All In No Regrets Except Losing Her Chapter 09
Silas smiles.
Calm. Steady. He slides the Promise Ring onto Quinn’s finger. Gentle but sure.
Then he looks up at Zane.
“Man. It’s my girl’s big day. I’m not betting you anything.”
“You wanna stay, grab a seat. Have a drink.”
“Cut the shit!”
Zane’s shaking. Cornered animal.
“Quinn was supposed to be with ME! Since when is she yours?!”
“You’re supposed to be my boy — and you do this?!”
The smile drops off Silas’s face.
“Yeah. Quinn was yours.”
“But if I’m remembering right — you’re the one who bet your own ceremony. You lost. You walked away.”
“And now you’re mad at me?”
Zane’s face goes dark red. Voice cracking.
“You’ve been waiting for this, haven’t you? Waiting for me to slip so you could take her!”
“You slipped. That’s not on me.”
Silas’s voice goes flat. Cold.
“You threw her away. Don’t come running because somebody else picked her up.”
Security moves. Two guys heading for Zane.
He shakes them off. Chest heaving. Eyes locked on Silas.
“If you ever called me a brother — bet me. One round. For Quinn.”
“She matters to me—”
Silas sighs. Looks at him. Almost sad.
“You still don’t get it. You still don’t see where you lost.”
“Quinn’s not some chip you toss on the table. She’s not yours to bet.”
He takes a breath. Turns to Quinn. Voice dropping low. Tender. Dead serious.
“I’ll be honest. I’ve wanted her for a long time.”
“But even now — I respect her choice.”
“Quin.” He looks at her. “If you tell me you still choose him, I’ll step back. Right now. No questions.”
The whole room holds its breath.
Every single pair of eyes on Quinn.
She desn’t say a word.
She lifts her hand. Holds it up toward Zane. The ring catches the light.
“This is my choice.”
Silas takes her hand. Holds it tight.
“Quinn!”
Zane’s voice is shredded. Barely human.
“I know you’re still mad! I’m sorry! I fucked up!”
“We can do this right now! Today! I came back for you!”
Quinn looks at him. Eyes flat. Still. Like nothing behind them can be reached.
“No.”
She shakes her head. Slow.
“I’m not going back.”
“Zane — not everything can be gambled. Respect my choice.”
Security steps forward. This time Zane doesn’t fight.
They drag him back. He stumbles. Trips. Gets pulled toward the door.
The doors close behind him. Heavy. Final.
Inside — the music starts up again. Soft. Sweet.
Zane slumps against the cold hallway wall.
Covers his face with both hands.
And breaks.
Memories hit him all at once. Quinn saving him a seat in the dining hall freshman year. Quinn sitting by his bed when he was sick. Quinn running toward him, laughing, crashing into his arms—
Sunlight pours through the hallway windows. Way too bright.
He squints. His vision goes black at the edges.
His knees buckle.
He hits the floor.
When he opens his eyes, he’s in the school infirmary.
Ivy. Kai. Keller. All standing around his bed.
Every single one of them with red eyes.
“Zane…”
“Our money. It’s all gone.”