Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

Chapter 0555

The next day, Douglas and I attended a dinner party. It wasn't for anything specific-just a chance to meet people and network.

It had been ages since I drank this formally. With me being a new face to most, curiosity brought a steady stream of people holding up their glasses to me.

Tonight, I didn't need to worry about Tabitha, so I accepted every drink offered.

Having lived for so many years, everyone here clearly knew how to liven up a gathering. Toasts and small talk flowed effortlessly, but no one revealed anything meaningful.

We shook hands, clinked glasses, and exchanged vague promises of "next time, for sure".

The adult world worked like this. With a quick calculation of pros and cons, one could magically gain a circle of new "friends" overnight.

Somewhere between drinks, my mind began to wander. I couldn't help but think of Nicholas leaving in silence last night.

for Claudia,

pick up Tabitha, he was distant,

or this morning, but maybe the alcohol was hitting me harder now, and I was

flaws, and I had mine. Acknowledging it for what it was, I

in public. I went to find Douglas when I felt the alcohol catching up to me. Douglas nodded, promising

straightened up, walking in a perfectly straight line out

cooler against my overheated body, making me shiver. The breeze didn't sober me up but instead drenched me in a cold

the car, I felt invincible. How I'd managed to find my car and get inside without incident was beyond me. Clearly, I was a

back lazily

door opened. A hand grabbed my

I couldn't make out his face, but I was sure

tobacco scent on him. He was tall, decently good-looking, but I didn't like him. He started fastening my seatbelt or, as it felt to me, tying me up at

Be gentle!" I kept

to drink and could sit still, I