He Played Poor for 99 Rounds, I Won on the Last One Chapter 05

He Played Poor for 99 Rounds, I Won on the Last One Chapter 05

The moment my father saw me-bruised, bloodied and Elliot crying in Alaric’s arms, something in

him snapped.

He didn’t say a word.

He just raised his cane and brought it down hard on the nearest person who had laid a hand on

No one dared fight back.

Everyone recognized Victor Viremont. They’d seen him on financial networks, heard his name in

boardrooms, watched him move markets.

Now, faced with him in the flesh, fury written all over his face, they could only take the blows and

stumble back, crying out.

Vanessa still hadn’t grasped what was happening.

“Mr. Viremont,” she said quickly, stepping forward, you’ve got the wrong person. That woman was

impersonating your daughter. We were just helping you deal with her.”

She pointed straight at me.

“She’s the one you should be going after.”

My father didn’t even look at her.

He pulled me up from the ground himself, his hands unsteady with anger.

“This is my daughter,” he said, his voice booming through the room. “And you dared to lay hands on

her.”

“You will pay for this.”

Alaric had already passed Elliot to his assistant. The moment his hands were free, he moved to

me, lifting me up with care that didn’t match the cold fury in his eyes.

Then he looked at Vanessa.

“So let me get this straight,” he said quietly. “You’re claiming my wife kidnapped my son.”

The room went dead silent.

Vanessa’s eyes widened, her lips parting, but no sound came out.

Dorian stood frozen where he was.

For the first time, real shock broke through his composure. He stared at me like he was seeing a

stranger.

The Viremont heiress.

Alaric Thorne’s wife.

The truth hit all at once.

The crowd froze, cold sweat breaking out as realization hit-they had made a devastating mistake.

Alaric turned to my father. “Take Elliot home first. I don’t want your blood pressure spiking over

this.”

My father didn’t argue. He took Elliot and left immediately.

Alaric’s gaze returned to the room.

He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to.

He looked at each person in turn, memorizing them

Every face.

Every hand that had touched me.

Vanessa couldn’t stand anymore.

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor, trembling.

Dorian, on the other hand, didn’t even glance at her

His eyes stayed locked on me.

“Celia… you really are Victor Viremont’s daughter?” he asked, his voice strained. “Then why did you

lie to me?”

“Was that your test? Did you leave me on purpose?

I rolled my eyes, exhausted by the sheer absurdity of it.

“I’m not as bored as you are,” I said flatly. “I made a bet with my father. I hid my identity because I

wanted a normal college life.”

I met his gaze, steady and direct.

“And when I was with you, I treated you like a normal person. Nothing more, nothing less.”

A pause.

“You put me through ninety-eight so-called tests. I believed every single one of them and did

everything I could to help you.”

“I don’t owe you anything.”

I had no interest in continuing this conversation-not with Alaric standing right there.

But Dorian wasn’t done.

Something in his expression shifted, like he’d suddenly pieced together a version of reality that

made sense to him.

“I get it now,” he said quickly. “There was never a failed test. That last one doesn’t count.”

He stepped closer, urgency creeping into his voice

“We don’t have to break up. We can fix this. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you? I

never got over you.”

I stared at him, genuinely baffled.

“I have a husband. And a child,” I said slowly. “And you’re with Vanessa. What exactly are you

talking about?”

“I never married her,” he shot back immediately. “I’ve been waiting for you all these years. I just

needed an explanation.”

His voice softened, almost coaxing.

“If you apologize, I’ll give you another chance.”

“You still love me. I know you do. I don’t care that you’ve been married or that you have a child. We

can still be together.”

Vanessa’s face went pale, humiliation and disbelief twisting her expression.

I let out a short, cold laugh.

“You might’ve had a point,” I said, “if you’d said that before you knew who I was.”

I tilted my head slightly, meeting his eyes.

“But now? All I see is how fake you are.”

My voice sharpened.

“You wanted to test people to prove their sincerity.

“But you never offered any of your own. So all you ever got back was deception.”

The color drained from his face.

Still, he opened his mouth, unwilling to let it go.

He didn’t get the chance.

Alaric moved.

One clean motion-fast, precise-and Dorian was sent flying backward, hitting the ground several

feet away.

“I’ve tolerated you long enough,” Alaric said, his voice cold enough to freeze the air. “Standing in front of me, talking nonsense to my wife like I don’t exist?”

His gaze turned cold.

“From now on, anyone tied to the Blackridge family is an enemy of mine-and the Viremonts.”

He swept a glance across the room, voice dropping, each word clear and heavy.

“As for everyone here today-I won’t let a single one of you off.”

A brief pause.

“Go home and wait for your bankruptcy.”