I never wanted to gamble, yet I could not stop myself from going to the tables. I kept losing, over and over, until I was buried under ten million in debt.

After investigating the cause, I finally learned the truth–my older brother had placed me under a puppet-like control. Every loss was recorded under my name, while all the winnings went straight into his pocket.

My wife was furious. She slapped me, took our son, and divorced me. I tried to explain myself again and again, but she refused to listen.

"Nathan, can you stop making excuses? Did someone hold a knife to your throat? You chose to gamble."

After that, my brother only grew more ruthless, raising the stakes until I lost everything overnight.

With nothing left, my creditors chopped off my limbs and threw me into the sea, leaving me to drown.

Even after my death, they did not spare my wife and child. She was humiliated to death, and my son was sold overseas, his whereabouts unknown.

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I first lost control and went to the gambling den.

I jolted awake, the suffocating sensation of seawater choking my lungs still lingering.

I looked down at my legs, already moving on their own, following behind my older brother, John Wesley.

He was taking me to the gambling den.

If I kept going, everything would unfold exactly as it had before, the moment my life plunged into darkness.

I desperately wanted to stop, but my legs refused to obey.

Behind me, my wife, Helen Grace caught up, shouting at my back, her voice filled with fury.

"Nathan Wesley, get your ass back here! Stop gambling! Do you hear me?!"

That scene… It was exactly the same as in my previous life.

From that very day onward, everything fell apart. My life, my marriage.

It ended in complete ruin.

After that game, I would have been ten million dollars in gambling debt.

Helen would take our son, Danny Wesley, and leave, determined to divorce me no matter what.

"Nathan, I begged you not to gamble, but you insisted on throwing away everything we have! You've made my life miserable, being stuck with a gambler like you! I'm divorcing you."

That very night, she took our son back to her parents' house and sent me the divorce papers.

I wanted to go see them, to see my wife and child.

However, every time I got close to the door, John would appear, and I would turn around, powerless, heading straight back to the gambling tables.

My wife would stand by the window, watching me leave again and again, her disappointment unbearable, tears falling silently.

After that, I lost almost every game I played.

Even when I occasionally won, the money somehow ended up in John's account.

When my debt grew beyond anything I could repay, my creditors cut off my limbs and threw me into the sea, leaving me to drown.

Even after my death, the disaster did not end. My wife and child were dragged down with me.

I never expected heaven would give me another chance.

Perhaps I could uncover the truth and clear my name in my new life.

"Look at those two brothers. Same family, same blood. One turned out exceptional, the other a worthless gambler."

"Don't you know? John isn't even truly part of the Wesley family. He came along when his mother remarried."

"Well, that just shows how well the stepmother raised him."

The passersby whispered, judging me without knowing anything.

"Helen, I'm sorry. I couldn't stop him… How did our family end up with such a disgrace?"

I clenched my fists tightly.

John was the real culprit.

He lived a life of comfort using my money, spotless and admired, while I carried all the blame.

If I could not stop my legs… I would go all the way.

"John, don't bother trying to talk me out of it. I'm in on this game."

The smile on John's face froze. He stared at me in disbelief, stunned for a long moment.

He clearly had not expected that reaction from me. He saw my calm acceptance, instead of tears and desperate pleas for him not to go.

When Helen heard my words, she suddenly hurled her phone at my back.

I turned around, forcing myself to meet her eyes despite the ache in my chest. I wanted so badly to walk over and hold her, but my feet would not move.

"Helen, stay home with Danny and wait for me. I won't lose. Trust me."

Even if I told her that I did not want to gamble, she would not believe me.

Not just her, but no one would. Anyone who looked at me then would think the same.

So, instead of wasting time explaining, I chose to follow John's plan and find the truth at the table.

When I arrived at the gambling hall, I immediately caught the subtle exchange of glances between John and my opponent.

That was all the confirmation I needed.

They were working together, setting me up, bleeding me dry, then splitting the winnings between them.

I could not understand why John would do that to me. I had never wronged him.

However, people's hearts were impossible to read.

By the time the game began, I found myself already seated at the table without even realizing when I had taken my place.

The dealer started dealing.

It was still Texas Hold'em.

I took a slow breath, forcing myself to calm down as I scanned the room.

Then, I stood up.

"John, go sit next to him. I don't need you here beside me."

John paused, clearly taken aback.

"Nathan, what are you talking about? You think me sitting here means I'm feeding information to the other side? Come on, you're overthinking it."

He then chuckled, but I said nothing.

I pressed my lips together and stared at him coldly.

Was that not exactly what he was doing?

In my previous life, after he sat beside me, I lost again and again, so badly it made no sense. Even at my worst, I would never have played that poorly.

"For safety reasons, not only are you not allowed to sit next to me, none of the cameras behind me are allowed to face me either."

The moment I said that, the room erupted into murmurs.

Hearing them only strengthened my conviction.

