Chapter 138

The impact hit him like a freight train, twisting his gut into knots. A wave of nausea surged through him, and before he could stop it, everything in his stomach came rushing up in a violent heave. The sharp, acrid stench of whiskey filled the cramped booth, making the air thick and suffocating.

Evelyn watched Dylan's pitiful state with a smirk curling at the corners of her lips. Her eyes gleamed with cold amusement, never leaving his hunched-over form.

With effortless grace, she rose from the plush sofa, smoothing out the fabric of her dress. "Well, that was entertaining," she mused, flicking a glance toward Natalie. "Shall we?"

"Absolutely!" Natalie chirped, bouncing to her feet with a mischievous grin.

Their exit was nothing short of triumphant—light steps, heads held high, the unspoken victory hanging between them. The bet had been won, and the satisfaction was delicious.

"Dylan, are you okay?" Serena asked softly, pressing a glass of water into his trembling hands.

He took it with unsteady fingers, the cool liquid a small mercy against the fire in his throat. After several more dry heaves, he finally managed to catch his breath. His face was a mess—tears, sweat, and humiliation streaked across his usually composed features. The rage simmering beneath the surface was unmistakable. He had intended to put Evelyn in her place, and instead, she had turned the tables on him effortlessly. Was this karma? Or had he simply underestimated her?

Nathan sat motionless, his expression unreadable, but the faintest flicker of amusement danced in his dark eyes. The entire spectacle had been… unexpectedly entertaining.

"Dylan," one of his friends muttered, voice low with unease. "Maybe you should stay away from Evelyn from now on. There's something about her…"

"Yeah," another chimed in. "I'm starting to think she let you win earlier."

Dylan wiped his mouth with a crumpled napkin, his glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Stop talking nonsense. It was just whiskey."

His jaw clenched. "Next time, I'll make sure she regrets this."

The others exchanged wary glances but wisely kept silent. The air was thick with tension, and no one wanted to provoke him further.

Serena was about to speak when her phone buzzed. Her fingers froze mid-air as she read the sender’s name. Her breath hitched.

Again.

The same unknown number from yesterday.

Her pulse spiked as she typed out a reply, forcing her fingers not to shake. "Who is this? I don’t know you. Why should I meet you?"

The response came instantly. "Serena, are you sure you won’t come? Do you really think you can handle the consequences if you don’t?"

Her stomach dropped. The blood drained from her face, leaving her pale and shaken. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood before typing back, "Fine. I’ll see who you really are."

With that, she shoved her phone away and turned to Nathan and Alexander. "I have to go. Make sure Dylan gets home safely, okay?"

Alexander nodded. "Don’t worry. We’ve got him."

Serena didn’t look back as she hurried out, her mind racing with dread.