At one end of the table, to the left of the dealer, sat a young man with a steely gaze, his fingers tapping impatiently against the felt surface. Matteo positioned himself to the left of this man.

Next to him, to the left, was a middle-aged man with a calculating expression, his eyes scanning the table for any signs of weakness.

On the opposite end of the table sat Ludovica, her posture poised and confident. To Matteo's opposite side sat two youngsters to the right of the dealer, laughing and joking amongst themselves. Their chips piled high in front of them, an indication of their wealth.

Matteo activated his street sense as the dealer began the proceedings. Assessing the situation, he noted that the dealer was an initiate Viable, as were all the players except the middle-aged man. 'That man is an Adept Viable.'

After playing a few hands winning some and losing some Matteo now had about 28000 Alpenas.

The dealer motioned to see if everyone was ready for the next hand.

The game commenced with the young man to Matteo's right posting the small blind of 100 Alpenas, followed by Matteo upping the ante with a raise to 200 as the big blind. It was a quintessential Texas Hold 'em setup.

Once the blinds were in place, the dealer began dealing the cards. Matteo calmly assessed his hand - an Eight of Spades and an Eight of Diamonds. 'A pair already!'.

The middle-aged man and Ludovica called, raising the stakes by 800, but the youngsters decided to shake things up, raising the stakes by 800, swelling the pot to 1500 Alpenas.

"Let's spice things up a bit!" One of the youngsters tried to catch Ludovica's attention with his bravado, but she remained indifferent.

A steely-eyed young man called, and Matteo followed suit.

Everyone else called and the pot swelled to 4700 Alpenas.

With a flourish, the dealer burned the top card and laid out the flop - revealing the 8 of Hearts, The Jack of Clubs and the 9 of Spades.

Matteo now had three of a kind - a strong hand. The steely-eyed young man to initiated the betting with a wager of 400 Alpenas. Unfazed by the challenge, Matteo seized the opportunity to raise the stakes, increasing the bet to 800.

The middle-aged man and Ludovica called, but the youngsters raised the stakes again, this time to 1000. Undeterred, everyone else called, raising the pot to 12500.

As the game advanced, the dealer revealed the turn - 9 of Diamonds.

The young man folded, but Matteo now had a Full House! So he betted 20000! Seeing this the middle aged man and Ludovica immediately folded. But one of the youngsters called!

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"What on earth are you doing?!" scolded the other youngster, a note of admonishment evident in his tone. "He's definitely sure of his hand!"

"Quiet down! I'll cover it if things go south!" retorted the bold youngster defiantly.

The pot was now 52000 Alpenas!

Seeing this Matteo went all in and threw his cards on the table revealing the two eights in declaration that he has Full House with triumphant smile.

But as the youngsters saw his cards, they smiled. They called and threw their cards on the table - The Jacks of Spades and Hearts!

Both Matteo and the Youngsters had a Full House! But youngster's three of a kind had a higher rank than Matteo so they will win the hand.

As the youngsters celebrated, Matteo's demeanor shifted from a bright glee to a quiet resignation. Nevertheless, he watched as the dealer prepared to reveal the final card, his heart pounding with anticipation and eyes full of hope.

With a swift motion, the dealer laid down the last card - the 8 of Clubs!

A hush fell over the table as Matteo's hand was revealed - Four of a Kind Eights with the Jack as the kicker!

The once jubilant youngsters sat in stunned silence, their confident smiles faltering.

Matteo couldn't help but crack a small smile as he gathered the sizable pot of almost 70000 Alpenas towards him. The tables had turned dramatically!

"Well played, 'darling'," Ludovica remarked with a forced smile, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Well, it was all luck." Matteo smiled back.

The defeated youngsters begrudgingly gathered their remaining chips, conceding defeat and leaving the table.

Matteo and Ludovica exchanged a knowing glance, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.

Matteo stood up from the table, a faint smile from the victory still lingering on his lips as he glanced at Ludovica. "Until next time, gentlemen." he said with a nod to the players "Shall we, Ludovica?". Ludovica nodded and got up and they left the casino.

////////////////

Matteo and Ludovica left the vibrant atmosphere of the casino behind them. The relaxing evening breeze whispered through the narrow streets.

"So, what are we going to do with the money?" Ludovica asked, her voice filled with curiosity as they strolled side by side.

"We're going to open a shopfront," Matteo replied with a smile, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"A shopfront? Of what?"

"Wine!" Matteo exclaimed, his smile widening at Ludovica's puzzled expression.

"Why do you want to open a wine shop?"

But before Matteo could respond, he gestured towards a building ahead of them, a warm glow emanating from its windows.

"Dinner first," Matteo said.

Ludovica followed his gaze and saw the sign hanging above the entrance: 'Trattoria Francesca'. The sight of the cozy, rustic restaurant filled her with a sense of warmth and comfort, and she couldn't help but smile in response.

As they approached the entrance, the savory aroma of Mediterranean cuisine enveloped them, teasing their senses and whetting their appetites. Matteo held the door open for Ludovica, and together they stepped into the welcoming embrace of the trattoria.

( "Trattoria" refers to a casual Italian eatery, often family-run, serving traditional and regional dishes in a cozy atmosphere. )

Inside, the restaurant was alive with the gentle hum of conversation and the clinking of silverware against porcelain.

Soft candlelight flickered on the walls, casting a warm glow over the intimate space. Wooden tables adorned with checkered tablecloths dotted the room, each one inviting guests to sit down and savor the flavors of Italy.

A friendly host greeted them with a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he welcomed them to Trattoria Francesca.

Matteo exchanged a few words with the host, and soon they were led to a cozy corner table by the window, offering a perfect view of the bustling street outside.

As they settled into their seats, Ludovica couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. Surrounded by the comforting ambiance.

"Now here's why we need a wine shop."