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Claire,sensing his mood,whispered something in his ear.
His features relaxed.
I stepped to move,and Nathan snapped,“Emma,are you deaf?Claire told you to sit down and have a drink.”
Claire tugged at his sleeve,softening her tone.“Nathan,don’t be so mean.Emma was with you for years…”
He frowned.“That’s the past.Now I have you.She’s trash.”
Claire played with his hand,kissing his cheek.“I know.Don’t make Emma feel sad.”
He shrugged.“I don’t care about her feelings.Yours are all that matter.”
He pinched her cheek affectionately.
His friends whooped and hollered.
“Wow,Nathan,‘yours are all that matter’—so cheesy!”
“That’s what love sounds like.”
“She’s the real deal,not like the others.”
Claire blushed.
Then she turned to me.“Emma,you don’t blame me,do you?Nathan and I were childhood sweethearts.I was studying abroad,so we were apart for years.I know you were with him,so this drink is my way of thanking for keeping him company.”
She spoke as if she were the mistress of the house,“thanking”me in that condescending way.
I almost laughed out loud.
What did she think I was?
She downed three bottles of alcohol.“These were for you.”
“The rest on the table?You owe me those.My hand—if not for your surgery’s complications,I’d still play the piano.”
Mentioning her hand always sent her into a frenzy.
Nathan calmed her,then glared at me.“Emma,did you think ruining her would make you her replacement?”
“Never.Claire’s the only one for me,forever.”
He signaled his friends to force me to drink.
I drank until I vomited,but they didn’t stop.
Claire pretended to be sympathetic.“Nathan,she’s had enough.Let her go…”
“She’s fine.She can take it,”he said,then to his friends,“Keep pouring.”
Seeing me slow down,he sneered,“Emma,I know your limit.Are you faking it?Trying to get my attention?”
I vomited again.
The room reeked.
Nathan grimaced.“Emma,grab your filthy rag and clean this up.”
I had no choice.
I cleaned up my own vomit,dignity gone.
The alcohol,combined with my injuries,overwhelmed me.
As I left to get more tools,I collapsed.
In a daze,I felt a tall figure lift me up.
