Chapter 2

The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned strange. My friend immediately tried to lighten the mood by raising the cards in their hand. "Today's gathering is supposed to be drink till we drop! Come on, let's play games!"

Natasha tugged at Matthew's sleeve, pouting as she whined, "But I can't handle alcohol at all. Isn't making everyone drink till they drop just bullying me?"

Matthew patiently stroked her hair and gently reassured her, "Don't worry. I'll drink yours for you."

"I can't bear to let you drink that much."

Her eyes darted around, and then she focused her attention on me. "Prince, I saw you drink so much earlier without even blushing. Your tolerance must be really good."

"How about you drink for me?"

Someone frowned and reminded Matthew, "Aren't you going to say something? This is too much."

"She's always been the one managing me." Matthew said flatly, then pushed a glass toward me. "Your tolerance really is good. How about you and I each take half for Natasha?"

I stood there, suddenly feeling my fingers tremble.

When Matthew and I first got together, he wasn't Matthew the gentleman yet. We were squeezed into a tiny rental apartment, praying the rain would stay light so the roof wouldn't leak.

That kind of life lasted two years before we finally used all our savings to start a business.

At business dinners, people would often target me deliberately.

"Just one look at Miss Prince and I can tell you hold your liquor well. Why don't you down this glass first?"

Every time, before I could even pick up the glass, Matthew would grab it first. "Prince, since we're the perfect couple, how about we split it in half?"

But every time, he would secretly switch out my drink and end up completely wasted himself, even getting a perforated ulcer that bled.

"Prince, I won't let you get drunk, and I'll definitely give you a good life. You'll never have to touch alcohol again."

I glanced coolly at the current Matthew and took two steps back. "Matthew, Natasha is your girlfriend, not mine."

"Don't tell me after all these years, you still can't protect your own girlfriend?"

The situation became awkward after my retort.

Natasha sniffled beside him, tears threatening to fall as she looked aggrieved.

"Prince, I know you're still bitter that Matthew dumped you back then, but you don't need to target us like this."

Everyone gasped.

My friend glared at Natasha and tried to smooth things over. "What dumped or whatever? Isn't there a popular saying online now—that everyone had their own difficulties back then?"

I laughed lightly. "There weren't really any difficulties. I just had one or two close friends when I was young, that's all.

Why keep bringing up the past? If you're petty enough to care about it, Miss Natasha, maybe you should go home with Matthew and settle accounts slowly?"

Natasha might not know this, but I was famous for holding grudges.

If you don't provoke me, I can pretend you don't exist. But if you make me unhappy, I'll make sure you're unhappy too.

Even if it's just a war of words.

Natasha bit her lip. Tears fell at will, but when she noticed Matthew standing beside her with cold eyes, saying nothing, she stubbornly wiped them away.

"Then I won't drink. Let's just play Truth or Dare, and I'll be the referee."

The farce finally ended, and no one wanted to stir up more conflict.

Natasha grabbed the wine bottle nearby. "Whoever I spin to has to answer a truth question!"

The bottle spun several times before stopping in front of me.

A flash of smugness and calculation crossed Natasha's eyes. "Prince, did you really come back just to attend a wedding, or is it for something else?"

I could feel Matthew's gaze fixed on me. I picked up the glass on the table and took a casual sip.

"To get married."