Chapter 5

To be honest, I really didn't want to drink.

After wrapping up my shift, I had rushed straight back to campus to work on my thesis, having had no time to eat. My stomach was completely empty.

Chloe had clearly planned this. The three glasses on the table were massive, filled with heavy, mixed hard liquors.

If I drank all three on an empty stomach, I wasn't sure I’d be able to walk out of this lounge alive.

Seeing me hesitate, Chloe frowned petulantly. "What, you ruined Logan’s mood by being late, and you can't even stomach a few drinks?"

I looked over at Logan.

He was watching me too.

Catching my gaze, he raised a lazy eyebrow. "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what Chloe said? Hurry up. Don't ruin everyone's night."

"Drink, or we break up."

The moment he said that, the crowd around the table erupted into jeers and cheers.

I quickly stepped forward, grabbed the first glass, and poured the burn down my throat. Before the alcohol even hit my stomach, I gasped out desperately, "Don't break up with me, please."

I had zero alcohol tolerance, but I knew that if I didn't finish these, they would never let me leave.

More importantly, Logan would end things with me.

I couldn't fathom what would happen if he dumped me right at this exact moment.

Even when the liquor choked my throat, I merely coughed a couple of times and kept chugging.

By the time I tipped back the third glass, my vision was blurring and my head was spinning. In the haze, I vaguely heard Logan snap angrily: "Stop drinking!"

I ignored him. As the final drop went down, I stumbled backward, completely drunk.

Logan stared at me with an unreadable expression, cursing under his breath, "Are you an idiot?"

I flashed him a bright, radiant smile. "I just love you."

Logan stiffened. He grabbed a drink to cover his sudden unease, then scoffed arrogantly, "As if you're worthy."

Beside him, Chloe gritted her teeth in fury. Turning back to me, she sneered, "You've been working all day, so you probably haven't eaten, right? Why don't you finish the cakes on the table? It'd be a waste to throw them away."

Her voice dripped with fake charity, barely masking the sheer malice underneath.

She definitely knew I was severely allergic to mangoes.

I looked at Logan again.

He knew about my allergy too.

Logan opened his mouth to say something, but before the words came out, Chloe planted a wet kiss on his cheek.

Right in front of everyone, the two of them began making out passionately.

I understood. His silence was his consent.

I picked up the first mango cake. Seeing no fork provided, I grabbed it directly with my bare hands.

The heavy liquor hit my bloodstream with full force.

Through the fog, I heard Chloe’s disgusted laughter. "Ew, look at how gross she is, shoving it into her mouth with her bare hands."

I didn't need to look up to know that everyone in the VIP booth was laughing at the spectacle.

Phone flashes went off in my face, blinding my watery eyes.

I mechanically chewed and swallowed. My skin began to burn and prickle with sharp, itchy hives. Within moments, red blotches broke out across my face and arms.

Just as I finished the first cake and reached for the second, a firm hand grabbed my wrist.