The group burst into laughter again, and Magdalen said, “Remember the rules, folks—truth or dare, Charlie, it’s time to state the penalty!”

Charlie turned to Marina, “Truth or dare?”

Marina, only somewhat acquainted with Estelle and not wanting to reveal too much at her first gathering, pondered for a moment before declaring, “Dare!”

Charlie seemed to have predicted Marina would choose a dare, showing no surprise, and without a second thought, he said, “Easy peasy. Since you and Carson both lost at cards, how about a kiss?”

Carson immediately protested, “No way, that’s off the table. Let’s do something else—take a shot, do some push-ups, anything more challenging. I’m game!”

Charlie’s lazy smile spread across his face, “Who’s calling the shots here, you or me? No changes, it’s settled!”

Magdalen chimed in, “No chickening out, we all want to see this. Get on with it!”

Emily and Estelle eagerly watched the commotion, while Josiah and the others egged them on,

“Mr. Foster, don’t tell me you can’t take a loss!”

“Exactly, you’ve never been this squeamish before!”

your girlfriend, for Pete’s sake. Kiss her already, no more

that day, Carson’s handsome face blushed as he bargained, “Anything else goes. How about this—when the waiter comes in with the drinks, I’ll

a heart-to-heart with Marina, and now that they were both in the know, any display of

Foster, that’s a bit much. Your fiancée’s right here, you dare kiss someone else? If you dare, even if Marina

“Why don’t you ask Marina if

others’ comments,

grabbed the collar of Carson’s white sweater, pulled

beautiful face loomed large before him, their

was stunned, then burst

mouth with the back of her hand, and said with an unchanged expression, “Let’s continue

faint imprint of her lipstick. Taken aback and ignoring the teasing laughter around them, he gave Marina’s

tone was

in laughter, surprised to see the usually suave

private room heated up even more,

round began, and once again Carson ‘set off

subtly, “No objections, right? Then let’s

interject, “I’m not choosing

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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