Part 1Husband Loses the Dowry, I Turn the Tables in a Gamble

The day I was supposed to be celebrating my wedding, my husband went bust playing cards, losing almost all the money we'd saved for our future.

Instead of a sweet wedding night, he was outside the bedroom door, practically begging for forgiveness.

So, here I was, alone in bed, wide awake.

The next morning, I was dressed and ready to go, holding the deed to our house.

"This is how we get our lives back," I said calmly, placing the deed in front of him. "Take it and play one last hand."

* * *

"Babe, please, don't do this! I swear I'll never gamble again. Just believe me one more time!"

Mark was on his knees, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm cutting ties with those guys. I mean it." He slapped himself, hard. Even when his lip started bleeding, he didn't stop.

Seeing him like that, I felt a pang of guilt. I'd actually heard that Dave, one of the groomsmen, had won a bundle playing Texas Hold’em, and was planning a celebratory dinner.

A little card game at a wedding is no big deal. But my husband, who usually wouldn't even buy scratch-offs, had lost all our wedding money.

He'd been set up. The thought made me clench my fists.

"Promises are cheap, Mark. You blew twenty grand in one night. How long do you think it'll take to earn that back?"

I didn't want to tell him the real reason, I just wanted to teach him a lesson.

His face went white, filled with shame. After a long pause, he turned and pulled out our marriage certificate, handing it to me.

"Honey, maybe we should just get a divorce. I don't want to drag you down with me."

Seeing the tears in his eyes, I decided to give him another chance.

I helped Mark to his feet and immediately grabbed my phone. "Loan. Get a loan, whatever we can, with the payback date set for tomorrow."

Mark just stared, dumbfounded.

"Honey... you..."

Before he could say anything else, I grabbed the cash and headed to the poker game. "Don't say a word. Just follow my lead."

When we got there, the same group was still playing, including Dave. I didn't say anything, just sat down.

"Dave, you've won enough, right? Can't you spare a little for me?"

Dave saw us and grinned.

"What's this? Back for more?"

"If you're offering yourselves up, who am I to refuse? But let's get one thing straight: if you lose again, you pay back everything, including what your husband already owes."

Dave's words didn't bother me. Instead, I smiled.

"Deal. But I have a condition."

I changed my tone. "Let's raise the stakes. The minimum bet is a grand a hand."

Dave laughed.

"Haha, never thought anyone would hand money over this way! You think you can win?"

I might have thought it, but I couldn't let them see it. I stayed cool and looked at Dave. "It ain't over 'til it's over. My husband's luck was crap, doesn't mean mine will be too."

Dave smirked. "You'll regret those words."

I smiled, noncommittal.

"Anything can happen before the cards are dealt, right?"

I didn’t say anything else and sat across from Dave. I could see his face from this position.

"Deal the cards, then. Let's see what happens."