Chapter 217

Damien broke the silence first. "Alright."

Camille sat opposite him, her posture composed.

After the initial shock faded, Selene's expression smoothed into its usual mask of calm.

She greeted Hugh before moving to stand beside Damien.

It wasn't just Tristan who was surprised—the entire Lancaster and Rutherford families were stunned. Even Felix and Hugh hadn't seen this coming.

Though Gabriel had introduced Camille earlier at the gallery, they still knew very little about her.

Given her quiet, reserved demeanor, they assumed she wasn’t the type to seek attention.

So even if she knew chess, they never expected her to openly challenge someone like this.

Emmett didn’t know Camille well, but he had noticed her presence.

With her striking beauty and poised manners, she seemed the epitome of an elegant, well-bred young woman.

To him, she appeared to be the perfect match for his grandson.

He never imagined she could play chess—let alone like this.

Damien studied her. "You want to go first?"

The first move often held a strategic advantage.

Without hesitation, Camille made her opening play.

Damien countered swiftly.

At first, their moves were cautious, neither revealing too much.

No words were exchanged.

Camille’s focus remained entirely on the board, barely sparing Damien a glance.

Soon, Hugh and Emmett realized her playing style mirrored her personality—calm, deliberate, and methodical.

She wasn’t just thinking a few moves ahead—she was orchestrating the entire game.

The realization left them speechless.

Earlier, they had praised Selene for her quick reflexes and solid strategy. But in truth, she had merely been following Damien’s lead—while he let her win.

That match had dragged on because Damien had been guiding her, making it feel more like a playful exchange than a serious game.

Still, Selene’s adaptability was impressive for her age.

But now—

Damien quickly noticed Camille wasn’t following his lead. Instead, she was steering him into her trap.

When he eased his attack, she didn’t relent. She seized the moment, defending flawlessly before launching a counterattack that forced him to hesitate.

He looked up at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Emmett couldn’t help but applaud. "Brilliant!"

Gabriel smirked, clearly amused.

Tristan and Felix, however, were completely floored.

They had lost track of Camille’s strategy long ago.

Her composed, defensive play had lulled them into overlooking her subtle maneuvers.

By now, it was clear—Camille wasn’t just familiar with chess. She was a formidable player.

Selene stood beside Damien, mostly watching from his side.

Like Tristan and the others, she had already lost track of his moves.

She had assumed Camille would lose quickly.

But as she watched Damien’s growing intensity—his focus sharper than when he played with her—she realized the truth.

When Hugh and the others leaned in, fully engrossed, it hit her.

Camille wasn’t just good.

She might even be better.