Tony Stark's private party was held at the top floor of one of the most luxurious five-star hotels in New York City. By the time Henry arrived—chauffeured in a sleek black car provided by Stark himself—the rooftop was already brimming with people.
Elegant waiters moved between crowds holding golden trays. A dynamic DJ spun energetic tracks from a stage beside a glimmering rooftop pool. Models and celebrities laughed under twinkling lights, champagne flowed freely, and a card table surrounded by high-rollers buzzed with conversation and tension.
It was extravagance turned into an art form.
Henry stepped out of the car dressed in one of the tailored suits Pepper had sent over earlier. His eyes scanned the surreal scene before him. Sure, the villa had already told him Tony Stark was rich, but this? This was something else.
Despite all the noise, lights, and elite guests, Henry didn't feel particularly thrilled.
He had never cared for large gatherings, and he wasn't the partying type to begin with. More than anything, his mind kept circling around one pressing issue:
How am I supposed to ask Stark for money?
He needed a plan. He was broke, without even a phone, and while living in a luxury villa was great, money still made the world spin. Especially in this one.
Just as he was ruminating over how to bring it up, a familiar voice cut through the music.
"Hey~ kid, you made it!" came the cheerful greeting.
Henry turned to see Tony Stark striding toward him with a drink in hand and his signature grin plastered across his face.
Watching the man approach so casually, Henry couldn't help but sigh. "I really envy you, Mr. Stark. Escaped from a terrorist cave just days ago, and now you're throwing a rooftop party like nothing happened."
Tony chuckled. "That's exactly why I'm throwing a party. You face death, and suddenly, every minute feels too short not to enjoy." He eyed Henry curiously. "But you… you look like a man burdened by deep troubles. What's weighing you down at your age?"
Henry hesitated, opening his mouth, then closing it again. How do you even start a conversation with 'Hey Tony, I need money' without sounding like a leech?
Before he could figure it out, Tony clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Forget the stress for now. Come with me—Dr. Yinsen's here. Let's go say hi."
Relieved for the temporary distraction, Henry nodded and followed.
Dr. Yinsen was seated at a card table near the edge of the party, surrounded by a mix of billionaires and bored socialites. Despite the arm in a sling and signs of recovery still visible, the doctor was beaming with joy as he played cards with intense focus.
He was so absorbed that he didn't even notice Tony and Henry approach.
Tony leaned in with a smirk. "Having fun, Ethan?"
Yinsen glanced up, startled at first, then smiled brightly. "Tony! Henry! You're here."
Tony peered at the game on the table. "Caribbean Stud Poker, huh? I didn't think you were the gambling type."
"I'm not," Yinsen admitted sheepishly. "This is my first time playing."
Tony raised a brow. "Then why the sudden interest?"
Yinsen looked thoughtful. "I had written my last words in that cave. I didn't think I'd make it out. After something like that, you realize how much you've never done. So... I figured, why not?"
Tony nodded, his expression softening. He understood all too well what Yinsen meant. Sometimes near-death experiences sharpen your hunger to truly live.
"So," he asked with a teasing grin, "how's your luck?"
Yinsen winced. "Not great. I keep losing. I think I'm just bad at this game."
Tony waved his hand dismissively. "No worries. Tonight's all about fun. I'll cover your losses."
"Really?" Yinsen blinked. "In that case, I'll enjoy myself a bit more!"
The doctor laughed, returning to the table with renewed spirit.
Henry stood by, observing quietly—until Tony turned toward him with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"What about you?" Tony asked. "Wanna give it a shot? You lose, I pay. You win, it's yours to keep."
Henry froze.
Truth be told, he had never played poker—or any casino game for that matter. Growing up, he was the practical, study-hard type. Games of chance always struck him as a waste of time and money. Besides, he didn't consider himself lucky.
But… this was a unique opportunity.
He needed money.
And Tony had already offered to cover his losses.
He looked around the table. Earlier, in just half an hour, Yinsen had lost tens of thousands of dollars. The buy-ins were no joke here. These weren't penny gamblers—this was the elite throwing fortunes around like poker chips.
Still… if there was ever a time to test fate, this was it.
"I'll try one round," Henry said, voice steady.
Despite being a complete beginner, Henry had spent the last hour quietly watching Yinsen's game. The basic rules were simple enough: players receive five cards, and whoever has the better hand wins. It wasn't rocket science.
He sat at the table, placed his bet, and waited.
Cards dealt.
The tension rose.
Henry flipped his cards and blinked. A flush.
He hesitated for a moment, then looked around.
No one else had a better hand.
He won.
"Well damn," Tony said, surprised. "Beginner's luck, huh?"
Henry laughed nervously. "Maybe Lady Luck felt bad for Ethan and gave me a break."
Ethan chuckled beside him. "Seems like I used up all the bad luck before you arrived."
Henry smiled and stood, intending to leave while ahead. But etiquette at these parties dictated a little more participation than just winning one hand and walking away.
So he stayed.
One more round.
Then another.
Then… another.
And he kept winning.
An hour later, Tony was staring at Henry like he'd just discovered the secret to time travel.
"You sure you're not cheating?" he asked, narrowing his eyes, though his tone was playful.
Henry spread his hands. "You were sitting next to me the whole time. Did you see me cheat?"
"Nope," Tony admitted. "And that's the crazy part."
The guests around the table were equally shocked. Henry wasn't just winning—he hadn't lost a single hand.
"I honestly didn't know I was this lucky," Henry muttered, baffled by his own streak. "I've never won anything in my life before."
People started whispering, watching him with new interest. At first, they thought he was just a newcomer who got lucky. But as two hours stretched into three… then four… it became obvious this wasn't random chance anymore.
Every hand he played, he won.
Every opponent—no matter how experienced—fell before him.
By the end of the night, Henry had amassed more money than some guests made in a year.
"Bro, are you sure you're not here on a mission to bankrupt us?" someone joked.
Tony just laughed, shaking his head. "You know what? I'm not even mad. This is the most entertaining thing I've seen all week."
Yinsen added, "Maybe you should take that luck to the stock market."
Henry just grinned, stunned by his own fortune.
It didn't make sense—but then again, nothing about his life had since he time-traveled into the Marvel universe.
Maybe this was his "cheat." Not a system. Not a superpower.
But luck.
Pure, unexplainable, absurd luck.
And in a world filled with chaos, maybe that was the best gift of all.
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