Chapter 2

With everyone looking on, Austin picked up the glass in front of him and downed the booze in one go. Since he chose to drink his punishment instead, he didn't have to kiss anyone.

The others laughed, while Emily tossed the tissue aside and pouted unhappily. "You're no fun at all, Aust! Why are you being so shy about it?"

Austin exhaled to ease the rush of alcohol coursing through him.

The game continued. After a few rounds, it came to Natalie's turn. She was afraid the dare might cross a line she didn't want to touch, and she was worried she couldn't hold her alcohol as well, so she said, "I pick truth."

Emily seized the opportunity to confront her. "I'll ask the question! Natalie, do you regret what happened five years ago?"

Austin's fist tightened slightly. He lowered his gaze, staring at the freshly poured shot of vodka in front of him, his brows tightly knitted.

The question left everyone confused, but they still looked at Natalie with curious eyes. In that moment, she felt like her heart was sinking deep into a pit of darkness.

"Nope. If I had to choose all over again, I would've made the same choice," she staunchly declared.

Emily was satisfied with the answer. With a faint smile, she said, "Let's continue the game."

Suddenly, Austin picked up the shot of vodka and drank it in one go, shocking everyone else in the room. Why was he doing the punishment out of nowhere?

"You guys carry on. I'm heading to the restroom," he said before getting up and walking off.

Natalie watched his departing figure, her eyes filled with worry. The Austin she once knew never touched cigarettes or alcohol. He could barely hold his liquor. He must be feeling pretty terrible after drinking two shots of vodka.

But then again, since he had Emily now, it wasn't Natalie's place to be concerned about him. She withdrew her gaze, only to meet Emily's eyes, which were filled with icy, menacing fury.

It was as if Emily was wordlessly chewing her out for being nothing but trouble.

Just then, Hestia showed up, and the atmosphere livened up again.

The rowdy laughter in the room was a stark contrast to Natalie's gloomy mood. It was as if she were on a different plane of existence altogether.

While the others continued playing the games, she remained distracted.

Hestia sensed that something was up with Natalie, so she dragged her into the restroom. Standing in front of the large mirror, Natalie gently washed her hands under the cool running water.

Meanwhile, while reapplying her lipstick, Hestia eyed Natalie's glum reflection in the mirror and asked, "What's going on with you today? It feels like something's off."

"I'm fine. Just a little tired," Natalie said, before slowly drying her hands with a paper towel, her head lowered.

"We're almost done here anyway," Hestia said, her eyes full of concern. "Why don't you head home now and get some rest? Don't push yourself too hard. Things will get better eventually."

"Yeah." Natalie nodded. After a pause, she asked curiously, "Hestia, is your fiance close friends with Austin Chandler?"

"Yeah, they're pretty close. Austin's from Janshire, but he got transferred to Sandbury by the Aerospace Research Institute over there six months ago," Hestia replied before her tone took on a meaningful turn. "Are you interested in him, Nat?"

Natalie hastily explained, "No! I just—"

"Oh, I get it," Hestia assured her with a hint of a smile and a knowing wink. "After all, Austin's a handsome man with a rocking body. He also graduated from a top university and is an aerospace engineer with a bright future ahead of him."

Letting out a quiet sigh, Natalie didn't bother trying to clarify the matter. She bunched up the paper towel and tossed it into the trash.

Hestia had studied in the south while Natalie studied in the north. Thousands of miles had separated the two friends. Though she knew Natalie had dated someone for four years in college, she didn't know Natalie's ex was Austin.

Assuming it was Natalie's first time meeting Austin, Hestia warned her, "Nat, you're a gorgeous woman who'd definitely make a good match with Austin, but he's not from the same world as us.

"Shane told me he once saw a portrait of Austin’s grandfather, in full dress uniform, with like a whole shadow box’s worth of ribbons on him, and the rank alone was kind of insane. And in the background, there was even a photo of him getting a medal from the President."

"Austin's father is a major figure in the political world right now, and his mother is a retired judge. His older brother worked with the narcotics division, and his younger sister is a war correspondent. Even his uncle holds a high rank in the prosecutor's office. His entire family is extremely influential.

"There's no way ordinary people like us can marry into an elite family like his. Besides, he already has Emily. Don't say I'm trying to gatekeep a good man from you, Nat. I'm just afraid you'd get hurt."

Natalie listened quietly without any reaction. She'd already known all of this five years ago.

She even knew that Austin's brother hadn't actually died in the line of duty. He had to be declared dead because of the danger his identity brought to the family. It'd been done to protect the family.

She had dated Austin for four years and lived with him for over three of those years. They'd even talked about getting married. And throughout their relationship, he'd often brought her home to have dinner with his family.

They were all wonderful people—well-educated, kind-hearted, and righteous. The Chandlers were a warm and loving family, and they all treated her very well.

She simply wasn't fortunate enough to become a part of such a great family.

Back in college, Austin had been a legend on campus. Not only was he brilliant and excelled in his studies, but he was also strikingly handsome. He was the kind of genius that everyone looked up to. Countless young women fell for him and considered him their ideal guy.

What did Natalie do to deserve the chance to be in a loving, passionate relationship with him for four years?

Surely she had to count herself lucky already.

The two women left the restroom and walked down the corridor.

Natalie's gaze fell on the almost empty smoking area ahead—Austin was standing there. He was leaning against the wall with his head lowered, holding a cigarette between his long fingers. He brought it to his lips and took a slow drag. Smoke curled around his refined features, and his broad shoulders looked weighed down by something invisible.

Her steps slowed. She couldn't take her eyes off him.

He had never smoked in the past. He never indulged in any form of bad habits or vices. But now, he drank and smoked.

As Natalie and Hestia were about to pass the smoking area, Austin crushed out the cigarette in the ashtray. Then, he stepped into the corridor. The moment they brushed past each other, he grabbed Natalie's arm.

Hestia froze in shock, her eyes widening as she looked at Austin before glancing back at Natalie, almost as if she were asking, "What's going on? Is this love at first sight?"

Natalie's heart jolted. She stood frozen, eyeing Austin nervously and uneasily. The moment their eyes met, her heart started racing. His dark, cold, and menacing eyes were faintly red around the edges.

"Let's talk," he said in a low, husky voice that seemed to be tinged with inebriation.

"Y-You two talk," Hestia said, seeming rather flustered as she practically fled the scene.

Before Natalie could react, Austin pulled her into the smoking area, but it was still a public area, and he didn't stop there. He opened the fire door beside it and dragged her into the stairwell.

With a forceful shove, he slammed her against the wall. And before she could even catch her breath, he abruptly grabbed her shoulders, lowered his head, and kissed her.

The kiss came without warning, startling her completely. He smelled faintly of alcohol, mixed with a fresh pine scent.

She hadn't seen it coming, and he didn't say a single word either. He simply kissed her fiercely, his lips forceful and domineering. It felt like a punitive act, done to vent his frustration.

Natalie winced in pain. Her lips were swollen and aching. Panicked, she struggled to break free by pounding her fists against his firm chest.