Chapter 6

NELLY:

"Truth, Nelly?" Elena said, sounding excited to learn the truth about me.

My heart froze for a beat as everyone's gaze settled on me. Even Rowan seemed eager to learn something about me.

Maeve slowly held my hand beneath the table to give me some comfort as I struggled to breathe.

"Right. What do you want to know about me? Only one question," I replied, meeting Elena's gaze.

She sat next to Rowan, and I tried so hard not to meet his icy blue eyes.

"Tell us the truth, Nelly. Have you ever had sex?"

I froze, nearly coughing up a lung. I hadn't expected such a direct question. Did Dave tell Elena to ask me this?

I could lie, and they wouldn't know. But I couldn't bring myself to lie.

It was the truth. I had never dated anyone. I had been focused on my studies, trying to earn good grades. I hadn't spared any time to go on a date or taken any guy seriously.

"Nelly, we don't have all night. It's a simple yes or no," Elena said, interrupting my thoughts. "If yes, you will tell us who. If you don't want to share any information, simply finish this glass of wine." She pushed a full glass of red wine towards me.

My throat bobbed, and I lowered my head. I didn't want to drink any wine. I didn't feel the need to lie, so I simply replied, "No. I haven't had sex."

"Wow! What a brave lie," Gianna said, finding it odd. But I didn't spare her a glance.

Elena's lips twitched. "Are you sure? Or do you not want us to find out the truth about your personal life?" she pressed, her eyes locked on mine.

"I have no desire to lie. You already said one question at a time," I countered.

Elena gulped and bit her lower lip.

"Fine," she muttered.

Elena spun the bottle again as a thick silence fell over the room, save for the soft music echoing through it.

The bottle spun along the smooth surface of the table and slowly stopped in front of Rowan.

I held my breath as I raised my head and met his gaze.

Elena turned to stare at Rowan sweetly. "Babe, tell us the truth. Did you have a first love apart from me? If yes, who is she?"

Rowan's expression darkened at the thought of Elena's questions.

"I'm obliged to lie, right?" he asked her coolly, but she frowned.

"No. Tell us the truth." She crossed her arms, eager to hear his response.

My heart throbbed faster as I knew that Rowan hadn't been in any serious relationship before. So why was Elena asking him such a ridiculous question? Did she feel that he didn't love her and loved someone else? But who?

I raised my head and looked at Rowan's face. His blue eyes locked onto mine, and I froze, fearing he wanted to mention me. But who was I kidding?

Rowan hated me. He'd warn me to avoid calling him Brother Rowan. He avoided me like the plague.

"I will skip. I cannot answer that," Rowan replied before Elena could protest. His hand grasped the glass of red wine on the table, and he finished it in a twinkling.

Elena's expression darkened as she realised that Rowan wouldn't confess who his first love was. Even I looked shocked that he wouldn't share that information.

Who was Rowan's first love? Was she his high school crush?

Pablo broke the awkward silence as Elena's expression darkened. "Rowan, you ought to share that information with your fiancée. Are you planning on getting back with your first love since we don't know who she is?" he pressed, all eyes fixed on Rowan.

"No," Rowan replied flatly. "She doesn't matter. If she did, I wouldn't have gotten engaged to Elena."

Indeed, Rowan wasn't denying that he had a first love.

Elena looked wounded, like someone had stolen her fiancé. Her fist tightened around the bottle, but Dave urged her to carry on with the game.

"Come on, sis. Don't let this ruin your mood. Rowan is kidding. Since I've known him, he hasn't dated anyone. So he's just playing with your feelings. If you ask me, I think it's his late mum he holds dearest in his heart. So you shouldn't look depressed."

Elena's expression brightened at her brother's comforting words. Her lips curled into a smile as she responded, "You're right. I just feel sad that I'm not in the number one spot in his heart."

Elena glanced at Rowan's face, but he didn't utter any comforting words.

Rowan lit a cigarette and smoked as Elena spun the bottle again.

This time, it stopped in front of Rowan.

I held my breath as Elena asked him in a shaky voice, "What's your body count?"

I froze.

I knew she meant the total number of women Rowan had had sex with.

Rowan's brows furrowed, but he replied, "Zero."

"What?" Elena's jaw dropped. Even my eyes widened. He must be joking, I thought, but Rowan didn't repeat himself.

"Come on, sis. Spin the bottle," Dave said, urging Elena to keep the game going before it ended.

Elena happily spun the bottle, and this time, it stopped in front of Gianna.

"Have you ever cheated on your boyfriend?"

"No," Gianna quickly replied, though her cheeks flushed.

Elena spun the bottle again, and this time, it stopped in front of me.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"No," I replied, rolling my eyes.

How many times had she asked me that question?

She smirked and spun the bottle again. This time, it stopped in front of me as she spun it slowly with a calculated gaze.

"Have you ever kissed a guy before?"

"No," I blurted under the weight of everyone's gaze.

"Mmm," Elena hummed and spun the bottle. It stopped in front of Rowan, and she asked him, "Have you kissed any other woman before?"

My heart ached as I heard Elena's blunt question. Did that mean that she and Rowan had kissed?

Instead of responding, Rowan picked up the glass filled with wine and drank it.

"Babe, you cannot keep secrets from me," Elena protested, her eyes glistening with tears.

"I'm not," Rowan replied coldly. "I don't owe you any explanation for that."

Elena drew a shaky breath and replied, "Fine." She spun the bottle, and it stopped in front of her brother.

"Do you know who Rowan has a crush on?" She stared at her brother with hopeful eyes, and he laughed aloud, like a fire crackling.

"You, sis. Who else would Rowan have a crush on? He's too proud to tell the truth."

Elena blushed at that. She stared at me smugly and spun the bottle once more.

It spun and stopped in front of me.

I held my breath, deciding this was the last question I would answer. I wanted to leave for home before it got too late.

"Nelly," Elena began, her gaze locked on mine. "As my future sister-in-law, I want you to be truthful with me. Has Rowan ever brought any lady to the manor before?"

I frowned, wondering why Elena was asking me this ridiculous question.

Rowan's intense gaze settled on me. Heat crawled up my cheeks, and I replied in a shaky voice, "I don't know. You should ask him directly."

Elena didn't seem fazed. She pressed, "I'm asking you if you have ever seen any woman with him before."

I racked my brain and shook my head.

"I don't know. Just a few women."

"What?" Elena shot to her feet and slammed her hands on the table. She trembled as she pointed at Rowan and asked, "Who were they, babe?"