1 Sailing in international waters to clear my head, I spotted my stepsister Luna trapped at a poker table. Opposite her stood the boys she’d grown up with, flanking a delicate girl, all wearing cold smirks. “What’s wrong, Miss Byrd? Can’t afford the bet?” Leo mocked. “You weren’t shy about demanding three million from Ava for a scarf.” “Fold if you want,” Caleb added calmly, “but hand over your 15% stake in the Byrd corporation to Ava by tomorrow.” Luna’s knuckles turned white, eyes red-rimmed. A man nearby laughed, loosening his tie. “Broke, little sister? Strip one item, I’ll give you five hundred in chips.” Whistles broke out. “Take it all off, and all my chips are yours!” From the upper deck’s shadows, I twisted the signet ring on my pinky. It’d been years since I showed my face here. They’d forgotten—though my sister bears her father’s name, she’s still a Frost. And those who touch a Frost girl pay with their lives. … My assistant beside me held his breath. “I’ll have the cruise director come and apologize to you at once, ma’am,” he whispered. I gazed down at the table, my voice arctic. “Not yet. Let’s see what kind of game they’re playing.” To make a move on my family, right under my nose? No one on this ship was getting off alive. Leo smirked at Luna, who was now encircled by leering men. “What’s the matter, Luna? Scared to undress? I’ve got some… private photos of you right here. How about we sell a set? Add a little to your pot?” Before he finished speaking, he’d tossed a USB drive to the staff. The next second, the massive screen above the table lit up. A high-definition photo of my sister, her clothes half-removed in a suggestive pose, flashed across the screen. “The great Miss Byrd always acts so pure,” someone jeered. “But look at the body on her under those clothes!” “I’m getting ideas and she’s not even naked yet. If she was, I think I’d die right on top of her!” Before the foul commentary could die down, Caleb tossed another USB drive onto the table with a cold smile. “I’ve got more. If you won’t trade your clothes for chips, I’ll help you out. I’ll add another bet for you!” The crowd roared its approval, the atmosphere heating up. “Our young masters are so generous! What a feast for the eyes!” Luna was trembling, tears streaming down her face. “We grew up together… How could you do this to me?” “Crying now, are we?” Leo sneered. “Where was this pathetic act when you were forcing Ava to pay up for that scarf?” “We’re trying to help you raise money, you ungrateful bitch!” Caleb added. “The scarf… she ruined it on purpose!” Luna retorted, her voice cracking. “My sister bought that for me…” At the mention of this, the girl named Ava, nestled between the two men, suddenly dropped to her knees, her face a mask of tears. “Luna, I know I was wrong! I’ve already bet myself in this game! Please, have mercy, don't raise the bet again! Just let me go!” Leo slammed his hands on the table. “Luna, are you going to use your money to bully Ava to death before you’re satisfied?” Caleb yanked Ava up from the floor and pulled her into his arms. “You dare bully her right in front of us? Then don’t blame us for being ruthless!” Ava whispered, just loud enough for everyone to hear, “Don’t blame my sister. It’s my fault for making her unhappy.” She turned to Luna, a glint of steel in her eyes. “My sister is out of money. I heard she’s working eight jobs a day just to eat. As long as she folds this hand, I’ll let this go.” I almost laughed out loud. Looking at the chips on the table, I could see my sister had already bet her entire net worth, including the private shares our grandfather had given her. If she folded now, she’d be left with nothing but crippling debt. My gaze locked on Ava. She was wearing the custom gown I’d had made for Luna. The Patek Philippe on her wrist was a gift from me to my sister. Even the emerald necklace my mother had left for Luna was hanging around her neck. And my own sister was in faded, worn-out clothes, a patch visible on the cuff of her pants. When had my sister—Seraphina Frost’s sister—been brought so low? Luna bit her lip so hard it nearly bled, tears carving paths down her pale cheeks. She looked like she was about to collapse. It seemed what Ava said was true. “Investigate,” I commanded in a sharp, low voice. My assistant immediately understood and slipped away. I’d been expanding the family business overseas for years, with little time to come home. But I called Luna every month. How had I not noticed a single thing was wrong? Luna suddenly looked up, her voice shattered. “Why? We were friends our whole lives. And you’re using photos you secretly took of me as betting chips?” Leo toyed with his chips, sneering. “If you don’t like it, then fold. Give it all to Ava as your apology.” Caleb didn’t even bother to look up. “Cut the crap. Either trade for the chips, or go over there and sell yourself. Strip. Now.” A chorus of vile shouts erupted. “Do it, princess!” “Sleep with me for one night, and I’ll cover your bet!” Luna was trapped, shaking uncontrollably. Just as everyone thought she was about to break, she snapped her head up, a desperate, defiant light in her eyes. “I’m all in.” The hall fell silent. 