Chapter 296: I accepted it because ... I believe in myself.
Karl’s eyes were the first to snap toward Zeke. His brows knitted tight as he glared at him.
"What do you mean by that?" he demanded, his expression clearly rejecting the idea. "This bet has nothing to do with her. It’s between us. Don’t drag her into it."
He had called his sister-in-law here just in case to have her protect him from his brother if anything went wrong. He never had any plans of getting her into trouble.
He couldn’t understand how the situation had turned out like this.
Zeke merely smirked, his gaze drifting lazily between Karl and Adelyn, filled with mockery.
"Why?" he drawled. "Are you suddenly not so confident anymore, Young Master Karl?"
"Carte ..." Karl took a step forward, his tone turning noticeably colder. "You’re crossing the line now. Don’t push your luck. These outsiders won’t be around to protect you forever."
Pier also stepped forward.
"That’s right, Zeke. Goddess isn’t involved in any of this. There’s no need to drag her into your grudge."
"Goddess?" Zeke snorted in amusement. His gaze slowly swept over Adelyn from head to toe.
"So she’s got both of you wrapped around her finger. She must be quite capable."
Then something unpleasant flickered through his eyes.
"Now that I’m taking a closer look ..." A slow smile spread across his lips. "...she really is beautiful enough to make me want to try."
If Karl had been furious before, he felt livid now. His anger now erupted like a volcano.
How dare that bastard speak about his sister-in-law like that?
"You bast*rd!!" He exploded, "I’m not leaving until I see you dead today!"
With that, Karl charged forward, ready to rush into the ring and teach Zeke a lesson ...
However—
Adelyn stopped him.
This time, when Karl turned toward her, the fury in his eyes wasn’t merely anger anymore. It was raw, uncontrollable rage.
He looked as though he wouldn’t listen to anyone.
Not even her.
Yet Adelyn simply shook her head.
"Come back." Her voice remained calm. "Let me handle this."
Karl wanted to argue. The words even reached his lips ...
But in the end, he swallowed them.
Without another complaint, he obediently stepped back until he was once again standing beside her, held firmly by her.
Pier, who had instinctively followed Karl, also retreated.
Seeing that, Zeke looked at Adelyn and smirked. "Weren’t you acting so confident just now? What happened? Lost all your courage already?"
Adelyn merely lifted her eyes and returned his gaze with the faintest smile.
Karl, for once, immediately understood what Zeke was trying to do.
Turning toward Adelyn, he hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, you absolutely can’t agree to him. Not under any circumstances."
Pier quickly echoed, "Yes, Goddess. Don’t pay attention to his nonsense."
However —
Adelyn didn’t refuse.
And seeing her remain silent like that, an ominous feeling slowly crept into Karl’s heart. A chill ran down his spine.
He suddenly dreaded what would happen if she actually accepted.
Just as his thoughts spiraled—
Zeke spoke again, his eyes fixed directly on Adelyn.
"If you’re really that confident, then make a bet with me." He paused deliberately before continuing,
"If you lose today ..."
His meaningful gaze shifted toward Karl before returning to her.
"... you’ll spend one night with me —serving me wholeheartedly."
Karl’s fists clenched instantly. His eyes turned bloodshot.
"You bastard. Say that again."
"Relax." Zeke laughed carelessly. "It isn’t a bad offer. At least let me finish. I’m sure you’ll find it reasonable."
His laughter only made Karl angrier.
"Reasonable? You piece of sh*t. You want to spend a night with someone? How about I arrange one for you inside a coffin instead?"
Zeke ignored him completely. His confidence remained unchanged. He continued anyway —
"As long as she spends the night with me, you won’t have to crawl beneath my legs or become my servant anymore."
He spread his hands with a grin.
"One night with your woman is reward enough. Isn’t that a much better deal?"
"That’s enough, Sister-in-law." Karl had reached his limit. "I can’t take this anymore. Don’t stop me this time."
"I have to teach this bastard a lesson. Let me—"
Before he could finish—
Adelyn released his wrist.
Karl froze for a second.
His eyes instinctively dropped to the arm she had been holding.
Seeing her let go, he immediately assumed she had finally given him permission. Relief flashed across his face.
Finally, he could shut Zeke’s filthy mouth.
With that thought, he had barely taken a step—
When Adelyn’s calm voice rang out. "The proposal isn’t bad." She paused. "But ... are you sure you can afford to keep it?"
Karl abruptly turned around. His entire expression froze. "Sister-in-law ... what are you saying?"
"You can’t seriously be thinking about accepting that bet, can you?"
Adelyn didn’t answer him. Her eyes never left Zeke.
She was waiting.
Waiting for him to confirm it once and for all.
Naturally, Zeke didn’t take her confidence seriously.
To him, Adelyn was nothing more than a beautiful woman who had no idea what kind of place she had stepped into.
Once Karl lost, she would have no choice but to beg.
Wouldn’t that be the greatest humiliation for Karl Warren?
Watching his own woman become someone else’s prize ...
The thought alone made Zeke increasingly satisfied. He glanced toward Steve beside him. And his confidence swelled even further.
Looking back at Adelyn, he laughed. "Of course. I’m a man. I don’t go back on my word. If we make this bet, those will be the conditions."
He folded his arms.
"So, do you still dare?"
He expected hesitation.
Perhaps even fear.
Instead—
Adelyn simply shrugged.
"Why not? They say letting a good opportunity slip away only doubles the loss."
Her answer stunned everyone present. Even Zeke paused for a brief second.
Then—
Zeke burst into loud laughter, clapping his hands. "Interesting. You’d better not cry afterwards."
"After all..." He deliberately repeated her own words back to her. "...regret that comes too late is never worthwhile. It won’t save you."
Little did he know ...
He would soon become the one forced to swallow those very words.
Adelyn simply watched him quietly.
Then her gaze shifted toward Steve.
Her eyes remained calm. But they were sharp enough to make the man standing confidently inside the ring narrow his own slightly.
Something about her gaze felt strangely terrifying.
"Sister-in-law..." Karl was nearly breaking into a cold sweat. "How could you agree to something like that?"
"Even if you believed in me, you shouldn’t gamble yourself. I..."
"Who said I believe in you?" Adelyn interrupted without even looking at him.
Karl blinked. His brows slowly drew together. "If you don’t believe in me, then why did you accept the bet? And why did you put yourself on the line?"
She finally looked at him.
Did this brat honestly think she had wagered herself because she trusted his abilities?
"I accepted the bet." She pressed her lips and smiled faintly. "But not because I believe in you."
A brief pause followed before she calmly finished—
"I accepted it because ... I believe in myself."