Chapter 443


    Austin was sharp and quick- witted. He immediately helped Andrea sit down, ordered our food with a


    smile, and got us some alcohol as well.


    Hendrix had always been a man of few words. He sat beside me with a nk look in his face as he


    chatted with Josiah.


    When all the food and drinks were served, Austin stood up solemnly. He held a cup of white wine in his


    hand and looked at me as he said, "Arianna, I''d like to make a toast to you. I was too rash in the past.


    Now that you''re with Hendrix, I''ll treat you as family in the future."


    After he finished his toast, he raised his head and downed the wine.


    I nced at Hendrix and saw his expressionless face. I couldn''t tell how he was feeling at the moment.


    Josiah looked at me and exined after a pause, "We came up with a set of rules before. If someone


    ever makes a mistake, they''ll have to drink ten sses of wine as a show of apology."


    I couldn''t help but look at the ten sses of white wine in front of Austin. Suddenly, I remembered that I


    had done the same thing before.


    The difference was that back then, I was the one who had poured them for Austin.


    Iughed. Were these people really that big of a drunkard? It was ten sses of wine were were


    talking about here. Of course, this was no big deal for those with good alcohol tolerance. But for those


    who can''t hold their liqour well, their life might be in danger after the tenth ss.


    Seeing Austin drinking a second ss of wine, I stood up abruptly, looked at him inly, and said, "If


    we''re not eating dinner, I''ll leave first."


    Andrea was probably already angry before. When she saw me stand up to leave, she immediately


    spoke up. "Arianna, what are you doing? Have your parents taught you nothing?"


    She looked at me with an especially displeased expression and said, "They''ve already set their dignity


    aside to apologize to you, but you''re still unwilling to let things go. Is breaking them apart the only way


    you can be at peace?"


    I couldn''t help but frown as I looked at her agitated face. "Are you trying to fight for justice, or are you


    just venting your frustration here, Miss Burton?"


    "You..."


    I didn''t give her the chance to speak. I quickly interjected her, "I don''t have parents, so I wouldn''t know


    how my parents could teach me anything. But, Miss Burton, since you have parents, they should''ve


    taught you not to meddle in others'' business. It''s bad manners to poke your nose into things that have


    nothing to do with you."


    "Arianna, who are you calling ill-mannered?" Seeing that she was no match for me when it came to


    verbal battles, a pitiful, wronged expression made its way to Andrea''s face. She looked at Hendrix and


    said, "Hendrix, are you just going to let your wife bully me like this?"


    How boring!


    Hendrix frowned and nced at her coldly, but he didn''t say anything. Obviously, he was on to what


    she was trying to do.


    Austin''s face fell as well as he looked at Andrea, "Andrea, enough. Don''t get yourself involved in this."


    "Why not? These rules were set when my brother was around. I was there too, at the time. So, why


    can''t I be a part of this?"


    "It wasn''t stated anywhere in the rules that people are free to poke their nose into others'' business.


    Don''t you know this, Andrea?" Josiah said with a particrly cold and somewhat irritated look in his


    eyes.


    Andrea was stunned for a moment, and then tears began to flow down the side of her face.


    I could feel myself getting annoyed. Looking at Austin, I said solemnly, "I don''t know what kind of rules


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    you guys established before, but I''ve epted your apology. Thank you for the meal, but there''s no


    need to drink. Since you''ve already apologized, you don''t have to do this anymore."


    After a pause, I continued, "Everyone has their own way of handling problems. You have your own


    rules, and I have my own opinions, so there''s no need to drink any more wine."


    Austin was surprised. He looked at Hendrix in confusion.


    Hendrix, who hadn''t voiced out his opinion from the start, finally got up and gave Austin a nd look as


    he said, "If Arianna says there''s no need to drink, then just go with it. It''s gettingte, and she''s tired.


    Let''s get together another day."


    After that, he pulled me away in preparation to leave.


    Andrea suddenly stood in front of us and looked at us dead in the eye. No, to be exact, she looked at


    Hendrix, her eyes red and tear-filled as she said, "Who are you to break the rules he set just because


    you feel like it? Is our decade- old rtionship nothingpared to a single woman?"