Chapter 219

Gabriel and Hugh exchanged glances, first at Damien, then at Camille. Their eyes finally settled on Selene, brows furrowing in unison.

After a tense silence, Damien broke the ice. "It's been years since you last played chess, hasn't it?"

Camille barely looked up from examining the board, offering only a distracted hum in response.

She hadn't touched chess since marrying him.

"Your skills have dulled," Damien observed bluntly.

Camille remained silent, laser-focused on the chess pieces before her.

The game wasn't favoring her at this moment.

What appeared to be an opening in Damien's defense was actually a carefully laid trap, his hidden pieces poised to strike.

She hesitated only briefly before sidestepping his ambush with a calculated move.

Suddenly, the tables had turned.

Damien's lips curled into a smirk as he deliberated before placing his next piece.

The tension between them crackled like static electricity.

After several intense exchanges, Camille finally conceded defeat - though barely.

Elsewhere in the room...

"What a shame," Hugh murmured. "This match was even more thrilling than the first. She didn't have the first-move advantage, yet managed to decode half his strategy mid-game. The way she countered his attacks while setting up her own traps... Remarkable tactical thinking for someone so young."

He turned to Emmett with conviction. "You wouldn't stand a chance against her either."

"I know," Emmett admitted quietly.

Had he been in Camille's place, he wouldn't have lasted half as long.

As Camille methodically cleared the board, Damien leaned forward. "Another round?"

Selene's lips pressed into a thin line.

Before Camille could respond, someone interjected, "The margin was so narrow! One more game and you might win!"

But Camille shook her head firmly. "No, thank you."

The close match might have suggested she'd nearly cracked Damien's strategy.

But she knew better - those glimpses of understanding were likely deliberate misdirection on his part.

Without another word, she stepped aside, making room for the next player.

Christopher immediately took her seat.

Gabriel approached Camille. "Let's get some refreshments."

"Alright."

Hugh observed their easy camaraderie with a wistful expression. "The Ashcroft heir is a lucky man."

Emmett nodded in silent agreement.

They'd once considered Selene impressive. But after witnessing Camille play, the difference was stark.

When it came to chess, they weren't even in the same league.

Camille's poise and strategic brilliance spoke of exceptional upbringing. They'd considered asking about her relationship status, but Gabriel's timely intervention made that unnecessary.

"They suit each other," Hugh remarked pointedly, glancing at Felix beside him.

Felix caught the implication immediately.

With a resigned smile, he watched Camille and Gabriel depart before finally looking away.

Later, as they rested in the pavilion, Rosalie and Malcolm approached.

From their perspective, Camille's chess match had been a calculated move to capture Damien's attention and prevent their divorce.

Moreover, Damien's demeanor toward her had noticeably softened during the game - a marked improvement from before.