"So what do we do now? You've lost all your money, you can't pay your debts, and you're not asking anyone for help... What exactly do you want?"
"What do I want? I just want you to stop gambling!"
Noticing the growing number of curious glances and whispers around him, David panicked and whispered soothingly:
"Stop messing around, okay? There are so many people watching. It's so embarrassing in public!"
"Disgraceful?" These words chilled Diana to the bone. She looked at David in disbelief. "Didn't you feel ashamed when you gambled away all your money and broke your promises time and time again? Now you care about saving face? David, do you even have a heart...?"
David was so ashamed that his shameful act was exposed in public that he turned bright red with embarrassment.
The stares from those around him made him feel utterly ashamed.
Perhaps fearing that Diana would continue and reveal their shameful past, David acted impulsively and, disregarding everything else, slapped himself hard across the face.
His cheeks instantly swelled and turned red, but he seemed oblivious, gripping Diana's hand tightly and pleadingly looking at her, "I was wrong... I was really wrong, okay? Please stop talking..."
After saying that, David slapped himself hard again. "Let's go back to the room and talk, okay? I'm begging you."
This action startled Diana. Looking at the bright red handprint on his face, she felt no relief, only a deep sense of powerlessness, and her tears flowed even more fiercely.
" David, don't demean yourself like this."
"This isn't about being ashamed; it's that you have no intention of changing... Even if you hit yourself a hundred or a thousand times, it's useless as long as you're still thinking about gambling."
Seeing Diana's utterly disappointed expression, David finally panicked. "I'll change... I really will! I'll never gamble again, I'll never borrow again..." he promised eagerly.
I wanted to reach out and take her hand, but I was afraid she would be even more averse to it.
He reached out halfway but then withdrew his hand, pleading, "Let's go back to the room first, okay? I'll do whatever you say when we get back..."
"Stop talking... I don't want to hear any more of your promises right now." Diana's voice was filled with weariness.
She glanced at Draco with a guilty look.
Originally, she was just doing her job as an assistant, quietly staying by his side and helping him complete the gambling game. But instead, this huge family scandal has erupted, and she's dragged him into this farce for no reason.
"Mr. Collard... I'm so sorry... I've caused you trouble, I'm truly sorry," Diana apologized.
"I may not be able to continue being your assistant... I'm so sorry about today." Tears welled up in her eyes again as she finished speaking.
"We'll talk about the assistant later. This isn't the time for you to resign," Draco said calmly, seemingly unaffected by the whole farce. "You guys go home first, sort things out at home, and stop making a fool of yourselves here."
Diana paused for a moment, sniffed, wiped away her tears, and said, "Okay, thank you, Mr. Collard."
David, seeing Draco's aristocratic bearing, immediately recognized him as someone from a wealthy family. Desperate and grasping at straws, he disregarded his own dignity and Diana's embarrassment, rushing to Draco and, clinging to his last shred of hope, humbly speaking:
"Sir! Sir, please have mercy! Could you lend us some money? Just a little bit, I promise, I'll pay you back as soon as I make up for it! Otherwise, we really won't be able to pay this debt, and people will drive us to our deaths... Please, please help us!"
Upon hearing this, Diana froze. In that instant, she felt all eyes in the casino converge on her, those disdainful gazes seeming to pierce her.
She was embarrassed and angry, her face turned pale, and she felt utterly ashamed by David's shameless behavior.
" David!" Diana rushed forward, grabbed David's arm tightly, and pulled him to the side with all her might.
"Don't talk nonsense! Let's go! We need to get back to our room right now!"
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Collard... He was confused and talking nonsense. Please don't take it to heart. I'm really sorry..." She apologized to Draco while desperately pulling on David.
Diana didn't dare linger a moment longer; she just wanted to drag this shameful man away as quickly as possible. She half-dragged and half-pulled David, who was still trying to speak, and pulled him out of the casino.
"Why are you pulling me! Let go of me!" David struggled violently, leaning backward, and shouted at Draco, "Sir! Please help us! I really will pay you back, I swear! Please have mercy!"
"Shut up! Come with me right now!" Diana gripped him tightly, screaming at him in a broken voice. She felt like a clown, putting on the most pathetic farce under the spotlight.
"I'm not leaving! If we leave, how will we pay Bellatrix back?! We simply can't repay that debt!" David's eyes were red as he swung his arms wildly, his face filled with resignation and stubbornness.
"Let me go! This gentleman looks rich; my debt is nothing to him. What's wrong with lending him a little?"
" David, have you no shame?!" Diana trembled with rage. "This is our own business, it has nothing to do with anyone else, don't embarrass yourself here!"
"I had no choice, didn't I? He could have helped, it was something he could have easily solved..." David was still unwilling to give up.
"I told you to leave! Didn't you hear me!" Diana was completely driven to the brink of collapse by David; she pulled at him with all her might.
"If you don't leave, I will never care about you again for the rest of my life, and I will never say a word to you again!" she said resolutely.
These harsh words completely terrified David. Looking into Diana's red and resolute eyes, he knew she was truly angry and not joking. In the end, he didn't dare to shout anymore.
He hung his head dejectedly and said, "I had no choice, otherwise who would willingly lower themselves to beg others..."
David reluctantly let her drag him forward, but his steps were slow, and after a few steps he would turn back to glance at Draco, his eyes still holding a last glimmer of hope.
They seemed to be hoping that the gentleman would suddenly change his mind, call them back, and show them some mercy.
After such a disgraceful farce, the atmosphere in the casino became tense. All the gamblers around stopped what they were doing, pointing and whispering amongst themselves.
The murmurs were mixed with sympathy, disdain, and simply onlookers. The dealer coughed lightly and began shuffling the cards again.
Draco, too, lost interest in gambling.
He couldn't be bothered to stay in that smoky place any longer, so he turned and left the casino. He walked to a secluded corner, stopped, and, after making sure no one was around, dropped his disguise.