2 I froze for a second, my fingertips unconsciously tapping against the railing. I knew my sister’s assets down to the last cent. Everything she owned was already on that table. A pang of raw pain shot through me as I looked at her thin, fragile frame. Her hands trembled as she pulled out her phone, frantically switching between more than a dozen loan apps. After a full hour, she barely managed to scrape together a hundred thousand dollars. “That’s it?” Caleb scoffed, slamming his glass down. “Ava spends more than that on a spa day.” Ava covered her mouth with a delicate hand, a sweet smile playing on her lips. “Just give up, sister. I’ll be merciful and let you go.” Leo shoved a mountain of chips into the center of the table. “I’ll see your bet, and I’ll raise you double!” The color drained from Luna’s face. “Seeing as you’re so desperate for cash, let me help you out again…” Caleb pressed a button on a remote, and the giant screen flared to life once more. This time, it was a deepfake video. My sister’s face had been flawlessly edited onto another woman’s body. The movements were lewd, the sounds obscene. It was horrifyingly convincing. “That voice… it’s driving me wild. I’m hard already.” “What do you expect from an heiress? She knows how to perform in bed!” “I’ll pay two million for the full collection!” Luna shot to her feet. She was trembling from head to toe, staring in utter disbelief at the two boys she once called her friends. But their eyes were only for Ava, as they gently draped a coat over her shoulders. “Turn it off! Turn it off now!” Luna shrieked. But her voice was swallowed by the frenzied bidding. A waiter bowed, holding out a tablet. “Miss Byrd, would you like to sell the distribution rights to the video?” “Otherwise,” he added coolly, “you can either raise the bet or fold.” Luna’s face was ashen. She covered her face with her hands and began to sob. “I… I really have nothing left…” The men around her stared with greedy eyes, like a pack of wolves circling their dying prey, waiting for the moment she surrendered to tear her apart. My knuckles were white. I was about to stand up. But then I saw Luna, her hands shaking, pull a dull, gray stone from the pocket of her worn-out coat. She placed it carefully on the waiter’s tray. “Trade this… for chips.” A wave of laughter exploded through the room. Ava was bent over, howling with mirth. “Oh my god! Has my sister gone completely insane? Did she just pick up a rock off the ground and try to trade it for chips?” The waiter respectfully carried the stone away. Less than three minutes later, he returned, pushing a cart neatly stacked with five million dollars in chips. “Your chips, Miss Byrd.” The hall went dead silent. Ava’s smile vanished. “That piece of junk is worth five million?!” Leo shot to his feet. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Caleb kicked over a chair. “Get the appraiser out here! Now!” 3 I narrowed my eyes, my fingertips drumming lightly on the armrest. That wasn’t just any stone. That was the private seal of the Frost family. A single impression from that seal could mobilize ten million dollars in assets. Luna would never have used it unless she was pushed to the absolute edge. And these idiots… they only valued it at five million? The cruise ship’s owner was now kneeling before me, trembling so hard that beads of sweat dripped onto the carpet. He didn’t dare wipe them away. Down below, chaos had erupted. “It has been authenticated,” the manager’s voice shook. “This is the private seal of the Frost family from the capital. Its value is ten million dollars. We have exchanged it for five million in chips.” “The Frost family?” someone gasped. “Are these kids insane? Who dares to cross the Frosts?” At the mention of our family name, Ava’s eyes suddenly turned red. “Grandfather Frost has been gravely ill for a long time. My father gave me everything he had to help…” She turned to my sister. “Luna, I even sold my kidney! I really have no more money. We’re sisters, why must we tear each other apart like this? We’re just making a spectacle of ourselves for others.” The wine glass in my hand shattered. Sisters? My assistant leaned in and whispered, “Ava is the illegitimate daughter Mr. Byrd officially recognized six months ago. He even had a DNA test done. He dotes on her.” Fine. Wonderful. Marcus Byrd, you’ve really outdone yourself. I’m gone for a few years, and you dare pull a stunt like this behind my back? You must think I’ve gone soft. I’ll deal with him when I get back. Right now, my sister is the priority. Leo’s face was flush with anger. “Luna, since you insist on being so heartless, don’t blame us for what comes next.” “We’ll match it! Five million!” Leo slammed his hands on the table, only to be told he didn’t have enough chips. He and Caleb exchanged a look, then, through gritted teeth, they put up their own family’s corporate shares. “Double it!” They shoved the chips in front of Ava. “Let’s see you match that!” Ava smiled triumphantly, silently mouthing to my sister: You’re finished. Luna was shaking, the last bit of color draining from her face, leaving only raw despair. Double the bet was ten million. That move had cut off every possible escape route. If she folded, she would not only lose everything on the table, but she wouldn’t even be able to leave this ship in one piece. But she had nothing left to bet. A man shamelessly reached for my sister. “Come on, beautiful. Just sell the photos and the video. You’ll have your chips then, won’t you?” “You’re disgusting!” Luna slapped his hand away. “Bitch!” the man snarled. “You’ll be begging me later!” Caleb toyed with his chips, a cruel smile on his face. “Want to keep going? Then double the bet again.” Ava finally dropped her innocent act, her eyes glittering with venom. “Sell your body, sister. It’s… still worth something, I suppose.” A dozen men closed in, their eyes slick and predatory like snakes. They rubbed their hands together, chanting, “Strip! Strip! Strip! Strip!” “I’ll sign the organ donation contract.” Luna’s voice was a whisper, but it landed like a thunderclap. The entire hall was stunned. “Is she crazy?” “This girl’s got guts! She’s willing to bet her own life!” “Is her body even worth twenty million?” Ava shrieked with laughter. “Sister, what are you thinking? Even if you sold every single part of you, you wouldn’t be worth twenty million!” Before her words faded, a waiter appeared, pushing a cart with twenty million dollars in chips. An uproar swept through the hall. Everyone was shouting in protest. “This is rigged!” “I’m in my prime, and they only valued me at five hundred thousand! How is she worth twenty million?” “If we don’t get an explanation, we’re sinking this damn ship!”
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