Linda stomped her foot in frustration. "I don’t want to have dinner with that jerk! And I don’t want you to go either!"

"What’s with you guys?"

Nancy raised an eyebrow at them. "I haven’t even started cutting the stones, and you’re already acting like martyrs. Who says I’m going to lose?"

"Ah-hah?"

Linda’s expression lit up, her wide, sparkling eyes gleaming with excitement. "Nancy, do you have a way to win?"

"Nope."

Nancy shrugged casually. "But I trust my instincts and my luck. Still, if you keep wailing like that, even the best luck would run away from me."

"Okay, okay, I won’t make a sound! Nancy will definitely win!"

"Haha…"

Emily laughed as well, her mood lifted. "Nancy, go for it! I’m rooting for you!"

"Now that’s more like it!"

Nancy hooked her arms around both of them with a confident grin. "Come on, let’s go witness a miracle!"

---

Zack was already waiting in the cutting room. He hadn’t started yet, deliberately holding off until Nancy and her group arrived.

When they finally strolled in leisurely, Zack smirked and walked up to them. “You’re a few minutes late. I was starting to think you’d chickened out.”

"No chance of that."

Nancy stood tall, her posture exuding confidence as she strutted in with Linda and Emily on either side. "I wouldn’t dare leave until I’ve beaten you."

"You!"

Her words made Zack’s jaw tighten in anger, his teeth grinding audibly.

"Nancy, I don’t know where you get your confidence from, but when you lose later, don’t come crying to me. I’m not comforting you."

Nancy, ever unbothered, slid her arms down from Linda and Emily’s shoulders, wrapping them around their waists. She looked every bit the victor. If she weren’t a woman, every man in the room might have been tempted to throttle her.

On one side was Linda, all youthful charm with her adorable, doll-like face. On the other side was Emily, radiating an elegant maturity that showcased the unique allure of a woman in her prime.

To see Nancy casually drape herself around two such beauties—well, it was enough to make Zack’s blood boil.

Nancy acted oblivious to Zack’s seething glare. "Relax, beating you will be a breeze. Now stop wasting time and let’s get started!"

Zack glanced at the cart Ashley was pushing, filled with raw stones. Aside from the slightly larger one on top, the rest looked like cheap scraps compared to the premium stones he’d chosen.

"With those junk rocks? You’re seriously trying to challenge me with that? Nancy, you’ll be crying too hard to speak when I’m done with you."

"Why are you still talking?"

Nancy frowned impatiently. "If you’ve got so much to say, why don’t we up the stakes? Winner takes all. How about that?"

"Take all?"

Zack burst out laughing, nearly doubling over. "What would I even do with that trash? I wouldn’t take it if you begged me!"

Nancy’s gaze sharpened, her voice steady. "So, are you in or not?"

Zack straightened his back, puffing out his chest. "What’s there to be afraid of? At worst, I’ll take your junk rocks and use them as doorstops—or maybe I’ll give them to the neighbor’s kids to play with."

"Great. Then let’s begin."

Nancy couldn’t be bothered to waste any more breath on him. She waved a hand at Ashley, who pushed the cart toward the cutting machine.

But before Ashley could proceed, Zack stepped in front of her.

"Ever heard of first come, first served? I’m cutting mine first!"