Chapter 19


    Lucas was stuck in a tough spot. With a determined gulp, he downed his ss of whiskey in one


    go. Before he could even set the ss down, another was thrust into his hand. And then another.


    And another.


    Lucas had been feeling under the weather all day, and his headache had only started to ease by


    evening. Now, with a few sses of booze in his system, the pounding in his head came back in full


    force. By the eighth ss, he was at his limit. He swayed, teetering on the edge of copse.


    Lucas wasn’t much of a drinker, and no one knew this better than Chloe. But she, on the other


    hand, could hold her liquor surprisingly well.


    "Two more drinks? I''ll take them," she said, stepping in after Lucas set down his ss. Without a


    word, she took the ss, tilted her head back, and knocked it back smoothly. Then she grabbed the


    last one.


    Everyone watched in awe. It wasn''t that unusual for a woman to hold her liquor, but the grace with


    which Chloe did it was something else. Her slender fingers wrapped around the stem of the ss,


    making it look like a piece of art. As she tilted her head back, revealing her elegant, swan-like neck,


    she drank with unhurried ease, exuding a natural, almostzy grace. It was as if she wasn’t dealing


    with a challenge but rather enjoying a quiet celebration and savoring the moment.


    When Chloe set the ss down, the crowd couldn''t help but break into apuse. Her expression


    remained unchanged, though a faint blush colored her cheeks, making her look even more vibrant


    and spirited. Like a stunning Damascus rose under the midday sun—absolutely captivating.


    "We''ve finished the drinks, Mr. Connor. I trust you''re satisfied now?" There was a hint of something


    more in her words.


    Connor''s face remained stony, if not colder. After a moment, a slight smirk tugged at his lips. "You


    two truly make a loving couple." Then, he turned and sat down, seemingly losing interest. Others


    quickly stepped up to offer toasts, and the moment passed.


    Chloe helped Lucas back to their seats. Lucas felt awful. His stomach was churning, and he was on


    the verge of throwing up. He managed to stand. "I need to hit the restroom."


    Chloe sat there, lost in thought, her gaze drifting to the main table. Suddenly, she felt something


    cold ssh against her chest. A ss of red wine had been dumped all over her.


    "Oh, I''m so sorry! I was just about to toast and tripped over the carpet," Lisa''s fake apology


    followed.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Chloe looked up, anger shing in her eyes. Lisa had done it on purpose. She saw Chloe steal the


    spotlight at the main table, drawingpliments for her genuine nature, wanted to bring her down


    and make her look foolish.


    "Mom, what should we do? I’ve ruined Chloe''s dress," Lisa said, turning to Leah.


    Leah nced at Chloe with a cold indifference. "Your sister has taken so much from you over the


    years. It''s just a dress. She won''t mind." Then, she took Lisa by the arm and left. As they walked


    away, Lisa turned back, smirking triumphantly at Chloe.


    Chloe’s heart ached as she watched them leave. Her parents'' betrayal cut deeper than anything


    Lucas and Linda had done. The night the DNA test results came out, Leah had pped Chloe hard.


    Twice. "You’re that bitch''s child? I''ve been cherishing my enemy''s daughter all these years. Go to


    hell!"