Nani watched in disbelief as Sky kept winning, his luck defying all logic. Each card seemed to fall perfectly into place, as if fate itself was on his side. The woman beside him laughed, clearly impressed, but Nani couldn't shake the nagging feeling in his gut. Sky's charm, his effortless confidence—it all felt too calculated, like there was more to him than met the eye.

Could he really control fate? Nani wondered, his mind still spinning from Sky's cryptic words the night before. Fate brought us together... What did that even mean? The question gnawed at him, refusing to settle. His eyes drifted to the pendant around Sky's neck—his mother's pendant. Why was Sky wearing it? Did they know each other? Did Sky know his parents? And if he did, why had he kept quiet when Nani had asked about it?

The more Nani learned, the less he understood, and it irritated him. This boy was a mystery, wrapped in a puzzle, and no matter how many pieces Nani tried to put together, they only seemed to scatter further.

------

Sky leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the mountain of chips stacked in front of him. His strikingly handsome face, with sharp cheekbones and a playful glint in his eyes, framed the mischievous smile that tugged at his lips. The room's dim lighting seemed to accentuate the angular lines of his features, making him appear almost otherworldly.

He looked up as Nani stood behind him. His black eyes, darker than the night around them, gleamed with something mischievous and just a little dangerous, but underneath it all was a soft warmth that seemed to be reserved only for Nani. "How much do you think I've earned so far?"

"More than enough already," Nani replied, his voice tinged with both concern and something gentler, something warmer. He glanced at the shady figures starting to look over their direction, his protective instincts flaring. "We should probably go. We're drawing unnecessary attention."

The men had been watching Sky for a while now, and it was clear they weren't just regular players. The way they observed his every win—it wasn't just suspicion. It could be that they were acting on behalf of the casino itself. Sky's continuous streak of victories was starting to raise alarms, and in a place like this, too much success could draw unwanted interest. These men might be the casino's way of handling things—making sure no one got too lucky without paying a price.

Sky's eyes lazily swept over the room, glancing at those men. His dark, enigmatic eyes seemed to drink in the atmosphere—both detached and entirely present, as if he were absorbing everything and nothing all at once. The steady rhythm of his fingers tapping against the mountain of chips was almost hypnotic.

Without a word, Sky's gaze flicked back to Nani. There was no rush, no sense of urgency. Sky reached forward, his hand smooth and steady as it hovered over the chips. He handed most of his winnings to Nani.

"Could you go cash these in?" Sky murmured, his voice low, smooth as velvet."Then come back to me, na."

Nani paused, his brow furrowing with hesitation as he glanced at the shady men closing in. He didn't like the idea of leaving Sky alone. "I'm not so sure," Nani replied, his eyes flicking to the exits, his body already moving as if preparing for something. "If I stay, I can protect you. If I go, something may happen."

"Don't worry, na," Sky said, his voice soft but undeniably confident, with a hint of affection. The light in Sky's eyes shifted then, turning into something warmer. Sky leaned back just enough to look up at Nani fully, his lips curling into a grin that was just a little bit more than playful. There was a gentleness to it, a quiet assurance. "I'll be fine. I promise."

Nani finally exhaled, the tension in his chest easing slightly, but not entirely. He nodded, though his eyes never fully left Sky. "Fine," he murmured, though his voice softened with something more than concern. "But if anything happens, you should yell loudly and I would be back in a heart beat."

Sky's puppy smile widened, his dark eyes gleaming with a warmth that could melt even the iciest hearts. "I'll be fine, Nani," he said with a playful lightness, though the sincerity behind the words was undeniable. His gaze stayed on Nani as he made his way toward the cashing out desk, his attention was entirely on him—like Nani was the only thing that mattered.

The pretty young woman beside him, who had been watching their interaction with a subtle smirk, leaned in with a teasing glint in her eye. "You seem pretty close with your boyfriend, handsome," she purred, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.

Sky turned his head, his smile turning mischievous. "Yes, we're fated to be together." He winked, his voice light but teasing. "Don't you mad at me? I won a lot of money from you, didn't I?"

She smirked, unfazed. "Oh, those winnings are nothing to me, handsome. You need to win much more than that to make me even blink." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a seductive murmur. "Break up with him, and be my boy. I'll give you so much more."

Sky didn't even flinch. He was unfazed, his eyes still casually scanning the cards in his hand. "You should move back," he said flatly, the tone smooth but firm. "My boyfriend's still watching. I don't want any trouble."

The woman glanced sideways at Nani, who was walking toward the cash-out table but still kept his gaze locked on Sky. She noticed the tension in Nani's posture—the way his eyes flickered with unease as she drew closer to Sky. The sight made her more determined to close the distance. "So what?" she challenged, her voice taking on a more persistent edge. "You still haven't answered my question, pretty boy."

