Chapter 2

I glanced at the time. If I didn't return soon, my mother would be left alone at home with no one to care for her. Turning back, I looked at the table full of freshly chilled bottles—at least ten in total. I wasn't sure if my stomach could handle so much cold beer. The sheer amount of alcohol would undoubtedly leave me in agony. Yet no matter the consequences, it wasn't up to me to decide anymore. Seeing that I didn't move, Ophelia's cold voice rang out again. "What's the matter? Are you refusing to drink? If you don't want to, there's another option. Get on your knees and beg me to forgive you!" Her voice suddenly turned sharp, her icy gaze fixed intently on me. This was a side of Ophelia I had never seen before. The woman who was once the darling of everyone, sweet and kind with a melodic voice, had now become relentless and aggressive. Her expression was full of indifference. Someone chimed in to take Ophelia's side, "Thaddeus, if you're a man, just get on your knees and apologize to her properly!" "After all, what you did back then was downright cruel. She's even giving you a chance to make amends, so don't be ungrateful!" "If it were me, I wouldn't let you off so easily!" The crowd kept urging me, their voices a chorus of disdain. Meanwhile, it seemed Ophelia was also visibly losing her patience. She stood and said again, "If you're unwilling to do either, then tell me the truth. Was the reason you left me back then really because of that?" The truth—did it really matter that much to her? I looked up at her. I would never tell her the real reason—not even if it killed me. Reaching for one of the ice-cold bottles on the table, I said, "I'll drink everything. Once I'm done, we're even. You'll let me leave." Ophelia hadn't expected me to choose the alcohol over offering an explanation. She glared at me angrily. "Fine! If you'd rather drink than reveal the truth, then drink it all! Add a bottle of vodka on top of everything! Someone, fetch a bottle of vodka over! If you can finish all this and still walk out of here, I'll let you go!" The onlookers gasped. The stakes were high—so much beer plus vodka could land me straight in the hospital. Andrew stood up and tried to intervene, "Ophelia, maybe just let it go after a bit of beer. If he drinks all this, he might—" Ophelia cut him off sharply. "What's this compared to what I've endured? Back then, I drank even more than this, and I survived! Or did you all think the Smith family's comeback happened easily? It was built one drink at a time!" Her eyes burned with anger as she spoke, and I knew her life hadn't been easy over the years. The delicate princess I once knew had been hardened by life into a resolute, powerful woman. She had sacrificed so much. "Anyone who feels sorry for him can drink in his place," she challenged. Now that the Smith family held a significant position in Oceanus, no one dared to offend her. Andrew could only step back reluctantly. I looked at the woman I had once loved with every fiber of my being. Her piercing, icy gaze was filled with hatred that ran down to her very core. After taking a deep breath, I said, "Thank you, Andrew, but I'll drink it myself." Then, I began opening the bottles on the table, gulping the alcohol down one after another. The cold liquid chilled me to the bone, sending a freezing ache through my stomach and twisting it into painful knots. As more alcohol flowed in, it alternated between freezing cold and fiery burns, leaving me drenched in a cold sweat from the pain. But seeing how many bottles remained, I could only grit my teeth and force them down, bottle by bottle. Eventually, others couldn't bear to watch anymore and tried to step in. But Ophelia shouted them down, "Anyone who pleads for him will have me as an enemy from now on!" What should have been a cheerful gathering turned into such an ugly scene that everyone felt too awkward to stay. "Ophelia, since this is between you and Thaddeus, we won't interfere. We'll take our leave," someone said. One by one, they left until only a few people remained. My stomach churned violently from all the alcohol. I even almost vomited several times. I knew that if this continued, I'd end up in the hospital. But I had no choice—I couldn't stop. Seeing me in such agony, Ophelia walked over. She grabbed my shirt by the collar and snarled. "Why can't you just apologize? Why can't you admit you were wrong?" I released her hand and said, "If the apology you're asking for is about the dress, then I'll say it again—I'm sorry." She slammed a bottle on the table to the floor, and the sharp crash echoed through the room. "You know very well that's not what I'm talking about!" I suppressed the turmoil inside and forced myself to stay composed. "I don't know what you mean. There's one last bottle. Once I'm done, you'll let me leave." It was a bottle of high-proof vodka. Just looking at it made my stomach churn. The sharp, stinging aroma hit my throat as I took a sip, and I coughed violently. I could even feel my face turning red from the burn. As I prepared to drink again, Ophelia suddenly knocked the bottle from my hand. "Get out! Get out of here and stay far away from me!" I stumbled and fell to the ground, and both our hands were cut by shards of glass. Seeing the blood trickling from her hand, I felt a pang of guilt, though I pretended not to care. I stood there motionlessly as I watched her tend to her wound, finding something to wrap it with. I didn't move to help. Pushing myself up, I clasped my bloodied hand behind my back. "Thank you, Ms. Smith. I've finished the drinks. Does that mean I don't need to compensate you for the dress?" She let out a scoff before responding, "You're right—you don't need to pay for the dress. But I won't let you off that easily! I'll make you pay for what you did to me back then." As I turned to leave, the door opened, and someone appeared in the doorway. It was Hayden Parker, my younger brother. He looked surprised to see me, and a peculiar smile spread across his face. "Thaddeus, what are you doing here?" The room fell silent, and everyone was taken aback. I didn't respond and tried to walk past him, but Hayden wasn't about to let it end there. He blocked my way and said, "Thaddeus, don't you know it's Ophelia's birthday today? You're already here, so why not stay and celebrate? Where have you been all these years?" I glared at him. He knew perfectly well, yet he still asked. "It's none of your business!" Hayden feigned disappointment. "What a shame. You were so determined to leave back then. You went to live with those adoptive parents of yours, leaving Mom and Dad heartbroken. How's that working out for you now?" My stomach twisted in pain, but his words only fueled my anger. My fists clenched tightly, and I managed to say, "I'm doing just fine. Thanks for worrying. Your concern is truly touching." "Of course, I'm concerned. You're my brother, after all," Hayden said, feigning innocence as he glanced at me before turning to Ophelia. "Oh, right. Our engagement party is coming up soon. You have to attend, Thaddeus." Engagement party? His words froze me in place—not because they were getting engaged but because Ophelia couldn't marry this man. I knew exactly what kind of person Hayden was.