All In No Regrets Except Losing Her Chapter 08
[Zane’s POV]
Sinclair Manor. The Legacy Game.
Once in a decade. Invitation only. Everybody who matters has someone here.
By the time Zane’s crew walks in, the main hall is packed. Chips clicking. People talking shit under their breath. Whole room buzzing.
The Whale Table’s already full. Buy-in: $1.6 million in trust money. Two other high-stakes tables close behind — $800K and $600K.
Kai hovers over one, studying the players. Their hands. Their rhythm. Their tells.
“This table’s got something. Two weak reads, one guy bleeding chips for an hour. Buy-in’s $600K. I say we sit.”
Keller waves from across the room. Another table.
“Nah — this one. $800K but the pot’s already past two mil. I can feel it.”
Zane’s staring at his phone.
He’s not worried. If he doesn’t show up, who’s she gonna do the ceremony with?
“Yo, Zane. Over here.”
Keller points at a table in the far back corner. Low buy-in. Barely any action. Three no-name players nursing tiny stacks.
“What do you think about—”
“You guys pick.” Zane doesn’t look up.
Kai walks over. Frowning.
“Dude. When have we ever picked without you? We pooled $800K between us. Just say something.”
Zane blinks. Glances around.
“That one.”
He points at the dead table in the corner.
Everyone shuts up.
“Bro. You serious? There’s nothing happening over there. Nobody’s even looking at that table.”
“Zane — the two tables we scouted? Everyone agrees those are the play. Just pick one of those.”
They’re all talking over each other. Confused. Frustrated.
Zane opens his mouth—
His phone blows up.
A video from Wendy. And a voice message.
“Zane what the fuck?? You told me this was fake??”
“Silas is here! In a suit! Both families showed up, there’s like a hundred people!”
“Is this real?! What is happening?!”
Everything stops.
He’s standing in the middle of a packed game hall. Kai’s arguing about buy-ins. Keller’s running numbers with someone. Ivy’s on the phone confirming a wire.
Everything’s moving around him.
He can’t move.
His voice comes out shaking.
“Listen to me. Take the corner table.”
“I have to go. Right now.”
He turns and runs.
“Are you insane?!”
Kai grabs his arm.
“Game’s starting! We’ve got over a million on the line! You bail now, it’s gone!”
Ivy runs up—
“Get off me!”
Zane rips free.
“The ceremony is real! If I don’t get back now I lose her!”
Nobody tries again.
He sprints to his car. Floors it. Dials Quinn the whole way.
Voicemail.Three and a half hours. He drives like he’s trying to outrun something.
Ashford Hall. Grand ballroom.
Candles everywhere. White flowers. Two hundred people in their seats.
The processional starts.
Silas at the end of the aisle. Black suit. Still. Steady.
Quinn walking toward him. White dress. Slow. Every head in the room turning.
The headmaster steps forward.
“Quinn Callahan — do you choose Silas Reyes as your promised partner, to honor, to trust, to cherish, from this day forward?”
Quinn opens her mouth—
BANG.
The doors fly open.
“I object!”
Zane. Shirt untucked. Tie gone. Drenched in sweat. Barely standing.
His voice tears through the silence.
Every head turns.
He doesn’t look at anyone else. Walks straight down the aisle. Stops in front of Silas.
Chest heaving. Jaw clenched. Every word forced out.
“Silas.”
“I want to bet you. Right here. Right now.”