Chapter 120
Eliana blinked once, softly. “Harper.”
“Well, aren’t you sweet.” Harper, clearly pleased by the gesture, snapped her fingers toward the bar. “Two Cokes, please!”
The bartender nodded promptly. “Yes, Ms. Reynolds.”
“One will do,” Eliana said softly, not wanting to be wasteful.
Harper smiled. “I’ll drink the other one. That way it won’t feel so awkward.”
Across the room, the men couldn’t help themselves.
“Coke? Seriously? Your wife’s a soda girl?”
“Where’d you find such a little angel?”
“Bringing her here won’t ruin her, will it?”
At their jibes, Theodore leaned against the back of t sofa, one hand holding his wine glass as he swirled it slowly, his gaze drifting.
holding rakable
His thoughts had slipped back to that night, the scent of whiskey on her, unmistakable and sharp, the kind Anthony favored.
Was she truly unable to hold her liquor, or just pretending?
And was she really unfamiliar with nights like this, or simply playing the part?
As always, Felix, perceptive to Theodore’s every mood, picked up on the subtle shift in his demeanor. “Something eating at you? You’ve looked miserable all night.”
Theodore took a slow sip. “Have I?”
“Definitely,” Felix said. “Other than that one moment you hugged your wife, you’ve been avoiding eye contact, keeping silent, drinking like a man nursing heartbreak. What’s that about?”
Theodore’s voice was low, almost reluctant. “She has an ex.”
Felix blinked. “That’s it? Man, who doesn’t?”
“But she went to see him in private,” Theodore added, his tone turning cold. “And they held hands.”
Felix let out a low whistle. “So? Break the guy’s hand.”
“That would be too obvious. She’d know.” Theodore finished his drink with a dark look in his eyes.
That answer gave Felix pause.
For a man who had always disdained petty tactics, this shift was unexpected. It was rare to see Theodore entertain thoughts this pett
“So what, you think she’s not being honest because she doesn’t care enough? Doesn’t trust you?”
Theodore said nothing, but his silence answered for him..
is human.
Felix’s mind was already working. “If you really want to know what’s going on in her head,” he said, turning toward the crowd, “there’s a way.”
Raising his voice, he called out, “Alright, this is getting boring. How about we play Truth or Dare?”
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Chapter 1201
The others perked up. Felix grabbed a bottle off the table and held it up. “Simple rules. Whoever the bottle points to chooses Truth, or dare who inte
Harper gave Eliana a quick pat on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s join them. It’ll be fun.”
Eliana nodded. She had no objection. After all, it was the quickest way to ease into a group.
Not far off, Vivienne arched a brow and stood, brushing back her hair. “Count me in.”
Once everyone had taken their seats in a loose circle, Felix laid the bottle flat on the table and gave it a sharp spin. It twirled several times before gradually slowing until the neck pointed unmistakably at Eliana.
A glint of satisfaction flickered in Felix’s eyes. “Ellie,” he asked smoothly, “truth or dare?”
“Can I ask what the dare is first?”
“Kiss Theodore. Right here, thirty seconds, no holding back.”
A ripple of excitement passed through the group, punctuated by a few teasing whistles.
Eliana’s cheeks flushed. Embarrassed, she quickly shie
course. “Then I’ll go with truth.”
Felix opened his mouth to respond, but Vivienne cut in, her voice crisp and deliberate. “How many men have you been with, Eliana?”
A few people gasped at the bluntness. “Come on,” someone said disapprovingly, “isn’t that a bit much for a newcomer?”
Vivienne didn’t blink. “What’s the big deal? Everyone in this circle’s been asked worse. Why should she get a pass just because she’s new?”
The crowd hesitated, but seeing Theodore remain silent, they turned their attention back to Eliana.
She glanced briefly at Theodore, then answered without hesitation. “One.”
Theodore’s gaze narrowed. He thought, ‘Liar. Then what about Luke?‘
But Eliana had her own logic. She and Luke had kept their relationship proper, never crossing a line. Theodore, in every sense, was her first.
Vivienne scoffed. “One? Are you serious?”
“If you’re asking about ex–boyfriends, then sure, there was more than one. But that’s not what you asked,” Eliana replied evenly.
She could see what Vivienne was playing at. Had she said two, it would’ve only invited more crude remarks.
“You…” Vivienne began again.
But Eliana cut her off. “You asked your question. I answered. That counts, doesn’t it?”
She turned to Felix for confirmation.
Felix nodded quickly. “Yep, counts. Let’s move on.”
The bottle spun again. Two more rounds passed before it landed on Eliana once more.
“Truth or dare?” Felix grinned, rubbing his hands, “Just a heads–up. Today’s dare is… take off an article of clothing.”
Eliana was wearing nothing but a single dress. That alone made it clear that this wasn’t really a choice.
“Truth,” she said coldly.
Felix leaned forward. “Between your current partner and your ex, which one was better?”
11:24 Mon, 16 Jun 10G.
Chapter 120
Eliana furrowed her brows, wondering, ‘Why are all the questions circling back to this? Don’t tell me Theodore’s pulling the strings
She glanced in his direction. Theodore, à cigarette resting between his lips, looked back at her with a sharp, almost lazy expresamin. “Too hard to answer?” he asked, voice tinged with amusement.
The moment he spoke, the rest of the group caught on and egged her on. “Come on. Say it!
It was obvious now. They were all in on it.
Eliana’s expression cooled. If they wanted to play, she’d play.
“I suppose, for most people, the current partner is always the best,” she said slowly, voice calm but faced with warning. “That is… until they become an ex themselves. So maybe don’t get too smug.”
A stunned silence fell over the circle.
Some looked like they wanted to laugh, but no one dared. It wasn’t the answer they expected, but it was one they wouldn’t forget
For a moment, even Theodore looked taken aback. He took a long drag of his cigarette, eyes fixed on her like a blade drawn halfway from its sheath. He thought, ‘Make me your ex? Over my dead body.”
Eliana, unfazed, turned back to Felix. “Next.”
Felix gave a theatrical sigh, spun the bottle again, and to his own horror, it landed on Theodore.
A sharp kick landed under the table, and Felix winced.
‘Didn’t he say his spins never missed? What the hell happened?‘ Theodore thought.
Rubbing his shin, Felix smiled sheepishly. Even the best gamblers had their off nights.
Vivienne seized the opportunity. “Mr. Russell, if Alice came back, regretful, desperate to be with you again, would you choose her? Or would you stay with… her?”
The question dropped like a stone into still water. Silence rippled across the group.
Harper, catching the way Eliana’s eyes lowered, snapped, “Vivienne, have you lost your damn mind? Why would you even ask something like that?”
Vivienne only laughed lightly, her fingers brushing her lips. “What? It’s just a game. And if Mr. Russell doesn’t want to answer… there’s always the dare.”
AD
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