He called her the "one" for a night? My dice made sure he paid with his life

Crushed But Goodbye by Austen 3 Summary In Chapter 3 of "Crushed But Goodbye," Tessa finds herself overwhelmed with emotions as she faces a humiliating situation involving Garrett and Piper. The chapter opens with Tessa on the verge of tears, feeling the weight of her past experiences with Garrett, who consistently chooses Piper over her. This moment culminates in a public display of disregard when Tessa is forced to give up a bracelet, which Garrett carelessly tosses to Piper, further deepening Tessa's feelings of betrayal and loss. As the game continues, Tessa's internal turmoil grows.

Despite her attempts to stay composed, she feels increasingly disconnected from the festivities around her. The atmosphere is charged with laughter and cheers, contrasting sharply with Tessa's sense of defeat. With each round, she loses not only her belongings but also pieces of her self-worth. The stakes rise dramatically when the rules change, prompting Tessa to make a bold bet that shocks everyone, including Garrett. The tension escalates as Tessa bets her valuable penthouse, a symbol of her family's legacy.

The dice roll reveals her loss by a mere point, leaving her feeling utterly defeated. Piper's taunting whispers serve as a painful reminder of her loss, yet Tessa's resolve hardens. Despite the chaos and her vulnerability, she refuses to back down, demanding another chance to reclaim her dignity. This chapter captures Tessa's emotional struggle, highlighting themes of humiliation, resilience, and the desire to fight back against the odds.

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below **Chapter 3** My eyes burned with unshed tears, and for a moment, I felt as though the weight of the world was pressing down on me. I was on the brink of breaking apart right there in front of everyone. I had endured so much-every time Garrett chose Piper over me, every time he brushed me aside as if I were nothing. But this? This was a level of humiliation I had never anticipated. A flicker of annoyance crossed Garrett's face, but he kept his hand extended, waiting for me to comply.

Even Cole, usually oblivious to the tension, sensed that something was off. "It's just a bracelet, Piper. I'll buy you two more if you want," he said, attempting to diffuse the situation. But Piper's expression turned icy, her voice sharp. "We agreed before we started. If you can't handle the heat, don't play the game." Garrett let out a harsh, mirthless laugh that echoed in the room. "Tessa, I told you to go home. You insisted on playing." "I said, hand it over," I demanded, my voice steady despite the storm churning inside me.

My fingers trembled as I unclasped the bracelet, the delicate piece of jewelry feeling like a weight in my palm. Garrett didn't even spare a glance at it; he simply tossed it to Piper as if it were nothing more than a piece of trash. She held it up under the light, examining it for a fleeting moment before wrinkling her nose in disdain. "Eh. Not that cute up close," she declared dismissively, letting it fall carelessly onto the table. In that instant, someone bumped into the table, and the bracelet was knocked aside, sending a glass tumbling over.

Red wine splattered everywhere, soaking the bracelet in a crimson pool. My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, the pain grounding me in the moment. It felt as if a boulder was crushing my chest, suffocating me with a sense of loss and betrayal. Just then, Piper's voice sliced through the tension, sweet and taunting. "Come on, let's keep going. What are we waiting for?" Round three commenced. I rolled a seven-just enough to keep me in the game but not enough to gain any ground. Piper rolled a nine. Garrett? Snake eyes. Two ones. Dead last.

Piper erupted into laughter, her voice ringing through the room like a melody. "Babe, your luck's trash tonight!" Garrett reached for the penalty drink, but Piper was quicker, snatching it from him and downing it in one swift motion, her fingers entwined with his the entire time. She winked at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "What can I say? We're a couple tonight." The table erupted in cheers and laughter, the sound washing over me like a tidal wave. I sat there, numb, feeling as if I were watching from a distance, disconnected from the revelry around me.

Round after round, I hovered on the edge of defeat-losing just enough to leave me feeling drained and exposed. One drink followed another, and with each loss, I surrendered a piece of myself. My jewelry, gone. My designer bag, gone. Even the limited-edition Chanel clutch I had brought with me tonight? That too had been handed over to Piper without so much as a second thought. Heat crept up my cheeks, and my vision began to blur as the alcohol took its toll. My hands shook when I reached for the dice cup, the weight of the moment pressing down on me.

To everyone else, I must have looked intoxicated, out of control. Another round commenced, and Cole, who was dealing, decided to change the rules. "Alright, comparing rolls is boring. Let's raise the stakes. If you think you can roll eight or higher, double down! And the pot needs to get serious. Small bets are lame!" he declared, his enthusiasm infectious. Piper was quick to jump in, her voice enthusiastic. "I'm in! I'm betting my boutique on the west side!" She owned several properties, and that boutique alone was worth a fortune. Gasps erupted around the table, the stakes skyrocketing.

Garrett shot me a glance, his expression unreadable, before he coolly replied, "I'm in. I'm betting the RRETTESS." The yacht-worth millions and named after both of us. All eyes turned to me, the weight of their expectations heavy in the air. "Tessa," Garrett finally said, his voice tight with frustration. "That's enough. Go home." Piper scoffed immediately, her confidence unwavering. "Garrett, if she can't handle it, she shouldn't play. Maybe Tessa's just getting warmed up." Something inside me snapped at her taunting words. I locked eyes with her, my resolve hardening. "I'm in.

I'm betting... my penthouse in Bayside," I declared, the words tumbling out of my mouth before I could second-guess myself. Even Garrett froze at my bold statement. That penthouse was one of the most valuable assets my parents had left me-situated in a prime location, it was worth far more than Piper's boutique. The dice rolled again, anticipation crackling in the air. Piper opened hers first. Nine. Her smirk was smug, a triumphant look that made my blood boil. Garrett's turn came next. Seven. I took a shaky breath, my heart pounding in my chest.

I lifted my cup, the moment stretching out before me. Three. Five. Eight. I lost. By one point. I slumped back against the couch, utterly drained, the weight of defeat settling over me like a heavy shroud. Piper leaned in close, her voice a low whisper that only I could hear. "How's it feel to lose? Everything you have? I'm taking it all." I lifted my head, cheeks flushed from the alcohol, but my eyes were sharp, filled with determination. "Again," I replied, my voice steady despite the chaos swirling around me.

Conclusion In the aftermath of that night, the reality of my choices crashed down around me like shattered glass. Each item I had lost felt like a piece of my identity slipping through my fingers, a stark reminder of how far I had fallen in the eyes of those I once considered friends. The laughter that had once filled the room now felt like a distant echo, taunting me with memories of a time when I was seen, valued, and respected. As I sat there, the weight of my losses became a catalyst for something deeper within me-a flicker of resilience igniting in the ashes of my humiliation.

I had gambled not just my possessions, but my dignity and self-worth, and though I had lost, I realized that I still had the power to reclaim my narrative. With newfound determination, I lifted my chin and met the mocking gaze of Piper with unwavering resolve. This was not the end; it was merely a turning point. I would no longer allow myself to be crushed under the weight of their expectations or belittled by their games. The penthouse, the jewelry, and even the designer bag could all be replaced, but my spirit was unyielding.

Dex Morgan Dex Morgan works to elevate each story with clean writing, emotional balance, and thoughtful flow for readers.