?Chapter 145:


    “Noints? Great. Ralphy, you’re first,” Davina dered, pointing at him. Ralphy shot her a cocky salute. “Yes, ma’am.” He dove for a card, snatching it from the pile.


    Davina drew next, followed by Elliott, and the rest took their cards in quick session.


    “So, who’s kicking things off?” Christina asked, her voice cool and measured as she toyed with the Joker between her fingers, eyes sweeping the table.


    Ralphy shot his hand up before anyone else could react. “Me! I’m up. One sec—if I make the right guess, the person I guess about has to drink, right?” He eyed the group, eager to lock in the rules.


    Davina gave him a nod. “Exactly. And if someone guesses correctly that your card is lower than theirs, that’s one drink. Two people? Two drinks. It’s open season—team up as much as you want.”


    Ralphy nced down at the King of Spades in his hand, unable to hide his grin. Without hesitation, he pointed straight at Davina and dered, “Easy. Your card’s lower than mine, guaranteed!”


    Davina fired back, grinning as she locked eyes with him. “Think so? I’m saying yours is lower than mine!”


    Dn and Elliott exchanged looks, both turning toward Christina, quietly waiting to see which way she’d jump.


    Christina’s lips curled into a yful smirk as she pointed directly at Ralphy. “I’m guessing yours is lower too,” she stated, her voice smooth and certain.


    Without missing a beat, Elliott and Dn followed her lead, their arms locking onto Ralphy like a firing squad.


    Ralphy’s jaw dropped as he stared, utterly stunned. “Hold up—are you guys for real?” he eximed. “What is this, some kind of siege? This is outright cruelty!”


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    He clutched his chest in mock agony, hamming it up so much that Davina burst outughing.


    Davina grinned, her eyes sweeping over the group. “Alright, you get one shot to change your guess. But if you do, you owe half a drink. Anyone wanna switch?”


    Nobody moved. Their determination was written all over their faces. Ralphy tried onest time, waving his card with dramatic ir. “Sure you don’t wanna rethink this? My card is a beast. I’m warning you!” But his cocky bravado bounced right off their collective resolve. With a yful nod, Davina said, “Cards up, let’s see what you’re hiding.”


    Ralphy let out a theatrical groan, smacking his card down with enough force to rattle the table. “Trust me, you haven’t seen regret until now! Take a good look, everyone!”


    He revealed the King of Spades with a flourish, his grin sly as a fox as he folded his arms and leaned back. “Didn’t see thating, did you? King of Spades, right here! Come on, let’s see what you’ve got—no way you all top this.”


    “No way! You’re the King of Spades?” Davina gasped. Her smile faded.


    Ralphy smirked, proud as ever. “I warned you all. I said—point at me and you’ll regret it. But no one listened.”


    Davina let out a long, dramatic sigh. “What a shame.” She flipped her card over with a flick. “Too bad for you—my card’s bigger!”


    Then, she burst intoughter, loud and sharp, like she wasughing at a clown.


    Ralphy’s jaw dropped. “Hearts Ace?” he cried, staring at her card. “How is that even possible?”


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