Chapter 18
Julia’s POV
My heart lurched at the sheer panic in Isabella’s voice.
Before I could say anything, the call cut off abruptly. I stared at my phone, my pulse racing. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. With shaking hands, I redialed the number, but the call didn’t go through. I tried again and again and again but the same result.
“The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off.”
The automated message sent a shiver down my spine in fear. Why was her phone suddenly off? What had just happened to her? Did they hurt her? Is she fine? A lot of questions ran through my mind that I could not get the answers to.
I was reluctant to let Isabella get into danger because of me, so I made my way out and quickly rushed to the bar. I knew where they were. The Midnight Club, Alex went there every time he drank.
Worried if they had done anything to her already. I arrived there as soon as I could and the moment I stepped inside, the overpowering stench of alcohol hit me and it was nauseating. The room was a disaster, empty bottles littered every space, some rolling on the floor, others tipped over with the alcohol staining the ground. And then my eyes landed on Isabella. She was unconscious on the ground. My heart panicked. How many bottles had they forced her to drink?
Jude and Mathias lounged on the couch, laughing carelessly, oblivious to see me witness the mess around them. Across from them, Alex sat with a smug expression, lazily caressing the hair of his puppy, Celeste, who lay curled in his lap, completely at ease.
Then my eyes landed on Isabella again. My heart clenched. I knew she hadn’t done this willingly, I knew that much.
Fury simmered beneath my skin as I turned toward them. “What the hell did you do to her?”
I pushed through them, reaching for her. I want to take my friend out of this place.
Suddenly, Jude and Mathias blocked my way. Among them was Alex, who now stood with a glass of whiskey in his hand, his gaze locking onto
mine.
“You’re in a hurry,” Jude sneered, swirling his drink. “What’s the rush? We’re playing a game.” He smirked. In my past life, Jude had always been the one fueling Alex to taunt me more. In fact, he loves to see when Alex was hurting me. Many times, Jude always initiated it.
“Yeah,” Mathias chuckled. Mathias was like a follower. Always enjoying the scene. “Whoever drinks for someone first proves their feelings and protection over each other. Alex here has been drinking for Celeste all night.”
My jaw clenched. Celeste now stood beside Alex, looking smug and delighted, her fingers lightly grazing his arm.
“But Celeste wanted to drink for Alex too,” Jude piped up, “and since he couldn’t bear to let her, we thought, why not bring in the person who used to do it so eagerly before?”
They all laughed in mockery as my chest burned with rage.
He was of course referring to me. In my previous life, I’m used to taking a drink on Alex’s behalf to prove my love for him even though I’ll end up being used as a playing toy amongst them. I had no problem with doing such. I was happy doing it, that was one of the ways I proved my love to Alex so he would be convinced I can do anything for him just to see him happy.
“You, Julia,” Mathais smirked. “After all, didn’t you used to drink for Alex all the time? Back then, you were practically his shadow. Or should I say his loyal dog?”
“She was more like a doormat,” Jude added. “Always throwing herself in front of him, desperate for scraps of affection.”
“Don’t forget the times she’d get drunk for him at business parties. What was it again?” Mathias tapped his chin in mock thought. “Oh right, she almost died once, didn’t she?”
Alex scoffs with a smirk that barely hides his irritation. “Come on, don’t be so dramatic. It’s just a drink.”
Celeste steps forward. “Honestly, I don’t see why you’re making such a big deal out of this. It’s not poisoned, for god’s sake. Just drink it and stop acting like a child.”
I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, Celeste, how kind of you to be so concerned about what I drink. But let me make something very clear.” I leaned in slightly, my eyes locking onto hers. “I no longer give a fuck about you, Alex, or whatever game you two are trying to play here.” Her smile faltered but she recovered quickly. “We’re not playing games.”
“I don’t care,” I cut her off coldly. “I don’t care what you think. I don’t care what you want. And I sure as hell don’t care about whatever pathetic attempt this is to get under my skin.”
173
Chapter 18
Alex’s smirk drops instantly, his expression darkening. “Watch your mouth,” he warns.
“Or what?” I questioned.
+25 Bonus
His jaw tightened, and for a second, I almost expected him to lash out, but he didn’t. Instead, his fingers curl around his glass tightly, his grip betraying just how much my words have pissed him off.
“You really think you can just walk away from this?” he said, his voice low, dangerous.
I sneered. “So, you still have the mood to play a drinking game and have fun while all your investment projects have failed?”
That wiped the amusement off a few faces.
Alex’s gaze darkened. “That’s none of your business.” He replied nonchalantly.
I scoffed. “I’m sure your investors would love to hear that as well.”
Jude stepped forward, blocking my path again. “Enough talking. If you want to take Isabella, drink first.”
I clenched my fists. I could fight them on this. But if I did, they might turn things physical, and Isabella, still unconscious, would be caught in the middle of it.
Jude stretched out a bottle towards me and after being hesitant, I took it.
“Finish it. You used to drink so much for Alex,” Jude purred. “This shouldn’t be hard for you.”
I stared at the bottle, the memories of how I had humiliated myself all because of love for him in the past creeped in before I could stop them.
That night, in my previous life after my marriage with Alex,. It was one of Alex’s most important business gatherings. Jude and Mathias were present, and as his wife, I sat dutifully by his side even though my presence was treated like I was his maid.
Another business partner raised a glass. “Alex, a toast to your future ventures.”
Alex smirked, barely glancing at his own glass before turning to me. “Drink for me.”
It wasn’t a request. It never was. He wanted to see me go drink while I misbehave so he can feel satisfied and use me as a laughing stock.
I swallowed the bitter liquid without hesitation. One drink turned into five. Then ten. My stomach churned, but I forced a smile. This was my role to shield Alex from discomfort, from anything he didn’t want to do himself.
By the end of the night, I could barely stand. My vision blurred, my body felt like it was being torn apart from the inside. And I ended up suffering from gastric hemorrhage.
“Drink!” Mathias said out loud as his voice made me snap out from the remembrance.
I had nothing to be afraid of. Luckily, after drinking on Alex’s behalf at numerous drinking parties before, I could actually hold my liquor quite well.
I turned it open as I began to gulp it all at once until the bottle was empty.
“Let her have the second one.” Alex instructed. Jude and Mathias nodded as they took the second bottle from the table and handed it over to
- me.
I gulped it all at once and only took down the bottle from my mouth when it was empty. The third one was given to me and I gulped it all. It burned my throat down to my stomach but I tried to stay strong.
The room was silent, all eyes on me. Finally, Alex spoke.
“You’re done. Get out.”
I wiped my mouth, my throat burning, and shot him a cold look. Without another word, I turned and helped Isabella to her feet, guiding her out of the room.
Outside, I settled her into the car when I realized her coat had been left inside there.
Sighing, I turned back.
The moment I stepped away, heading towards the private room, my vision blurred, my head spinning as I held unto my head, trying to steady my step.
1 gripped the wall for support, my breath quickening. My drinking capacity was better than this. I had handled more before so why now? My knees buckled as I slumped to the ground.
