Chapter 155
Mallory glared at Marina. On a day like this, asking something like that is obviously just trying to get under people’s skin!”
Marina clearly wasn’t having it and shot back.
If you think this is disgusting, then what about the ones who actually did those shameless things? Aren’t they way worse?”
You Mallory clenched her jaw, about to snap back at Marina, but Mila stepped in and stopped her.
“Alright. Mallory, calm down. It’s just a game. Don’t be such a sore loser, Mila said.
She really didn’t want Mallory to get so worked up by Marina that she ended up saying something she’d regret.
Mila shot Mallory a warning look, then grabbed her glass and downed it in one go, a flash of hatred flickering in her eyes.
Marina just smiled at her, and even clapped first when Mila finished her drink.
“Mila, you really can hold your liquor,” Marina said.
Mila found Marina’s smile almost provocative. She set her glass down hard on the table, then turned to Zack with a smile and posed her question.
“Zack, do you love me more, or your ex–girlfriend more?”
She picked up on Marina’s topic and turned it on Zack.
“The weather’s not great today,” Zack replied.
He answered with something totally off–topic, without a moment’s hesitation.
Mila had thought Zack would at least cut her some slack, give her a straight answer and maybe just drink up. But he totally dodged the question.
Her expression froze for a moment, but luckily Zack quickly turned away to ask someone else a question, so most people didn’t catch it.
Only Marina, sitting closest to her, caught it and smiled. Marina set her glass down and, grinning, said, “Mila, that must sting, huh?”
Mila let out a cold laugh and replied calmly, “Not as much as your sister is suffering.”
She kept her cool, looking totally casual, like she was just having a friendly chat with Marina.
Marina wasn’t fazed at all, her face calm as ever.
“Why would my sister be suffering? She’s the matchmaker for you two. She’s sitting at the head table for your engagement today, and she’ll be front and center at your wedding too. Honestly, looks like you’re the only one feeling salty,” Marina said.
Mila’s fake smile faded a little, and she just dropped the act, not saying another word to Marina.
Soon, the game went around the circle again, this time counterclockwise.
When it was Mila’s turn to ask Marina a question, a look of payback flashed in her eyes.
“Marina, sweetie, rumor has it you’ve been hooking up with a lot of guys?” Mila asked.
Everyone at the table was caught off guard by Mila’s question. Daron, sitting right next to Marina, shot Mila asha icy
Chapter 155
glare, his eyes darkening with warnings
But Marina didn’t even flinch at Mila’s attempt to stir up drama. She kept her cool and tossed back a marky line. “Creeps stick together”
Kata was right there with her, jumping in without missing a beat.
“Ugly and promiscuous,” Kara chimed in..
Their flawless tag–team had everyone at the table bursting out laughing.
Mila didn’t show any sign of being rattled, just kept that faint smile on her lips.
Atarina turned toward Daron, her voice brisk as she fired off her question.
“So, do you like me?” she asked.
She was picking up right where Daron had left off with his last question.
Daron was left speechless.
She really knows how to give it right back,‘ he thought.
Marina flashed a victorious grin, feeling sweet rush of payback. She grabbed the bottle in front of Daron, filled his glass to the brim, and handed it over.
“Drink up,” she said.
Daron’s eyes were dark and intense as he took the glass from her. He downed it in one go, his gaze locked on her the whole
time.
Zachary clicked his tongue and teased, “Daron, that look in your eyes is scary. Are you planning to make Marina your drinking snack tonight?”
Daron’s gaze turned icy as he set his glass down, giving Zachary a cold, warning look.
“Since when did you two get all buddy–buddy?” he said.
Zachary felt the chill from Daron’s stare, but just chuckled and brushed it off.
Marina was still riding high on her little comeback.
But then, Daron started targeting her with a barrage of questions..
His questions got trickier and trickier. Sometimes Marina would try to come up with some nonsense in her head, but when it was her turn, she’d just end up falling right into his trap.
She kept drinking more and more, and her answers started getting all fuzzy.
Meanwhile, Daron was getting sharper and sharper, never giving her a straight answer and dodging every question she threw at him with ease.
Marina was never much of a drinker, so when someone suggested switching to a new game, she just waved the white flag in the air and called out, “I surrender! I surrender! I can’t drink anymore!”
She was already starting to feel the buzz, and if she kept going, she’d probably end up face down on the table.
Marina didn’t want to make a fool of herself in front of everyone and embarrass her sister.
17:49 Wed, Dec 31
AM
Chapter 156
“You gotta drink three glasses before you can tap out,” someone shouted.
Everyone started cheering, making a big deal out of it.
Mila wasted no time, setting three brimming glasses
ight in front of Marina.
“Marina, don’t let everyone down. Just drink up. It’s only a bottle’s worth, Mila said.
Marina was never much of a drinker, and tonight she was already going way above her usual limit.
Mila could see Marina was struggling, so she just kept piling on, making it even tougher for her.
Marina shook her head, waving off the drinks. “Seriously, I can’t drink anymore,”
Mila said, “Marina, surrender shots are a must. If you really can’t handle it, I’ll have someone help you to your room.
“That’s just how it is in our circle. If you want to fit in, you need to play by the rules.”
As she spoke, Mila brought the glass right up to Marina’s lips.
Just as Marina started to wave it away, Daron reached over, took the glass, and downed it in one go.
He finished off the other two glasses, then set them down hard on the table. His voice was cold and firm as he said, “She’s with me. I’ll drink for her. Got a problem with that?”
“Ms. Gill, you wanna school me on the rules?”
Marina looked up at Daron, and for a moment, he looked like her knight in shining armor.
“Good. I guess I could let him off the hook for all his tricks during the game,’ she thought.
Mila hadn’t expected Daron to stick up for Marina in front of everyone, and she felt a bit awkward inside.
They were classmates, but he still called her “Ms. Gill“, which so formal, like they barely knew each other.
Mila was stunned for a moment, then shook her head and managed a smile.
“No problem,” she said.
She wouldn’t dare try to school Daron on the rules.
Daron just grunted and turned away, not even bothering to look at her anymore.
The room went quiet for a moment, then someone piped up with a new game suggestion.
Everyone was quick to agree, and the awkward moment was gone before anyone knew it.
Mila waved a waiter over.
“Take Ms. Finley to a quiet room so she can rest,” she instructed.
But before the waiter could do anything, Daron reached out and pulled Marina over to his side.
“No need. She likes the bustle,” he said.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
