Dave didn’t even look at Ashley and seemed uninterested.
Ashley sighed when he didn’t respond. “I guess you’re not betting on Bianca because you don’t believe in her. It’s sad, really. No one here seems to have faith in her, not even her own partner.”
Joshua glanced at Dave, noticing his calm and distant manner. He saw Dave as just a handsome guy dressed casually, but there was something about him that felt intimidating.
Dave hadn’t looked at them directly since he arrived, which annoyed Joshua. Joshua sneered, saying, “He’s not avoiding betting because he doesn’t want to. He’s just broke. Why else would he rely on someone else for money?”
Ashley joined in, laughing mockingly. “Exactly. He and Bianca, a mean girl and a poor guy, are a perfect match.”
Dave’s expression stayed cold as he watched the arena, not bothering to engage with them.
Next to him, Joshua and Ashley seemed like nothing but mean bullies.
This only made Joshua more annoyed.
Meanwhile, whispers spread among the spectators in the stands.
“Are you betting she’ll lose or win?”
“I’ve never heard of this Bianca. She’s new to this competition. I’m betting she’ll lose, for sure.”
“Anyone who bets on her to win will probably lose their money. It’s safer to bet on her losing.”
“I just looked at the odds for her winning, and they’re tempting.”
“Doesn’t that mean it’s because hardly anyone is betting on her to win, so the odds are high?”
“Exactly. No newcomer has ever won this race before. Betting on her is like wasting money.”
Ashley pulled Joshua’s arm, whispering confidently, “Mr. Reed, Bianca’s definitely going to lose. Trust me, and bet big on her losing.”
Joshua looked at her, asking, “Are you sure about this?”
Ashley nodded confidently, “Absolutely. She’s definitely going to lose.”
Joshua grinned and motioned to the attendant handling the bets. Taking out a card from his jacket, he said, “I’m putting two million on Bianca losing.”
The staff accepted the card, saying, “Of course, sir. Your bet will be placed.”
The spectators started murmuring when they heard about Joshua’s big bet against Bianca. Some of the club’s regulars, recognizing Joshua, started talking too.
“Mr. Reed, always betting big.”
“Did you have inside information to bet against Bianca?”
Joshua glanced at the crowd and answered, “Well, Bianca’s sister, my girlfriend, thinks she doesn’t stand a chance. Is that enough of a tip for you?”
It was obvious. Not even her own sister believed in Bianca’s chances. Maybe she was there to purposely lose the race, helping her family win.
“I’ll bet on Bianca losing too. Follow Mr. Reed, and you’ll win for sure.”
With that, bets flooded in, making Bianca’s odds an incredible 1:200.
It seemed like everyone was convinced the race had already been decided.
Joshua enjoyed the attention, looking at Dave with a smug grin. “Everyone’s betting against Bianca. What about you? It could be an easy win. If you’re short on cash, I can lend you a hundred bucks. How does that sound? Hahaha…”
Dave ignored Joshua’s teasing and gestured to the betting attendant.
“Are you placing a bet, sir?” the attendant asked.
Dave nodded and said, “I’ll bet ten thousand dollars on Bianca winning.”
The crowd in the stands was surprised to hear this. They looked at Dave with a mix of surprise and pity.
Joshua had wagered two million dollars on Bianca losing, so why was Dave betting on her to win? Wasn’t that just throwing money away?
Joshua laughed even harder, putting his arm around Ashley. “Did you hear that? This guy probably doesn’t have much more than ten thousand dollars, and he’s betting on Bianca to win. Unbelievable. Can you imagine if he lost that ten grand?”
Ashley leaned against Joshua, smirking. “Ten thousand might be peanuts for us, but it’s a big deal for this guy living off someone else. He might even… shed a tear over it.”
The crowd turned their judgmental eyes towards Dave.
“He’s just a moocher, isn’t he?”
“How did he even get into this club?”
“If he loses, it’ll teach him that this place isn’t for freeloaders. He can’t afford to gamble like the rest of us.”
Ignoring the murmurs around him, Dave calmly transferred ten thousand dollars for the bet using his phone, opting not to use his black card.
Meanwhile, backstage, Bianca waited for her turn in the competition, unaware of the doubts circulating in the grandstand. Only Dave had placed a bet on her winning.
With determination, Bianca led Snowball, the white horse Dave had selected for her, onto the field. The horse had become her trusted companion during their training sessions.
Just before the competition began, Snowball suddenly fell down, legs giving out, and started foaming at the mouth.
“Snowball! Snowball, are you okay?” Bianca knelt down next to Snowball, really worried, and quickly asked a staff member, “Please, get the vet. Something’s up with my horse.”
Soon, a staff member led a black horse over to Bianca.
“Miss, your horse is sick and won’t get better fast. You’ve got to compete now. I’ve got another horse ready for you.”
“But…”
Bianca had been practicing a lot with Snowball lately. But now, she had to ride a horse she didn’t know well. This meant she might mess up in the competition because they weren’t familiar with each other.
Still, Bianca had been getting ready for this event for almost a month. She wasn’t going to give up easily.
“Miss, if you don’t enter the course on time, you’ll lose by default. Are you sure about your decision?”
The staff member’s words were firm and clear, leaving Bianca no time to think.
She wasn’t going to give in, that’s for sure.
With no other choice, Bianca steeled herself and gathered her courage. She bravely took the black horse from the staff.
The competition was starting. Bianca got on the horse, held the reins tight, and confidently went into the course, where everyone was watching her.
The bright sun shone on Bianca’s shoulders as she rode into the course, giving her a clear view.
Wearing her bowler hat, a stylish tuxedo, and white pants tucked into tall boots, she looked confident and regal.
Her makeup was simple, making her natural beauty shine. Her eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and her red lips stood out, adding to her graceful and elegant look.
Sitting in the stands, Dave frowned.
Bianca had been training with a white horse. So why was she riding a black one now?
Joshua couldn’t help but be impressed by Bianca’s bravery.
Seeing Joshua’s attention on Bianca, Ashley felt angry and bit her lip in frustration.