He Does Not Deserve My Devotion-Chapter 14: She’s So Charming, I Want to Pursue Her

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: She’s So Charming, I Want to Pursue Her

Nina Walsh froze. Aiden Sinclair had his arm around Clara Jacobs, his head lowered to look at the cards in her hand, acting as if he hadn’t seen her at all.

Nina Walsh was taken aback. The workaholic Aiden Sinclair, who was always so busy he wouldn’t even spare his phone a glance unless it was for work, was actually holding a woman while playing cards.

Michelle Quinn was acquainted with Cameron Lawson. After greeting him, she made the introduction. "Mr. Lawson, you asked me to recommend a womenswear designer last time, didn’t you? This is my friend, Nina Walsh. She’s a perfect fit for your company’s positioning."

Cameron Lawson glanced at Michelle Quinn and pulled her into a nearby chair. "This is a private gathering, let’s not talk business. Care to join us for cards?"

Michelle Quinn asked, "What are you playing?"

Cameron Lawson said, "Mr. Sinclair’s girlfriend doesn’t know how to play, so he’s teaching her the simplest game, Fight the Landlord."

Michelle Quinn wasn’t well-acquainted with Aiden Sinclair, but she knew of Clara Jacobs—

A graduate of Veridia’s most prestigious art academy, she spoke four languages, was proficient with the piano, violin, and other instruments, and was also skilled in painting and fashion design. A perfect combination of beauty and talent, she had captured millions of fans right from her debut.

She had officially debuted only two months ago, but she was already dominating the internet. Her resources were so good that even A-list celebrities could only look on with envy.

Just a few days ago, she’d read a gossip column claiming Clara Jacobs had a powerful backer, which was why she had access to such incredible resources.

Michelle Quinn snuck a glance at Aiden Sinclair. ’Looks like the rumors are true,’ she thought.

"I thought the rule was no dates. How come you all brought someone?"

Milo Preston, who hadn’t said a word yet, hadn’t taken his eyes off Nina Walsh since she walked in. "Miss Walsh, do you know how to play Fight the Landlord?"

"A little," Nina Walsh replied.

Michelle Quinn, eager to promote her friend, quickly chimed in, "My Lemonie is amazing at cards. Whoever she stands next to is guaranteed to win."

"Oh, really?"

Milo Preston had already lost several rounds and was now holding another terrible hand. His interest piqued, he patted the empty seat beside him. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Nina Walsh was about to decline, but Michelle Quinn gave her a little push, and she ended up sitting down next to Milo Preston.

The game began. The stakes on the table were thick stacks of cash.

Nina Walsh glanced at Milo Preston’s hand. It was as bad as he’d said, but he deliberately raised the stakes and bid to be the "landlord."

"Draw the extra cards for me. Let’s see if this good luck of yours is real or not."

Milo Preston had Nina Walsh draw the last three cards, and she reached out to pick them up from the table.

"Unbelievable."

The three cards instantly transformed Milo Preston’s terrible hand into a winning one.

Milo Preston won the round without breaking a sweat.

In the second round, Milo Preston had Nina Walsh randomly pick two of his cards, and she drew the red and black jokers.

Refusing to believe it was anything but a fluke, Milo Preston had Nina Walsh draw his cards for three consecutive rounds. Each time, he ended up with a great hand.

Milo Preston was grinning from ear to ear from all the winning, and his tone grew much friendlier. "Nina Walsh, are you always this lucky?"

Nina Walsh smiled. It was a gentle smile, but her eyes held a trace of pain.

’If I’m a lucky person, then there’s no one unlucky left in the world.’

Finding her faint, constant smile very pleasing, Milo Preston casually grabbed a handful of cash from the table and stuffed it into her hand.

Nina Walsh was taken aback and waved her hands, refusing.

"Take it. It’s tradition," Milo Preston insisted, pushing the money into her hand.

Michelle Quinn could see that Milo Preston had likely taken a liking to Nina Walsh. The Preston Family was a wealthy and influential clan in Crestfall; countless women would kill for a chance to get close to him.

’Even if it doesn’t lead to romance, just being friends with him would be a valuable connection.’

So Michelle Quinn also chimed in, "Lemon, just take it. If you feel bad, you can design a couple of outfits for Young Master Preston in return."

Nina Walsh understood Michelle Quinn’s intention. ’She was right. The whole point of coming out tonight was to make friends and build connections.’

"In that case, thank you, Young Master Preston. What colors do you like? I can make you a couple of outfits another day, if you wouldn’t mind."

Milo Preston laughed happily. "Great! I like blue."

"Since when did your taste get so bad? You’d wear clothes from some third-rate designer?"

