The CEO's Mischievous Little Bride
Chapter 96 Whirlpool of Tenderness

"Darling, you're so good at shuffling cards. Do you often shuffle for others?" Vera looked at Patrick's skillful hands with envy.

Shawn snorted arrogantly. "When he goes out to play cards, who dares to let him shuffle?"

Vera's eyes were glued to Patrick's hands.

To let Vera watch a bit more, Patrick shuffled the already shuffled cards once again.

"Darling, can you teach me? You look so cool shuffling cards," Vera said.

"Where do I look cool?" Patrick asked.

Vera looked at Patrick's face. "Everywhere. Can you teach me?"

Patrick beckoned Vera over. "Come sit here; I'll teach you step by step."

"Stop! Are you here to accompany me or to date?" Shawn couldn't contain his anger. He wasn't worried about the newlyweds' relationship, but now he had a bigger headache. "Aren't you here to play Texas Hold 'em with me? If you want to keep shuffling, go back home and discuss it behind closed doors. Don't annoy me by flirting in front of me!"

Vera got scolded, feeling guilty; she stuck out her tongue and said, "Shawn, we were wrong."

Shawn snorted, feeling like checking his blood pressure again.

Patrick placed the cards on the bed. "Shawn, you start the game."

Shawn took a look, it was about to begin. He better not get angry and just play.

Half an hour later, Vera had three stickers on her face, Shawn had two, and Patrick's face remained handsome as ever.

He held the cards, calm and composed, with an air of having everything under control.

That was his demeanor, never losing a single game.

Defeated Shawn and regretful Vera were discussing the game, both feeling remorseful.

Only Patrick, without dwelling on the past, was strategizing the next move, how to dominate the game once again.

Vera's playing was subpar, and Shawn, who once fancied himself a king, saw his good hand dismantled by Patrick. After one round, Vera lost again.

"Darling!" Vera's beautiful eyes flashed with anger.

Patrick, seeing Vera upset, smirked.

He picked up a piece of tissue, wet it, and pressed it against her face.

"Do you realize your mistake?" Patrick asked.

He deliberately won the game to make Vera regret not discussing it with him.

Vera blinked. "Mistake?"

Where did she go wrong?

Upon careful thought, Vera suddenly realized she had been secretly communicating with Shawn about the game, ignoring Patrick. Seeing her shocked expression, Patrick tapped her head, "If you don't realize the situation and recognize the real rival, you will never win."

Vera stuck out her tongue, sitting. Patrick stood by her side, his face at her abdomen level.

She coquettishly wrapped her arms around Patrick's waist, her face against his abdomen. "Darling, I was wrong. Next time, you lead me. Shawn's skills aren't that great." "Vera! You can't do that." Shawn was about to get a sticker from Patrick too. Patrick, as his own son, didn't go easy on him.

Vera tried to make amends, and Patrick reluctantly agreed, though his smile revealed his pleasure. "I'll lead you next time."

"Darling, you're amazing. Go put a sticker on Shawn's face and make him look like a white-bearded old man." Vera released Patrick and urged him to put a strip on Shawn's face. At that moment, a nurse entered.

Seeing the scene inside, the nurse was momentarily bewildered. "Mr. Patrick Olteran, I'm here to check Mr. Shawn Olteran's blood pressure."

Understanding the situation, Vera got up to make room, helping Shawn lie down on the bed. "Come and check."

Approaching, the nurse saw the white stickers on Shawn's face and the four on Vera's face, resembling white beards.

The nurse, wearing a mask, couldn't help but smile discreetly.

This family was so joyful.

Soon, Shawn's blood pressure was measured.

Looking at the data, the nurse remarked, "Why is it higher than at noon?"

Shawn angrily pointed at Patrick and Vera. "These two raised my blood pressure."

Glancing at Patrick and Vera standing side by side, the nurse advised, "Mr. Patrick Olteran, Mrs. Olteran, during the patient's recovery, it's best to keep his mood stable, which helps stabilize his condition." Patrick nodded.

After the nurse left, Vera looked at the proud Shawn on the sickbed, then at Patrick, "Honey, I think I should cooperate with Shawn. That way, I might have a chance to win."

Patrick was a bit puzzled. Had Vera already guessed his true intentions? Had she figured out that he would intentionally lose to make Shawn feel better?

That was exactly what Vera thought. Patrick, reserved but caring for Shawn without expressing it in words, only through actions.

The nurse's words were already quite obvious. For Shawn's sake, Patrick would surely use his acting skills to deliberately lose, making him win and feel good.

As expected, the next three rounds saw a sudden turnaround in the game on the bed, with Shawn taking the lead.

Clapping happily, Shawn had excellent cards in hand, thoroughly enjoying his victory.

Patrick tossed the cards on the bed, waiting for Shawn and Vera to come and put stickers on his face.

Shawn, not showing any mercy to Patrick, said, "I'll put one under your nose so that the stickers fly around when you breathe."

Patrick felt helpless; this was his own father!

Vera, admiring Patrick's handsome face, pondered where to put the sticker.

Suddenly, Vera's gaze met Patrick's eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat, as if Patrick's deep eyes were a magnet, pulling her into his whirlpool of tenderness.