Chapter 819:

Across the table, Marcus lined up a shot and said casually, “That move of yours might put my sister in a tight spot.”

Johnny leaned over his table, eyes fixed on the cue ball. “I just wanted to show her I’m as good as Brad,” he said. “Maybe then she’d think twice about him.”

Marcus let out a quiet laugh. “Younger folks ought to learn a bit of humility.”

Johnny glanced up from his shot. “If we keep this up, we might lose,” he murmured.

Marcus smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting. “Are you saying I’m the weak link, Johnny?”

“Not at all,” Johnny replied in a low voice. “I just don’t want Rylie walking away empty-handed. She’s worked hard for this. And Candice is taking advantage of Rylie never having learned to play billiards. I’d hate for her to get hurt again.”

Marcus followed his gaze toward his sister, ready to tell Johnny that Rylie probably cared little for such things. But before he could speak, a familiar figure entered the room.

A man in a crisp shirt tossed his jacket onto the leather sofa and strode toward the table with unhurried confidence.

Marcus’ smile widened. “Seems someone couldn’t stand watching from the sidelines,” he said lightly.

Johnny turned his head, confusion flashing across his face. When he saw who it was, his expression faltered.

Brad’s sudden arrival broke the delicate calm that had hung over the room. The soft hum of voices died as he crossed the floor.

He reached the table, loosening his collar, his Adam’s apple shifting as he looked up. His eyes landed briefly on Rylie.

“The cue,” he said simply, extending his hand toward her.

Rylie blinked in confusion. “Huh?” she said, before handing the cue over without hesitation. “You want to play?”

Feel the magic at gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․cο𝓶

Her question echoed the thought running through everyone’s mind. Could Brad, a man buried in corporate affairs, really want to join a game meant for bored heirs and idle elites? It did not seem like him at all.

Brad took the cue, a faint glimmer lighting his eyes. “Why?” he asked. “Are you worried I’ll play like an amateur and ruin your chance at the prize bear?”

Rylie sighed, her voice edged with mild annoyance. “I’m not that attached to it. Why does everyone keep assuming I want it so badly?”

She had only joined for fun, mostly because her brother loved the game. As for the competition, that part had never been her idea.

“That’s good to know,” Brad said, smiling in a way that did not quite reach his eyes. “Then I can play without worrying about upsetting you.”

There was something in his tone, something sharp beneath the calm, and Rylie sensed it instantly. Moments later, her instincts proved right.

With her cue in hand, Brad began to play. The first strike set the rhythm, smooth and deliberate. Within minutes, he cleared the table she had nearly lost. The crowd watched in stunned silence as he moved on, taking Marcus’ spot and dominating the next three games. Johnny did not even get a chance to hold the cue. Brad’s skill left the room breathless. Aside from the opening break, no one else so much as touched a ball.

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