Chapter 3

Back in the private room, someone suggested playing a game. The loser would have to fulfill a request from the winner.

Since they were short on people, Stella got roped in to join.

In the first round, Margaret lost. Before the winner could announce the punishment, Arthur shot a warning glance and quickly spoke up. "Easy, guys. Don't get carried away."

The guy across from them flashed a sly, meaningful grin. "The loser has to slide their foot against the man to their left's calf."

Arthur's face instantly darkened. The person sitting to Margaret's left wasn't Arthur.

Margaret was about to refuse when the winner spoke up. "Margaret, it's the first round. You don't have a boyfriend, so you're not going to chicken out, are you?"

Her eyes grew a little misty, and she instinctively looked over at Arthur.

"Alright, alright, take three shots as your punishment," the winner said.

Margaret breathed a sigh of relief, but then remembered she wasn't supposed to drink tonight. But the shot glass was promptly slid right in front of her.

In the next moment, a hand suddenly reached out and snatched the glass away from her.

Arthur downed all three shots in a row, looking completely unfazed, as if nothing had happened. "She's not feeling well today, so I'll drink for her."

"Whoa, Arthur, you're drinking for another woman right in front of your girlfriend. Ms. Carter, aren't you getting jealous?" someone teased.

Everyone's eyes immediately landed on Stella, whose face fell.

Arthur's lips curled into a faint smile as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "No way. Sweetheart is the sweetest and most considerate."

Arthur only ever called Stella "sweetheart" when they were in private.

Stella stayed silent, and no one cared what she had to say.

Margaret lost three rounds in a row. By the fourth round, the winner decided they'd had enough of Margaret losing.

Not wanting to kill the mood, Margaret agreed to go along with whatever was asked of her.

"Alright, this time the loser has to share a hot kiss with whoever's holding the King of Spades for a whole minute," the winner announced.

Everyone perked up, eager to find out who had the King of Spades.

Stella glanced over at Arthur, who was visibly agitated beside her.

As everyone was about to reveal their cards, Arthur suddenly pulled Margaret into his arms. His large hand held her head firmly as he lowered his head and kissed her luscious lips.

The room exploded with excited shouts and whoops.

Stella froze for a moment, feeling as if her heart was gripped by a giant hand. A heavy ache set in her chest.

She squeezed the King of Spades in her hand so hard that it warped out of shape. A weak, lifeless smile slipped across her lips.

After the kiss, Arthur used his thumb to gently wipe away the wetness from Margaret's lips.

Arthur glanced at Stella, his expression casual. "Hey, it's only a game. Don't sweat it."

After that round, Margaret's luck finally turned the tables. This time, Stella was the one who lost.

"Stella, Margaret got three chances earlier, so now it's your turn. Bottoms up," the winner said.

Stella clenched her fists, about to say she couldn't drink because of her alcohol allergy.

Arthur cut her off, speaking up. "Go on, drink it. Don't act like you're special."

Stella's heart turned cold in an instant. A hint of sarcasm flashed in her gaze as she looked at him.

Arthur could remember Margaret's cycle, but he couldn't recall Stella's alcohol allergy.

Stella's expression stiffened as she got up, planning to walk out. But someone beat her to it.

Margaret grabbed her bag, blushing a bit. "Sorry, I need to hit the restroom."

No sooner had Margaret walked out than Arthur got up as well. "I'm going outside for a smoke. You guys keep going."

As soon as they left, Stella got up to leave, too, her expression grim. But Arthur's buddies weren't about to let her off that easily.

"Ms. Carter, you haven't done your punishment yet. Don't be a sore loser. If you don't want to drink, then kiss whoever's holding the Three of Diamonds."

"Hey, lucky me. I'm the Three of Diamonds."

The guy on Stella's other side had barely finished talking before he was ready to pounce on her.

He gave her a greasy, leering grin, his eyes sliding up and down her. "Relax, Ms. Carter. I'm a great kisser, you know."

He grabbed Stella's arm in a tight grip, making her cry out in pain.

The crowd burst into laughter. "What's the rush? Let Stella enjoy it first."

Everyone was waiting to watch the show unfold.

Her arms were gripped painfully tight, and that nasty, chapped mouth was closing in on her face.

Desperate, Stella instinctively grabbed at whatever was within reach.