Chapter 2
Before I could say a word, Steven jumped in.
"Alright, let's do it. This is gonna be exciting!" he said, grinning.
I turned to Steven, my eyes wide with disbelief.
We'd been together for two years. He knew me better than anyone.
I had type 1 diabetes, and I couldn't live without my insulin pump.
To stay alive, I had to avoid all sweets and always keep my blood glucose monitor close.
But now, Steven was risking my life at the table just to impress Leona Morrison.
My heart froze over.
And yet, I was the one whose life was being gambled away, and I didn't even get a say in it.
Steven clamped his hand around my waist, holding me in place so I couldn't move.
When I kept struggling, the nice guy act was gone. "Vivian!" he snapped.
Steven growled under his breath, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Can you stop making a scene?
"I usually go along with you at home, but this is a party.
"Do you have to spoil everyone's New Year's Eve like this?" Steven said, his tone sharp.
My eyes stung with heat, but no tears would come.
I parted my lips, my voice rough. "You're betting my life just to please her? Should I be cheering you on for that?"
Steven's eyes flickered, but his voice stayed cold and flat.
"It's just a game. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?" he said.
Before I could respond, Leona knocked on the table. "So, are we playing or not?"
"Play! If she's out, I'll play with you instead," Steven said.
Steven let go of me and reached for the dice cup.
The rattling dice sounded like an omen of doom.
As soon as the two dice cups were revealed, I grabbed for my insulin pump at my waist.
If I ever took it off, that'd be the end of me.
"Eighteen for me, sixteen for you. Steven, you lost this one..." Leona teased, her voice playful.
Leona checked the dice, then gave Steven a look that was just a little too flirty.
Steven's fingers froze for a moment, then he forced a grin. "A bet's a bet."
My palms were slick with sweat, and my throat felt tight.
I asked, "Steven, do you even realize what you're doing?
"I can't take it off. Without insulin, I'll die!"
He didn't answer, just looked at me with an unreadable gaze. "Vivian, I won't let anything happen to you."
"I'll win your insulin back soon," he said.
Leona curved her lips into a teasing smile and turned to the guys nearby.
"Alan, you guys take that thing off her," she ordered.
"No, don't..." I instinctively grabbed for Steven's sleeve.
But he just got up and walked over to Leona.
Leona was still smiling, but there was a cold glint in her eyes. "A bet's a bet. That's the rule."
A few guys rushed over, grabbed me and held me down. I was totally helpless, unable to fight back.
Watching Steven just stand there, completely indifferent, it felt like someone was squeezing life out of me. I could barely breathe.
My vision started to blur, and I bit down hard on my lip.
"I didn't even want to bet with her!" I protested.
"Steven! I'm your girlfriend... Are you even human?" I cried out.
By the time I finished, my throat was raw and tasted of blood.
Leona set her glass down and cozied up to Steven. "Steven, your girlfriend really can't handle losing, can she?"
Steven ruffled Leona's hair with a smile. "That's just how she is, Leona. Don't mind her."
Once my insulin pump was ripped off, they strapped me to the chair.
Leona's friend gave my head a little pat. "Leona, she pissed you off. Guess she needs to cool off for a while as payback."
Leona turned to Steven. "Steven, my friends just like to mess around. No hard feelings, right?"
She took Steven's hand and gave him a coy smile.
"If you're feeling sorry for her, I'll tell them to let her go," she said.
Steven stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly stepped over and wiped the tears off my face.
With his back to Leona, his expression was dark and impossible to read.
"Vivian, you have to understand, I'm doing this for our future," he said.
Then he turned and went back to sit beside Leona.
"Come on, let's keep going," he said.
My tears stopped cold, and it was like my heart just froze in my chest.
I felt like a caged bird, helplessly watching them have their fun.
"You lost again! Three drinks!" someone shouted.
"Drink! Drink! Drink!" the crowd chanted.
The cheers kept getting louder, and Leona and Steven were practically glued together by now.
At some point, the two of them were all over each other, looking way too cozy.
When things hit a fever pitch, they kissed right in front of everyone, just a playing card pressed between their lips.
It was as if I, his real girlfriend, was completely invisible to them.