Chapter 3

3

I hadn't expected Nathan to follow me outside.

I quickly stamped out the remaining embers with my shoe, shoved the charred scrap into my coat pocket, and muttered that it was just trash.

Nathan didn't probe any further. He looked down at my swollen leg and frowned. "What happened to your cast?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Nothing. I just tripped."

Since I refused to elaborate, Nathan didn't bother asking twice.

He nodded lightly and offered some generic advice about resting before getting straight to his real point.

"Since your leg is acting up, take Avery with you to the industry mixer this afternoon. She can assist you and act as your runner."

I stared at him in disbelief. The so-called master mixer was really just a private networking party for Nathan's wealthy circle of friends.

I had always avoided those noisy social gatherings.

Avery's voice drifted from behind the glass door. "If Mrs. Miller doesn't want me there, forget it. I refuse to be treated like a servant by you rich folks anyway!"

Nathan instantly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, coaxing her gently.

"If I say she agrees, she agrees. Didn't you say you wanted to meet the top architectural investors in town? Come with us."

Avery lifted her chin proudly. "Only because I want to learn."

"Of course, whatever you say," Nathan replied, completely catering to her ego while leaving me out in the cold.

In the end, Nathan dragged me along to the private VIP lounge downtown.

The moment we walked into the suite, his friends began whistling and teasing him.

"Look who it is! Rumor has it you've been chasing a young girl like crazy, Nathan. You actually brought her to our private hangout!"

Another buddy laughed, raising his beer bottle. "Nathan would probably hand over his own life if she asked for it."

Avery raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Is that so?"

One of the men who had once helped Nathan propose to me smirked. "Test him. Ask for anything you want."

Avery pointed at the man across the table. "Tell him to give your Black Card to me."

Nathan didn't hesitate for a second. He pulled his titanium card from his designer wallet and tossed it into her lap.

Avery then demanded a luxury watch and a downtown condo. Nathan agreed to every single request with an easy smile.

A guy twirled a diamond watch on his finger and chuckled. "Avery, why are you only asking things for us? Don't you want anything for yourself?"

"Yeah, if you agree to be Nathan's girl, all of this belongs to you anyway."

Avery's smile vanished instantly. She stood up, her face tight with anger.

"I came here to make professional connections, not to be your entertainment! And I will never be anyone's mistress!"

The guys quickly waved their hands. "Hey, we were just joking around to lighten the mood. Don't take it so seriously!"

This circle of elite architects had always taken their status seriously, never stooping to childish antics.

Yet Nathan was willing to let them play these degrading games just to make Avery smile.

The last time he had tried this hard was when he was trying to win my heart years ago.

I checked my watch and realized it was time for my prescription. I pulled out my ibuprofen pills and swallowed them with the warm water the waiter brought.

A second later, Nathan slid a full glass of dry red wine in front of me.

"Avery lost Truth or Dare and drew the drinking penalty," Nathan said casually. "She can't hold her liquor, and I have to drive. Drink it for her."

I pushed the glass away immediately. "I just took strong painkillers. I cannot touch alcohol."

Avery stared at me with narrowed eyes. "If Mrs. Miller doesn't want to, forget it. I don't need charity. I'll drink it myself!"

She reached for the glass, but Nathan intercepted her hand.

"I told you, I won't let you touch a single drop."

Nathan grabbed my jaw with one hand, forcing my face upward while his voice remained deceptively soft.

"Penny, just help her this once. You've always had a high tolerance for wine."

Before I could fight back, he poured the red liquid down my throat.

I choked violently, coughing until my lungs burned.

Within seconds, a sharp, suffocating pain seized my chest. The toxic reaction between the medication and alcohol hit my system with terrifying speed.

Nathan didn't even glance at my distress. Amid the loud cheers of his friends, he pulled Avery close.

"The deal was, if Penny drank that glass, you owe me one favor. Time to pay up."

He cupped the back of Avery's head and kissed her hard on the lips.

"Nathan... help me..."

I clawed at his tailored jacket with trembling fingers, my vision blurring into darkness.

"Take me to the hospital... please..."

Immersed in his passionate embrace with Avery, Nathan shoved me aside with annoyance.

"Stop throwing a tantrum over nothing."

He pushed Avery against the wall, deepening the kiss right in front of everyone.

The room spun wildly around me.

"Nathan..."

I called out his name one last time, but he was completely lost in his conquest.

My knees gave out, and I collapsed heavily onto the floor. As darkness swallowed me whole, a woman's terrified scream echoed above.

"Nathan! Penny just collapsed!"