The Bound Between Us

Chapter 354

If she wanted to win over Granny Anita, she had to play to her passions.

Anastasia learned from Flynn that Granny Anita loved playing poker, so once she finished her duties, she hurried over to Velvet Lounge to join Granny Anita in a game.

When Anastasia arrived at the card room, Granny Anita instantly realized Flynn’s scheme. She shot Flynn a stern look and grumbled, “Traitor.” With that, Granny Anita stood up to leave.

Flynn quickly tried to placate her, “Granny, Granny Terrill and Granny Susano are here too. Are you really going to stand them up, not play a few rounds?” Despite Granny Anita’s coldness, Anastasia didn’t take it to heart and greeted her with a warm smile, “Hello, Granny Terrill, Granny Susano.”

“Isn’t that Herman’s wife?” Granny Terrill, who had seen the anniversary livestream, recognized Anastasia and said with a smile, “She’s even more beautiful in person.”

Granny Susano also chimed in with a compliment, “She has a beautiful face, a face that brings fortune to her husband and child. Anita, you’ve found yourself a wonderful granddaughter-in-law.”

Hearing her friends praise Anastasia, Granny Anita was not pleased. Instead of joining in the praise, she said, “I’ll call someone else to join us for poker.” Granny Susano replied, “Your granddaughter-in- law is right here, isn’t she? Anastasia, can you play poker?”

“Yes.” Anastasia replied with a smile, “I’ll join you for a few rounds.”

Granny Anita stubbornly protested, “I won’t play poker with her.”

The two old ladies exchanged surprised glances, wondering what was the matter.

Flynn tried to smooth things over with a laugh, “Granny, it’s almost noon. If we don’t start playing soon, it’ll be lunchtime. What a waste.”

Anastasia decided to use a bit of reverse psychology, “What, Granny, are you afraid of losing to me? You’re my elder. I’ll definitely let you win the first three rounds.”

Granny Anita, known as the “Poker Goddess” in her hometown, could not stand such a challenge.

“I think you’re the one who’s afraid. I’ve been playing poker for decades, and you, a young girl, think you can beat me. I’ll see how much you’re really worth today.” Grannie Anita said.

“Then let’s sit down and get started.” Anastasia smiled, “Remember, I’ll let you win the first three rounds.”

Granny Anita huffed and sat down. The game was on.

Anastasia gave Flynn a subtle nod, and Flynn returned an OK sign. At the start of the first round, Anastasia looked at her cards and had to admit that Flynn’s trick was a bit too obvious. She had a perfect hand of all cards from the same suit, ready to win.

Granny Anita was the dealer and threw a provocative glance at Anastasia before dealing a card, “Three of hearts.”

Looking at her hand, Anastasia could win with Granny Anita’s card, but she couldn’t win just yet. Anastasia drew a card with a smile, and to her surprise, she got another three of hearts. She looked at her cards, then at Flynn.

Flynn also wanted to facepalm. He had rigged it so that no matter where Anastasia sat, she would always get the best cards. But this was too much.

If Anastasia won right away, it would be too obvious and might annoy all three grannies.

Anastasia could only sorrowfully discard the three of hearts, “Three of hearts, matching.”

Granny Anita snorted and continued to play.

Granny Terrill and Granny Susano were also skilled poker players, having played for decades.

For the first three rounds, Anastasia could have won but let the opportunities slip by, making Granny Anita the big winner, with either a flush or a full house.

Granny Anita shot a triumphant glance at Anastasia, “With your skills, you thought you could beat me? When I started playing poker, you weren’t even born yet.”

“You play really well, Granny.” Anastasia praised with a smile, “The three rounds are over. Now, I won’t be so generous.”

During the fourth round, Anastasia still got good cards, but not as outrageous as in the first round. Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.

Granny Anita dealt a card with confidence, “Three of diamonds.”

“Four of a kind.” Anastasia immediately declared with her first card.

Granny Anita’s face twitched, “It’s just a four of a kind.”

No sooner had she finished speaking when Anastasia drew another card and calmly said, “Another four of a kind.”

Anastasia added another card, “And another one.”

After three consecutive four of a kinds. Granny Anita was taken aback..

Granny Terrill said, “Anastasia is really lucky. Three consecutive four of a kinds are very rare.”

Granny Susano added with a laugh, “As long as it’s not a royal flush.”

Anastasia looked at Granny Anita with a playful smile and dealt a card, “Nine of hearts.”

No one could take this card.

10:40

The next player drew a card, and Granny Anita, true to her “Poker Goddess” reputation, showed her impressive skills. Despite her age, her mind was sharp when calculating the cards.

Flynn stood behind Granny Anita, signaling Anastasia with hand gestures.

Anastasia managed to keep Granny Anita from winning, and the round ended with neither of them winning. Their chances were snatched up by Granny Terrill and Granny Susano.

Grannie Anita watched in annoyance as Anastasia held onto the card she needed, “Why don’t you play that card? You can’t win with it, so what’s the point of holding onto it? Don’t you know how to count cards?”

Anastasia replied nonchalantly, “If I can’t win with it, then I can’t. At least I could still make some money off the sets I’ve got. Even if I can’t win, neither can you, Granny.”

Grannie Anita was so angry she reshuffled the cards, “Let’s go again.”

As the games progressed, Anastasia kept winning either by self-draw or by taking Grannie Anita’s cards, almost driving her to despair.

Grannie Anita was gritting her teeth in frustration, but she still refused to give up. Anastasia shook her head, amused at Grannie Anita’s stubbornness.

At that moment, Flynn’s phone rang. It was his brother, Herman. He stepped out into the hall to answer the call, “Hey, what’s up?”

Herman asked, “Where’s Ana? Is she with you?”

“Yeah, she’s playing poker with Granny.” Flynn said, sounding pleased with himself, “You should thank me. I’ve put a lot of effort into trying to improve their relationship.”

“She knows how to play poker?” Herman asked.

Herman stood by the huge glass window in his office at Elysian Technologies, hand in his pocket, “Granny’s a poker shark. Anastasia doesn’t stand a chance.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I just have to manipulate the game a little. Even the best strategy can’t beat a lucky hand.” Flynn said confidently, “Granny’s almost lost it. She’s not happy, but Anastasia said it’s reverse psychology to stir up Granny’s competitive spirit.”

Herman chuckled at that. Anastasia’s cunning strategies were more than enough to handle. Grannie Anita was stubborn and obstinate. The more you tried to please her, the less she liked.

Herman reminded him, “Keep an eye on them. Don’t let Granny realize you’re cheating or they’ll end up in a fight.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.” Flynn ended the call and went back to the poker room to continue his undercover mission.

Grannie Anita’s poker hands were so bad that even a dog would shake its head at them. Everyone else had winning hands while she still hadn’t played her weakest suit. According to poker rules, she must

have at least one weak suit.

Grannie Anita was losing badly but refused to give up, hoping to turn the game around. This went on for another hour.

Anastasia laughed, “Granny, how about we play another day? At this rate, you’re going to lose all your chips. I’m always ready to play.”

Grannie Anita grunted, “Let’s play a few more rounds. Flynn, lend me some money.”

Grannie Anita was out of cash.

At that moment, a familiar female voice came in, “Granny, who upset you?”