Sky rolled his eyes, not even bothering to look up. "Please, sis. I know you're not interested in me," he said with casual indifference, his eyes flicking briefly toward her before returning to his cards. "In fact, I'm pretty sure you're not even interested in men."

For a moment, the woman froze, her smile faltering. But it was only for a second before she quickly recovered, leaning back in her seat with a renewed, confident grin. "Oh? What makes you so sure?"

Sky met her eyes now, his gaze sharp. "Because I can spot a pretender from a mile away. You're good at it, though," he said with a small, almost appreciative nod. "You're good at it, though, I'll give you that. But it's obvious you're just playing for fun."

The woman's laughter rang out, loud and genuine, as she wiped a mock tear from her eye. "Well, well," she teased, "you don't look so innocent when you're not with your boyfriend." She leaned in closer, intrigued by his calm composure. "I wonder how he'd react if he saw the real you."

Sky shrugged nonchalantly, his expression unchanged, as if her words didn't faze him in the slightest. "That's not your concern," he said, his tone casual but firm. He leaned back in his chair, eyes locking with hers, a subtle challenge in the way he held her gaze. "By the way, the name's Sky."

The woman tilted her head, studying him with an air of amusement. Her lips curled into a sly smile, as if she'd already figured him out. "Mine's Love," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Funny, isn't it? My name's Love, but I can't seem to find it."

She paused for a moment, her gaze flicking over Sky. The smile faltered, only to return, more curious now than teasing. "So, Sky," she said, leaning in just slightly, "What exactly do you want? You've dropped the 'innocent cute boyfriend' act, so you must be after something."

Sky met her gaze with a knowing smile, his tone steady and calm. "Bingo," he said, his voice low but certain. "I need your help."

Love raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued but laced with skepticism. "Help?" she echoed, the word hanging between them, sharp and edged. "I'm not sure I'm in the business of helping people I barely know."

Sky didn't flinch at her words; he could see the curiosity flickering in her eyes. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper, as if sharing a secret. "In a few minutes, this casino's about to erupt into chaos," he said, his gaze locked onto hers, steady and sure. "I need you to get your bodyguards behind us to stir up more trouble—just enough to set things off. It'll create the perfect distraction, and my boyfriend and I can slip out unnoticed."

Love blinked, her eyes narrowing as she studied him, trying to figure out if he was bluffing. "How would you know there's going to be chaos?"

Sky's lips curled into a half-smile, his eyes glinting with an unreadable intensity. "Let's just say... I have my ways."

Love paused, her smile shifting from playful to something more calculating. She leaned back, clearly intrigued, but the skepticism still lingered. "And why would I help you?" she asked. "What's in it for me?"

Sky's smirk, though there was still that enigmatic glimmer in his eyes. "I'll give you a hint," he said nonchalantly. "I know exactly where you'll find what you want most."

Her smile froze, her eyes narrowing as she considered his words. "What makes you think you know what I want?" she asked, her voice suddenly colder, more dangerous.

Sky's smile didn't falter as he leaned in just slightly, his voice smooth, the kind of confidence that came from knowing exactly how to play the game. "You seem to enjoy this place," he said, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm guessing you're a fan of a good bet." His words were casual, but there was an undeniable challenge in them, something deeper beneath the surface. "Why don't you make a bet, then? Bet on me finding the one thing you're looking for most."

Love's eyes narrowed, a flicker of amusement dancing in her gaze. She leaned back, her lips curling into a slow, almost knowing smile. After a beat of silence, she let out a soft chuckle. "Well, well, Sky," she said, her voice low, like honey but with a hint of steel. "You're definitely an interesting one."

She tilted her head slightly, her sharp gaze scanning him as though she were already five steps ahead. "I don't think I've met anyone quite like you," she mused, her tone dipping into something quieter, more contemplative. Then, as if the decision had already been made, her smile shifted, turning daring and almost playful. "Alright, I'll take that bet."

Her eyes never left his, locking on with a mixture of challenge and curiosity. "But remember, Sky..." Her voice dropped. "If you try to trick me..."

The air between them grew taut, thick with a tension that spoke volumes more than words ever could.

Sky's expression didn't falter. His dark gaze remained fixed on hers, steady and impenetrable, as if daring her right back. With deliberate ease, he laid down the final card, each motion precise and confident. Victory was his—again.

Leaning back in his chair, Sky exuded an effortless calm, a knowing smirk curving his lips as he met her gaze head-on. "I won't lose my bet," he said softly, his voice carrying the kind of unshakable confidence that didn't just promise—it ensured.