There had to be an interference , something around me that caused me to lose repeatedly.

I did not know what John had used to control me. Perhaps something that made my body act against my will.

However, one thing he could not control was my mind.

My opponent, Ian Smith, narrowed his eyes and studied me for a long moment before nodding.

"Fine. Do as he says. Wouldn't want you losing everything and then accusing us of cheating afterward."

I clenched my fists tightly as I stared at him.

Helen had died because of that man.

After Ian was done with her, he passed her around to his subordinates.

Even Danny had been taken overseas, his fate unknown.

Facing the two men who had destroyed my life, I summoned a level of focus I had never reached before.

The dealer finished dealing.

I picked up my cards after a deep breath.

It was a king and a seven.

Ian had a six showing, his hole card unknown.

I placed the king face down. My hand was stronger, so I opened the betting.

"One hundred thousand dollars."

I pushed my chips forward.

Ian smirked and casually followed.

The dealer dealt the third card.

Mine was a nine, and Ian's was another six.

I remained calm, my expression steady.

Ian had the stronger visible hand. It was his turn.

"Three hundred thousand dollars," he spat aggressively.

The crowd around us leaned in, interest piqued.

"Now, this is getting good."

"If it were me, I'd fold. He's got a pair of sixes already."

"Come on, don't be a coward. There are still two cards left. Who knows, he might turn it around."

The last comment came from John.

He took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly as he looked straight at me.

Everyone thought that I would not dare to follow, but I straightened my back and pushed my chips forward, matching the bet all the way.

A wave of shock rippled through the room. The scene unfolding before me was almost identical to the gambling match in my previous life.

The only difference was that there was nothing behind me anymore. No obstacles, no burdens. I refused to believe I would keep losing like before.

The dealer began dealing the fourth round.

I got a king, and Ian got a two.

My entire body trembled with excitement. After being crushed by failure for so long, it felt like a long-overdue reversal. No one else could possibly understand what that moment meant to me.

"You've got the highest card. You call," someone said.

Ian remained seated, calm as ever, like a sly old fox watching me with unreadable eyes.

I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them and pushed all my chips forward.

"One million dollars."

Gasps erupted across the room. Every single gaze snapped toward me.

That was it. One decisive gamble. It all depended on whether Ian dared to follow.

He chuckled.

"Nathan, you've got guts playing this big. Not afraid of losing everything?"

Before I could respond, John cut in.

"Nathan, don't be scared. Go all the way. If you win this hand, your wife won't argue with you anymore."

I clenched my teeth, glaring at John.

That man was smiling like a gentleman, but he was rotten to the core. Of course he could say that so easily.

If I lost, it was on me.

If I won, it would be credited to him.

I was nothing more than a puppet in his hands.

Ian chose to follow, looking completely confident.

The dealer dealt again.

I got a four, and Ian got a five.

He had the higher card, so it was his move.

Ian casually pushed all his chips forward.

"Last three million. Let's make this interesting. Well? Are you in?"

The room buzzed.

"Why even follow at this point? Might as well fold."

"Quiet. Just watch."

Everyone believed I had nothing.

Everyone believed Ian's pair of sixes guaranteed his win.

Suddenly, Helen rushed in with blood-red eyes.

"Darling, don't do this. Please come home with me. Let's just go back and live a normal life, okay? Please get up!"

I wanted to stand. I wanted to hold her.

However, my legs would not move.

I lifted my head and shot John a furious glare.

He only shrugged, as if completely puzzled by my anger.

I told her, "Don't cry. I won't lose. Once I win this hand, I'll come home."

"No, I don't want this," she said, shaking her head.

"If you lose this one, there'll be a third, a fourth… This won't end."

"What are the security guards doing? Get her out of here!" someone shouted.

The guards quickly stepped in and stopped Helen. She could only stand there, watching helplessly.

Ian pressed, "Nathan, are you following or not?"

"I'm in."

I pushed all my chips forward. I was going all the way.

"Not bad. You've got some nerve. Not afraid of dying, huh? We'll see who comes out on top. Let's reveal our cards.

Ian turned over his cards.

Just as I expected, it was a pair of sixes.

At that moment, I could not contain my excitement.

I smiled at Helen and said, "After I win, keep an eye on your bank account. If the money doesn't come in, it means someone's cheating. Someone's stealing our winnings."

I said it loudly enough for everyone to hear.

John scoffed. "Stop talking big. Show your cards."

"Fine. I've got a pair of kings. I win."

I flipped my cards over.

Everyone craned their necks to look, and then they burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! What kings? They're clearly a pair of threes."

The laughter hit me like a slap. I immediately looked down at my cards.

However, what I saw was a pair of kings.

I grabbed the cards and held them up. "Look carefully! They're kings, not threes!"

Even Helen looked at me with disappointment. "That's enough. You lost. Stop acting like a madman."

What was going on?

My face drained of all color.