Chapter 4

I kicked the broken bowl at my feet aside and let out a cold snort.

Diana stood in the crowd, the smile she couldn't hold back tugging at her mouth.

She smoothed her clothes at her leisure and sauntered over to me.

Looking down at me, Diana said, "Sister-in-law, having a few regrets now?"

She put on a deliberately worried face. "You made such a huge scene just now, even flipped the table, and now you've got the people here involved too. So tell me, how do you think this ends for you? I'm so worried about you!"

I didn't answer. I just looked at her, quietly.

When I stayed silent, Diana assumed she'd hit a nerve, and her smile turned even smugger.

"Nothing to say now? Weren't you so fierce a minute ago?"

She turned toward the bodyguards. "She was just saying she'd make sure you all paid for it."

At that, several of the bodyguards laughed along with her.

One of them crossed his arms and looked at me coldly. "This place has its rules. Anyone who makes trouble, whoever they are, faces the consequences."

"As for how it ends, that depends on whether you cooperate, wouldn't you say, ma'am?"

He shot me a glance as he said it.

Diana didn't hold back either, cutting straight in.

"She doesn't actually think knowing a few rich people means nobody dares touch her, does she?"

Diana bent down until her eyes were level with mine. "What do you think, sister... in-law?"

She drew those last syllables higher and higher, more like a taunt than anything.

When she finished, she deliberately glanced over at Cary.

Cary stood at the back of the crowd, his face grim.

The instant our eyes met, Cary lowered his head.

I looked at him and said, evenly, "What do you think?"

Cary hadn't expected me to suddenly ask him. He froze for a second.

His lips moved, but not a single word came out.

I had all the time in the world to wait, so I just kept my eyes on him.

He looked back at me, calm, and in the end all he said was, "Forget it, let's just go home. Blowing this up won't look good on anyone."

Hearing that, I suddenly laughed.

Go home?

He said it so lightly, like some bystander.

Seeing Cary hesitate, one of his friends spoke up right away.

"Cary, that bottle really did knock you stupid. You agree, but don't you think you should ask whether these guys agree? This isn't the time to be sentimental."

The one beside him chimed in. "Right. You break the rules, you own it. You mean well for her, but she made the mess herself, so she takes the hit herself. Sure, she's your girlfriend, but she's also the one who broke the rules here."

The lead bodyguard's voice went hard. "What do you people think this place is? Rules are rules. Doesn't matter who walks in."

These hangers-on of Cary's talked like it was all so unfortunate, but the excitement in their eyes couldn't be hidden.

What they wanted to see was me groveling, pathetic.

I glanced at Cary.

He hid behind his friends and didn't make a sound.

In that moment, I suddenly found the whole thing absurd.

The bodyguard behind me shoved me. "In a minute you won't be laughing."

I picked up my phone from the table and glanced back at him.

"Whether I'll still be laughing, I don't know. But that finger of yours, you definitely won't be keeping."

"Hilarious. Don't push your luck. I gave you a chance just now and you threw it away, so don't blame me for what comes next!"

I looked at him, calm. "If any of you dares to lay a hand on me, I promise, you'll regret it."

The words landed, and the room burst into laughter.

The bodyguard looked me up and down like he was hearing a joke.

"Make us regret it? I'd love to see what you've actually got."

Diana stood off to the side, smiling wider, more pleased with herself.

"Sister-in-law, playing tough with us is one thing. Playing tough with them, are you tired of living?"

I paid her no attention.

I just took out my phone and dialed a number.

It rang a few times, then connected quickly.

"Ms. Matthews! How's the taste of my new whiskey?"

The familiar voice came through. I didn't answer.

I looked at the people in front of me, my tone still calm.

"Your people want to cut off my hands and feet. Is that true?"