Just as the silence between them deepened, the soft shuffle of footsteps broke the tension. Nani returned, his expression a mixture of relief and wariness. As soon as his eyes found Sky, his face brightened, and he made his way toward the table with a slight, relieved smile.

Sky's expression shifted instantly. The cool, confident demeanor melted away in a heartbeat, replaced by a sweetness. His eyes softened as he stood to greet Nani, his tone light and cheerful, carrying a warmth that contrasted sharply with the cold precision from moments ago. "Hey, you're back!" he said, his smile wide and genuine as he reached for Nani's hand.

The shift was so sudden, so flawlessly executed, that it was almost disorienting. Love watched, an eyebrow raised in silent amusement, as Sky slipped into the role of the perfect, innocent boyfriend—effortlessly, like an actor falling into character. His puppy-like smile and the gentle way he leaned into Nani was enough to make anyone believe they were nothing more than a sweet couple, completely absorbed in each other.

Nani raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between Sky and the three imposing bodyguards behind Love. "I see you were talking with her earlier," he remarked, voice casual but with an edge of curiosity. "Did she threaten you or something?"The bodyguards, imposing figures of muscle, looked tough enough to intimidate most people, but Nani seemed unphased. If there was one thing he didn't doubt, it was his martial arts skill.

Sky's eyes didn't waver as he leaned in closer to Nani, tilting his head with a playful smile. "No," he replied softly, his voice carrying that innocent, almost teasing tone. His hand brushed lightly against Nani's strong abs as he spoke, a gentle touch that Nani didn't even notice. "She just shared an interesting story, that's all."

Love, still watching from her seat, couldn't suppress the amused smirk that curled at her lips. Her eyes lingered on Sky with a mixture of admiration and mockery. He was better at pretending than even she was. She flicked her gaze between Nani's open affection and Sky's carefully crafted innocence, a laugh bubbling up from her chest.

"I've cashed the money," Nani said, his voice low and steady, his gaze briefly scanning the room. He reached out, his fingers wrapping firmly around Sky's hand, a silent act of reassurance, grounding both of them in the rising tension. "We should get out of...." Those men still lingering in the background, watching them with unsettling attention.

But before Nani could say another word, the atmosphere in the room shifted.

The atmosphere of the casino was pierced in an instant by the sharp crash of the front door bursting open. Before anyone could even process what was happening, a squad of armed police officers stormed into the room, guns drawn and their presence like a thunderclap. The room froze for a split second—guests frozen in shock, unsure whether this was a drill or an actual threat.

The silence was fleeting. Chaos soon erupted as people scrambled for cover or desperately tried to regain their composure. It was instinct—disorder in the face of authority. Yet amidst the confusion, Sky's gaze shifted for a moment to Love.

Love's mouth parted slightly in surprise, but she recovered quickly, her mind already racing. The bet. It was happening—exactly as Sky had predicted.

With barely a flicker of motion, she gave the smallest nod toward her bodyguards. The men, who had been standing quietly, sprang into action with practiced fluidity. They moved like shadows, slipping through the growing chaos and positioning themselves near a secluded corner with an unobstructed view of the room. Then, without hesitation, they seized chairs from nearby tables and hurled them with precision toward the police officers, sending the furniture crashing into their ranks.

The room exploded into full-blown chaos. The air was thick with the sound of screams, clattering furniture, and the unmistakable pop of gunfire from another corner of the room. It seemed there was a group over there, the target of the police, using this opportunity to make their move and escape.

The police quickly retaliated, but the lines between friend and foe blurred in an instant. The casino had turned into a battleground, and no one could tell who was firing at whom anymore.

Amidst the chaos, Nani's instincts kicked in. The second he saw the flash of gunfire, instead of reacting with shock like those around him, he grabbed Sky's wrist and yanked him to his feet, pulling him through the frantic crowd. "We need to go. Now!" he muttered, his voice low but laced with urgency. His focus was singular—get Sky out of there. Whatever happened next didn't matter as long as Sky was safe.

As they fought their way through the chaos, Sky reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, folded piece of paper. In one smooth motion, he tossed it toward Love. It landed in her lap, barely noticeable amid the madness, but she caught it effortlessly.

Love's eyes flicked down to the paper in her lap, her lips curling into a knowing smile as she quickly read the hastily scrawled note. "You are truly interesting, Sky." The paper must have been written before the boy stepped foot inside the casino, as she hadn't seen him write it while he was here. That meant Sky had known everything from the start—every event leading up to this moment, all carefully orchestrated to fit his design. It seemed as though he was the one weaving fate.