Chapter 140


    The rich, intense aroma and the refreshing sweetness of the high–concentration wine smoothed down


    Xanthea’s throat, quenching the fiery blend of fear and anger boiling inside her. It made her feel


    significantly better.


    ? ? ? ?


    She had been running, and now, utterly exhausted, she gripped her sides, panting as she looked


    towards Leonard and Cedric. “I need to go home. It’s too dangerous here, especially the backwoods!


    And Orion, that jerk, always picking on me, ying his games. I don’t want to see him anymore!”


    Cedric, at that moment, was too stunned to pay attention to her words, just watching her every move in


    disbelief.


    “Ms. Nightshade, you just downed a ss of strong red wine. Are you sure you’re okay?”


    Leonard was shocked. She had left looking so dignified and neat, but now she returned disheveled, her


    dress in disarray and her hair tousled, as if she had been through a rough ordeal. The words she


    muttered–‘Orion, ‘backwoods, ‘ying games,” “I don’t want to‘–sparked a wild scene in his mind.


    No, it couldn’t be.


    Had Orion really behaved like a beast?


    Leonard had expected Orion to be captivated by Xanthea’s beauty, but he hadn’t anticipated such an


    immediate and forceful advance in the secluded forest.


    It was outrageous!


    “Xan, are you alright?” he asked with concern.


    Xanthea, visibly upset, pointed at herself. “Do I look alright to you?”


    She had nearly been scared to death by a snake and by Orion!


    “No, not really”


    It was clear she and Orion had a crazy night.


    Leonard felt a pang of guilt, realizing he might have inadvertently yed a role in this mess. “Xan, you


    don’t me me, do you?”


    Why would she me him?


    Just as Xanthea was about to speak, a sudden burning sensation erupted in her stomach, making her


    dizzy and nauseous as if she had drunk hard liquor instead of juice.


    She nced at the goblet she had set down next to a bottle of ’82 vintage wine; realizing what had


    happened.


    Had she really consumed such a strong wine?


    Having had several sses of grape juice at the costume party, she had assumed that Leonard was


    offering her the same. She thought wrong.


    “Leonardoodle, you’ve done me in!”


    “No, no, no Leonard quickly waved his hands, stuttering guiltily, “I really just thought that dress suited


    you I never intended to harm you!”


    Chapter 140


    “Xan, actually, Orion has been harboring feelings for you for years.”


    However, Xanthea had already clutched her stomach and rushed out.


    “Ms. Nightshade!”


    “Xan!” Leonard looked worriedly at her retreating figure. “She’ll be okay, right?”


    “Ms. Nightshade downed that wine so quickly, she’s bound to feel it now. I’ll go check on her.”


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    Just as Cedric was about to leave, Orion walked in.


    “Mr. Lockwood!”


    “Orion, you’re back!”


    Leonard approached him, seeing his impable appearance, and was momentarily taken aback.


    He thought, “Here was Orion, looking sharp and pristine, while Xan was left in a mess. He truly was a


    beast!