Chapter 5
The guests around them whispered quietly, eyes darting between Celeste and Vanessa.
“Oh my god… is this real? She’s the one who got hit, and she’s the one apologizing?”
“Mr. Sullivan really dotes on Miss Clarke, huh?”
“Come on, that marriage’s been dead for a while—everyone knows it.”
Celeste stood in the middle of the crowd, her nails digging deep into her palm—but she felt no pain.
Vanessa tilted her chin smugly. “I accept your apology.”
She affected a gracious air as she linked arms with Celeste—like she was doing her a favor. “Since you’re already here, Professor, why don’t you join the fun?”
Before Celeste could decline, one of Vanessa’s friends giggled and held up a box. “Let’s play a game! Everyone draws a number, and whoever gets 6 has to take a punishment!”
First round. Celeste unfolded her paper expressionlessly—
Number six.
“Whoa! It’s Professor Adams!” the pink-dress girl gasped theatrically. “The punishment is… eat three tubes of wasabi!”
Without a word, Celeste took them and swallowed, bite after bite.
The sharp burn shot straight up her nose, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks. Her stomach twisted like it was on fire.
Laughter erupted all around her.
“Dang, she’s tough!”
“Let’s go again!”
Second round. Once again—she drew six.
“This time…” The girl smiled wickedly. “Bark like a dog. Three times!”
Celeste went pale.
“That’s too much.” Her voice trembled. “Pick something else.”
“A bet’s a bet, Professor,” Vanessa blinked. “Rules are rules.”
Lucian strolled over and gently wrapped an arm around Vanessa’s shoulders. “Don’t ruin the mood, Celeste. It’s just a game. Don’t spoil Vanessa’s birthday.”
Celeste stared at his perfectly composed face, now so close—and her heart felt like it was being torn apart.
“Woof…”
The first bark barely squeezed through her clenched teeth.
“Woof… woof…”
Each bark cut into her like a blade, stripping away her dignity bit by bit.
Whispers and stifled giggles echoed around her.
Celeste bit down on her lip so hard she tasted blood.
Third round. Of course—it was her again.
“This time, you have to finish all the liquor on the table~”
An entire row of shots lined up before her. Her stomach was already burning.
“I can’t,” Celeste rasped.
“Oh, come on, Professor,” someone whined. “You played before—don’t bail and ruin the fun now!”
Lucian sat beside Vanessa, peeling grapes for her with delicate fingers. At the commotion, he finally looked up. “Celeste, don’t be difficult.”
So she picked up a glass. Then another. And another.
Each shot seared her throat like fire, her insides twisting in agony.
By the eighth glass, she couldn’t take anymore. Blood burst from her mouth.
“Ugh—”
It splattered across the pristine white tablecloth, a shocking splash of red.
“I… I need to leave…” Celeste stumbled to her feet, vision spinning.
“Oh, come on,” Vanessa frowned. “We’re just getting started.”
Celeste yanked her arm away and staggered off the deck.
The sea breeze outside was sharp and biting. She gripped the railing, gasping for air.
The pain in her stomach doubled her over, and she vomited more blood onto the floor.
Her vision darkened. In the next second, her shoulder slammed against the railing—
And she toppled over.
Splash!
Icy seawater swallowed her whole.
Celeste didn’t know how to swim. Saltwater rushed into her nose and mouth. The suffocating panic was immediate, total.
She thrashed wildly in the water, catching a glimpse of shadows moving on deck.
“Help… me…”
She saw Lucian sprinting toward the railing, poised to dive in. Then someone screamed, “Mr. Sullivan! Vanessa ate something bad and passed out from an allergic reaction!”
Lucian froze.
A heartbeat later, he turned away.
The last thing Celeste saw was him running off, carrying Vanessa in his arms.
As seawater filled her lungs, darkness consumed her.
