Chapter 756

As the crowd pressed in to witness the spectacle, someone darted off in haste, determined to return with a hammer.

Hamilton's brow furrowed with unease. He turned to his secretary.

Joseph gave a quick nod and hurried down the stairs without a word.

Damon was moments from shattering the dice when Joseph raised his hand sharply, halting him mid-action.

Damon looked at Joseph like he'd been slapped. "Joseph, are you serious? Daniela cheated and now you're taking her side?"

Joseph knew he had to tread carefully.

He offered a casual smile and told the crowd, "Hey, it's just a little family thing. Nothing serious, alright?Let's not blow it out of proportion. Go on, enjoy the party."

It was clear he was trying to smooth things over.

The onlookers shared uncertain looks, then slowly began to heed Joseph's words.

Joseph stood as Hamilton's voice and will.

There was no mistaking it-this was Hamilton subtly pulling the reins to steady the chaos.

The truth was clear-Damon had undoubtedly lost the bet. Yet, as long as the dice remained unbroken,doubt would continue to cloud the air.

Damon's name was etched in gambling lore-his reputation, nearly mythic.

This wasn't something that could be brushed under the rug.

Joseph had stepped in at just the right moment. If he managed to scatter the crowd now, Damon could spin any excuse later without much resistance.

Given time, folks would likely convince themselves Damon couldn't possibly have lost. The event would slip quietly into the fog of forgotten things.

And just like that, the McCoy family's honor would stay polished and untarnished.

The sharper minds in the crowd quickly caught on to Hamilton's ploy. With a knowing smile, someone chimed in, "Exactly! It's just a family event. We're here to enjoy ourselves, not to get all worked up."

"Yeah, games like these don't take much talent anyway. No reason to pack in like sardines. Let's spread out a bit."

The man speaking now was a distant McCoy relative, clearly angling to earn their favor. A smile played on his lips as he waved his hand, encouraging the crowd to scatter.

Joseph felt pleased with how smoothly everything was falling into place. He was just about to suggest drinks and dancing when Daniela's voice sliced through the moment. "You lose and now you're pretending it didn't happen?"

Just then, Carol and Cedric came back in from outside, a shawl draped over Carol's arms for Daniela. The moment they stepped in, they saw Damon snapping, charging straight at her.

Without missing a beat, Cedric stepped forward, placing himself squarely between Damon and Daniela.

Damon scowled at Cedric, rage flaring in his eyes. "Move! This doesn't concern you. It's between me and Daniela!"

Cedric met Damon's glare with icy calm. "If you've got something to say, say it to my face."

A flicker of fury danced in Damon's eyes. He lifted his hand, poised to strike. "Fine, I'll tell you..."

But before he could get the words out, Cedric twisted, launching a swift over-the-shoulder throw. Damon slammed into the floor with a bone-jarring thud.

Damon clambered back up, hair tousled and fury flaring-his dignity in tatters.

He shot Cedric a venomous glare. "Daniela cheated! And now you hit me too? You people are disgusting!" Cedric didn't flinch. "She cheated? She was mastering the dice long before you even knew what a wager was."

Damon reeled, the words striking him like a slap.

Carol, arms folded and smirking, scoffed. "Moron. Haven't you figured it out yet? She's Shim-the legendary gambler the world still whispers about."

The room froze in collective shock, silence hanging heavy in the air.

Even those who never touched a dice knew the name Shim.

Years ago, in a fabled, high-stakes match where lives hung in the balance, Shim had claimed the crown of the world's greatest gambler-armed with nothing but her dice.

But after that triumph, Shim disappeared like smoke, leaving behind only tales and legends.

Yet even now, her legend burned bright, etched into the memories of all who had heard it.

"You're Shim?" Damon gawked at Daniela, his thoughts spinning. "How can that be?"

Shim wasn't just a name to him-she was his lifelong idol.

"What proof do you have you're actually Shim?" Damon triedto sound firm, but his quivering tone and shaken face gave him away.

Just moments ago, Daniela's effortless handling of the dice struck him as oddly familiar. He had spent years studying Shim's techniques, attempting to mirror them. Could it truly be her?

Damon's face morphed from fiery anger to deep confusion, finally settling into complete bewilderment. In that moment, a wave of helplessness crashed over him.

He stared at Daniela, lips quivering, as though the truth had stolen his voice. At last, barely above a whisper,he asked, "Are you really Shim?"

Carol,intrigued by Damon's sudden shift in tone, stepped in to speak for Daniela.

"Obviously. The biggest and most secretive underground casino on earth? She owns it. Still don't buy it? Call Loser-the gambling expert. You're obsessed with this world, right? I'm sure you've got his number saved."

Damon's fingers trembled as he dialed.

As he hung up, he stood frozen, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. A swirl of conflicting emotions flooded him.

"You really are Shim."

Daniela was Shim-the very legend etched into the history ofhigh-stakes gambling.

For years, Shim had been the north star of his gambling dreams.

And now, he realized with a jolt-he'd just tried to challenge her.

One of Damon's men, still clutching the hammer, paused awkwardly. "Should we still break the dice?"

Damon lifted his gaze in a daze, eyes settling on the tiny dice lying beneath the raised hammer. He slowly shook his head, defeat heavy in his voice. "No need."