Sean held his breath, his mind focused on the tiny sliver of hope. The slightest possibility of winning made his eyes gleam with intensity. He lifted his gaze from the cards and looked at Smith, only to find the man's brows furrowed in a subtle yet telling sign of disappointment. Smith gave a slight shake of his head, followed by a soft sigh…
That expression—so calm, so detached—only deepened Sean's sense of dread. It was as if Smith was confirming his worst fear: he had busted.
Smith slowly raised his eyes and looked at Regina, whose face was now tinged with excitement. But there was something almost regretful in his gaze. His long fingers reached out, flicking over the hidden card, revealing it to the table. As he did so, he spoke, his voice cold but smooth like the rhythm of a predator's approach: "Blackjack… You lost."
