He Played Poor for 99 Rounds, I Won on the Last One Chapter 04

He Played Poor for 99 Rounds, I Won on the Last One Chapter 04

Dorian’s face darkened the moment I finished speaking.

He had always been suspicious by nature, and now doubt had already taken root. His voice turned cold as he looked at Vanessa.

“Is what she said true? You knew who I was all along?”

Vanessa froze for a split second before her expression shifted into wounded disbelief.

“Dorian, that’s ridiculous,” she said, her voice trembling. “She’s lying. Don’t tell me you actually believe her?”

“I fell for you the moment I met you. I loved you for who you are. Have you forgotten everything I’ve done for you?”

The certainty in her voice wavered just enough.

Dorian didn’t answer. The suspicion didn’t disappear—it only sank deeper. He lowered his gaze and quickly sent a message to his assistant.

Vanessa saw it.

And snapped.

She lunged forward without warning and slapped me hard across the face.

Before I could react, she tore Elliot from my arms.

Elliot struggled immediately, reaching for me as he cried out in panic.

“Mom! Mom—help me!”

My heart clenched.

“Elliot, it’s okay,” I said quickly, forcing my voice steady. “Stay calm. Dad and Grandpa are on their way. They’ll be here soon. No one’s going to hurt you.”

He kept crying at first, his small body shaking, but my voice grounded him. Slowly, the sobs weakened into soft, broken hiccups.

Vanessa watched, her frustration building.

The way he listened to me only made her angrier.

She stepped forward again and rained slaps down on me in a blurring succession.

“Hit her,” she snapped at the staff, her voice sharp with fury. “What are you waiting for?”

But Dorian stepped in.

“That’s enough. This ends here. We have more important things to do.”

Then he looked at me, his expression cold again.

“Celia, don’t make this worse for yourself. Leave now. I won’t be able to help you if this escalates.”

I didn’t even look at him.

My eyes were locked on Elliot.

“Vanessa, give him back,” I said, my voice low and urgent. “If anything happens to him, I won’t let you walk away from it.”

Vanessa tightened her hold on him, her face twisted with resentment.

“I’m the one who won’t let you walk away,” she shot back. “I’m calling the police right now.”

“Celia, you can spend the rest of your life behind bars.”

She dialed immediately, reporting a kidnapping—claiming that someone had abducted a billionaire’s child.

I didn’t stop her.

If anything, I wanted her to make that call.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

They were almost here.

But Vanessa still wasn’t satisfied.

Holding Elliot—who had started crying again—she turned to the crowd, her voice filled with excitement and calculation.

“I just saved Alaric Thorne’s son,” she announced. “When he gets here, he’ll thank me personally.”

Her eyes gleamed.

“And anyone who helps me deal with this woman—I’ll make sure you get an introduction.”

That was all it took.

The people around us didn’t have Dorian’s status. To them, that promise was worth everything.

They surged forward.

Hands grabbed at me—pulling, tearing. Someone yanked at my clothes, another clawed at my hair. Blows landed from all directions, fists and kicks with no restraint.

I fought back as best I could, shielding my head, protecting what I could.

It didn’t matter.

Pain spread through my body, sharp and relentless.

Vanessa stood to the side, watching, her voice rising in excitement.

“Harder,” she urged. “Don’t hold back.”

The commotion finally drew attention.

The event director rushed in, and the moment he saw me, his face drained of all color.

He staggered, nearly collapsing, his voice breaking as he shouted—

“Stop! All of you, stop! Do you even know who she is?!”

Behind him, two figures entered.

Victor Viremont.

And Alaric Thorne, who had come straight from the airport.

Vanessa didn’t hear a word.

She was too focused on her own moment.

Her face lit up with excitement as she pointed at me, speaking quickly to my father.

“Mr. Viremont, this woman was impersonating your daughter. I’ve already had someone deal with her.”

Then she hurried forward, placing Elliot into Alaric’s arms with exaggerated care.

“Mr. Thorne, your son was almost kidnapped just now. Luckily, I caught it in time.”

She straightened, eyes shining with anticipation, her voice turning modest.

“It was nothing. Just doing the right thing.”