And Caleb side, big win. No accident, I lost again. He happily put jewelry into pocket, provoke said: "You still can take out things play with me ma, my time precious very, no time waste on you this trash." Relatives seem persuade me, actually add oil on fire: "Scarlett forget it, play down again, you just nothing have." "Exactly, girl family, why so competitive, lose then lose." I clenched fist, fix fix stare Caleb: "Play, of course play." Saying, I ruthless heart, threw car key up. This is new car I just bought not long, ornaments on top still new. Caleb exaggerated shout a sound, also took out his car key bet on. If say just now just small fight small noise, amount not exceed ten thousand, now is real gambling game. Whole field quiet down. Mom and Dad also swallowed saliva, dare not blink, afraid miss an instant. Deal card session, my hand cards finally better a bit. Pretty good points. I calm sighed relief. When I showed cards, Caleb micro not check frowned, face also carried a trace nervous. He careful careful one by one flip open cards, mouth mumble words, as if praying Luck Charm bless. Everyone hold breath, dead stare his cards. Last card flip out, win. "Win, is Win!" Cousins clap hands shout, whole field instant boil. And according to rule, this win double. Also means, I not only lost my new car, also want compensate him another car. "F*ck!" I heavy smashed table board, curse dirty word. Caleb then happy dance hand foot, shake head shake brain mock: "Yo, my dear good sister, you body still left what, a mouth, a pair eyes?" "This a car say less also worth $30,000, you take what to mortgage, difficult sell blood sell kidney." Hear I give not afford double, Dad immediately change serious expression: "Scarlett, Mom Dad from small tell you want keep promise, willing bet accept lose." "Today so many relatives watching ne, you if can't take out, our family face just be lost by you." Before they still would cover a bit, then now is naked bias. I deep breath, from bag took out House Deed. This is only one small condo under my name, is I save eat save use saved many years then bought. Back then Mom and Dad three times five times persuade me give it to Caleb as marriage house, I dead live not willing, didn't expect today actually by me personal hand bet up. Caleb snatch House Deed, flip come flip go looked good few times, then like hit chicken blood patting table: "Continue, I still want play!" "Today I want let you lose clean clean, even a pant not left." "Okay, I go toilet first." I fast step rush to toilet, turn on tap, big mouth big mouth deep breath. Outside again came Mom and Dad voice, they pulled Caleb to corridor corner. "Caleb, last round, you must steady perform." Mom urgent instruct: "I discussed with your Dad, put this time old house sold all money and properties give you guys as Pot, this hand, you must win." Caleb patted chest, carrying determined to win: "Rest assured ba, have Luck Charm bless me, when lost pass?" I dead bite lip, then endure impulse want rush out. Back to seat, Mom and Dad squeeze to Caleb side, in front of everyone, repeated just now words. Atmosphere once again pulled high. Caleb listen finish, eyeballs turned: "Time still early ne, last hand much boring." "Not as let this sale compensation let me and my sister split half, then again take respective share part bet up, slow play." I meet his playful eyes, know he want slow find presence on me. Mom anxious lower voice: "You crazy, this how can, in case..." Words not speak, but self-evident. She fear not Caleb lose, but fear I win. I self-mockingly smiled, feel ironic extreme. Dad but heart big very, patted Mom hand signal her rest assured: "Rest assured, Caleb has measure, Scarlett this girl no that fate." Father and son both chest have bamboo, Mom finally still agreed. Old house land area big amazing, split down, me and Caleb each person ten properties, $2 Million cash. Game restart. First hand card deal down, open card. I win slightly. Although is weak advantage, but I finally won. I raised this day first smile. Third Aunt tiptoe push open front people: "Aiyo, Scarlett this child maybe time come luck turn?" "According this trend, say not certain really can all win down family fortune ne." Caleb heard these words, face instant black. He irritable kicked stool, angry shout: "Noise what noise, just one hand, next hand I definitely win back." He no longer hippy smile, but every time touch card, place card, all carrying inevitable. Second hand I lost. Third hand he directly won double. Fourth hand, again double. ... Connect good few hands, Caleb all like intentional tease me, every time precise compare me more a little bit. Even have a hand, I clearly easy can win him, result finally I lost. I look less and less chips, thorough collapse. Crash—— I angry corrupt sweep table cards fierce sweep down, choose put remaining two properties and $1 Million all bet up, eyes full crazy: "Come, play big point, last hand!" Caleb scan one eye, cross legs mock: "Just you this bit rotten things, still want me bet all, want money want crazy right." "What, you dare not, is fear lose clean ma?" He like heard heaven big joke, stood up, point my nose roar: "Understand human words ma, I am dislike your money less!" I want is this sentence. I took out phone, in front of everyone face, one stroke after another start apply online loan, then call all can borrow money phone. Even promise put company flow fund all bet up. Finally, I push number to his face, serious said: "Total $20 Million, last hand, one hand decide win lose, you dare not dare follow?" Hear this number, everyone know we play anxious eyes. Mom and Dad this time really come dissuade: "Okay okay, all own family, sister brother make joke, give others see much shame." But Caleb where still listen in, $20 Million temptation already rush faint his brain, he red eyes hiss roar: "I follow, I bet my all properties, cash, all!" Mom and Dad anxious straight stomp feet, relatives also seven mouth eight tongue dissuade: "Aiya, everyone all one family, see good just collect, don't do thing too absolute." Even to show fairness, I still called family most prestige Uncle Gus, let him personal deal card. He sat beside us two, cards shuffle once again once. Prepare deal card time, I suddenly open mouth: "Wait, what if loser regret not admit debt?" Caleb sneer: "Only you will regret ba, are you expect yourself will lose, want advance find good back road?" Mom and Dad look each other: "Right right right, this matter must say clear." To block dead my back road, also to give Caleb double insurance, Mom and Dad on spot drafted an agreement. Even fear follow up have legal dispute, special note in agreement is voluntary gift, not bet. I unhesitatingly sign name, Caleb also big pen wave. Confirm no objection, Uncle Gus start turn deal card. Bet too big, surrounding people even breath dare not loud. Caleb surface not panic, hand but control not shaking. He flip half day, all didn't flip open last card. Finally, he choose one by one flip. First 4 cards very good. Every flip one, Caleb volume can't help raise high: "Have, have." Turn to last card, his heart thump straight jump. Ten thousand eyes focus under, Caleb fierce grab last card, slap on table. Perfect card. "Royal Flush, is Royal Flush ah ah ah!" Caleb from chair jump three feet high, crazy wave arms. Mom excited cover mouth, tears hua hua fall down: "Luck Charm manifest, our Caleb won." Caleb holding that card, like holding rare treasure, rush to my front, mock: "See not, Royal Flush." "Still Spade Royal Flush, you lost, thoroughly lost." Dad also surround up, voice inside carry a trace relax: "Scarlett ah, remember willing bet accept lose." Relatives discussion sound inside, have sympathy to me, again have schadenfreude. Uncle Gus sighed, patted my shoulder to show comfort. Everyone felt I powerless turn sky time, I but slowly lift head, eyes no trace panic: "Is it, then you wrong." I push front 5 cards, slowly push to table center.
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