Aiden Sinclair’s icy voice cut in suddenly. Milo Preston looked awkward. Nina Walsh said nothing.

"Aiden, I’ve lost so much. Come help me play," Clara Jacobs whined playfully from Aiden Sinclair’s embrace.

"Alright," Aiden Sinclair agreed, pulling her onto his lap.

"You two are practically conjoined. Talk about a public display of affection. You’re going to make all us single people sick."

To ease the tension, Milo Preston laughed and said, "Nina Walsh, come on. Help me beat Aiden, and I’ll treat you to dinner tonight."

Nina Walsh gave a gentle smile. "I’ll do my best."

Nina Walsh reached out to draw a card. As she drew the last one, before she could fully pull her hand back, Aiden Sinclair’s hand reached across, brushing against the back of hers. Nina flinched as if she’d touched a red-hot poker, and the card fluttered from her trembling hand onto the table.

The others were focused on their cards and didn’t notice. Milo Preston picked up the fallen card and asked casually, "Nina Walsh, did you also go to Crestfall First High? I feel like I’ve seen you before."

Nina Walsh assumed he was just trying to hit on her and replied, "First High is an elite school. I couldn’t afford it. I went to Second High, but I used to pass by the gates of First High on my way to school, so it’s possible you might have seen me then, Young Master Preston."

Never missing a chance to promote her friend, Michelle Quinn added, "Nina Walsh was the top student of our Second High, first in her class every year. She’s also incredibly talented in design. A piece she created when she was 18 is still on display in the exhibition hall at Axton University."

Hearing this, Cameron Lawson laughed. "Miss Walsh, you graduated from Axton University too? Then you and Aiden are alumni. You know about him, right? The guy’s a prodigy. Skipped grades and started college at sixteen, then at eighteen, he decided it was boring, dropped out, and went home to start his own business."

Nina Walsh clutched her cards, an inexplicable bitterness welling in her heart. She nodded and said softly, "Yes, I think I’ve heard that story."

Aiden Sinclair remained expressionless throughout the exchange. Clara Jacobs, however, glanced at Nina Walsh as if seeing her for the first time and asked with curiosity, "Miss Walsh, you’re a designer? What a coincidence. Aiden and I are about to launch a womenswear brand, and we’re still looking for a designer. Would you be interested in applying to my company?"

Aiden Sinclair tossed a three onto the table, drawing everyone’s attention back to the game.

Nina Walsh slapped down a bomb—the pair of jokers.

Milo Preston burst out laughing. "Sweetheart, do you even know how to play?"

Nina Walsh joked back, "I know how to play. I’m just not free for dinner tonight, Mr. Preston."

In a half-joking, half-serious manner, Nina Walsh played all of her high cards, leaving herself with only a few useless low cards.

Milo Preston laughed even louder, finding Nina Walsh both witty and adorable.

A few moments later, the round was over. As expected, their side had lost.

"If I can’t buy you dinner, I can at least buy you a drink, right?"

Milo Preston eagerly brought over a glass of wine, which Nina Walsh accepted.

"What’s your number? We should hang out again sometime." Clearly interested, Milo Preston took out his phone to exchange contact information.

Aiden Sinclair, who had been quiet, shot a look in their direction. Milo Preston, completely oblivious, watched as Nina Walsh took out her phone. They exchanged contact info, and she raised her glass to clink it against his.

"Thank you for the drink, Young Master Preston. I’m just going to use the restroom."

She lifted the glass, took a large gulp, then turned and left the card room.

Michelle Quinn, worried, followed her out.

Milo Preston waved his phone, showing it off to Aiden Sinclair. "She’s so cute. I think I’m going to go after her. Aiden, what do you think?"

"Go for it, if you’re not afraid of being played."

Aiden Sinclair’s face darkened, and he followed them out of the card room as well.

...

"BLEGH—"

The moment Nina Walsh reached the restroom, she spat the wine out of her mouth. The act triggered a chain reaction, and her stomach churned violently, the vomiting impossible to stop.

She fumbled in her bag, pulled out a sour plum, and popped it into her mouth. Only then did the nausea subside.

"Lemon, are you okay?" Michelle Quinn asked from outside the door.

"I’m fine."

Nina Walsh opened the door. "I’m not feeling well. I think I’m going to head home early."

Seeing how pale she was, Michelle Quinn said comfortingly, "Alright, you head back. I’ll talk to Cameron Lawson about the collaboration in private."

After parting ways with Michelle Quinn, Nina Walsh had just stepped out of the restroom when she was dragged into a dim private room and slammed against the wall.

"That desperate for money?" Aiden Sinclair sneered. "A few thousand dollars is all it takes to have you completely wrapped around his finger?"