Chapter 96 Endurance Builds a Broad Mind

Mark shot Ethan a look, then glanced at me and chuckled. "Wait, is Lacey Ethan's woman? If so, man, Ethan's one lucky dude."

That comment made my skin crawl.

I was dying to see how Ethan would handle this.

If Ethan confirmed it, I'd be mortified. If he denied it, Mark, the creep, wouldn't leave Lacey alone.

I nervously fiddled with the tablecloth, staring at my plate, feeling super tense.

"She's my girlfriend!" A different voice cut through the awkward silence.

I snapped my head up. Jason was already on his feet, shrugging off his suit jacket and draping it over Lacey, covering her wine-soaked, nearly see-through dress. Mark slowly set his wine glass down, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"Lacey looks pretty young, but she's already got a boyfriend, huh?"

I bet Lacey was totally grossed out by Mark, but she still managed to keep a smile on her face.

"Excuse me, I need to hit the restroom."

To sell the act, Jason walked Lacey out.

Jason's move not only saved Lacey but also got Ethan and me out of that cringe-worthy moment.

After they left, the vibe had totally shifted. It was buzzing earlier, but now it felt like a freezer.

I figured the whole event was a bust.

When Lacey came back, she seemed to have pulled herself together.

Ignoring the water stains on her dress, still wrapped in Jason's jacket, she smiled and raised her wine glass. "Sorry about that, I wasn't feeling too hot earlier."

With that, she poured herself another drink and knocked it back.

Mark leaned back in his chair, watching her with a lazy grin.

After setting down her glass, Lacey wiped her lips with the back of her hand and brought up Richard's case.

Mark stood up, leaning on the table, his face red from the booze, but trying to act all serious.

"We're just here to chill with Ethan, not talk shop. Whatever the case is, we're fair and square, all about the evidence." With that vague statement, they bounced.

The gathering ended just like that, and we still had no answers about Richard's case.

drinks earlier, and she kept going, so it

had to help

that state, so he had to bring her back to

of it, though. When he helped her onto the guest room

first. I stayed to help her get her shoes off and

head,

get some rest. I'll grab you some water in a sec." When I

knocked back quite a few drinks tonight, so they were probably out cold

downstairs to get some

by the kettle, I replayed everything that

we just make things

done

stuck in prison, had no clue how many people were

room

to you as Richard. But could you be less obvious about it? I have feelings

from the booze, and she sounded like she was about to break

Do you think I should've slept with that judge

someone when you need it? Richard messed up, and I've tried my best. We're

at the door for a long time, until she hung up and her sobs started to fade. Then I turned

moonlight streaming through the window was enough

wouldn't want me

and said, "I brought you

and lean against the headboard, taking the glass and muttering

her take the pills and said, "Lacey, I actually envy you

and looked at me, giving a bitter

that you're a boss at your job, capable, and can work a room like

wish I knew nothing. The more you know, the more you stress. I also wish I could stay a kid forever. Growing up just means seeing more

the smallest stuff feels like the end of the world. But as you get older, you learn to keep a

bit, then smiled gently. "Actually,

smiled back. "Fragile isn't my thing. If I were, I wouldn't have made

I added, "Calluses form from friction. It's painful, but once you have them, it

flushed cheeks resting on her hands, her smile now

so I won't get hurt

only they know

a while, as I was about to leave the room, I stopped and turned back to her. "By the way, Richard has a kid who was just born not long

slid under

and Ethan some hangover pills. But since they were both out cold, I didn't bother

had all drunk the night before, I

with her hair tied up in a

a wounded little beast,

fact, everyone wore different masks to live better and avoid getting

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