Chapter 2

I ignored Brandon and kept my eyes fixed on Natalie. "I came here to tell you that we're over. At the same time, I'd like you to return my blue diamond necklace."

The people around us started whispering.

"He's asking for gifts back after a breakup. What a loser!"

"Of course, he is. That's what broke guys are like."

Upon hearing this, Brandon pulled the necklace from his pocket with a smirk.

"What a buzzkill! You found some random excuse to come looking for Natalie, and now that you've been called out, you still won't admit it. Instead, you're doubling down on a fake necklace like it's your get-out-of-jail-free card."

Brandon glanced at me, then dropped the necklace into an open bottle of liquor right in front of my face.

"If you want it, finish this entire bottle. But let me warn you. This bottle is worth 100 thousand dollars. You either finish it or you pay the full price."

His ignorance was almost laughable. "I'd suggest you fish that out right now and check if it's been damaged. A hundred bottles of that liquor wouldn't even cover a fraction of what that necklace is worth."

The moment I said that, the room erupted into jeers.

"That's a bold claim!"

Brandon laughed so hard that he was nearly doubling over. "The real necklace was sold for 20 million dollars. Is your knockoff even worth 20 dollars?"

Natalie had reached her limit, impatience flickering across her face. "Stop resorting to such childish tricks to get my attention."

I looked at her, my gaze firm. "I got together with you because your father asked me to. If you hadn't wanted this, no one could've forced you. Also, I put everything I had into this relationship for three years. I did my best."

"Did that involve blackmailing my father so he'd force me to date you?" Natalie sneered.

She was done talking, and so was I.

"Just leave already! Stop embarrassing yourself. Just looking at you makes me sick," she spat.

"I've told you a hundred times. I'm only here for the necklace!"

For the sake of the necklace, I repeated firmly, "Give it back, and we're even. But now, we're going to have to assess for damages."

Brandon didn't want Natalie talking to me, so he interjected coldly, "Are you still trying to scam us? Fine. Show me the original auction papers, and I'll reimburse you at their original value. But if you can't produce them, you'll chug this whole bottle!"

I cast a sidelong glance at the label on the bottle. The alcohol content was as high as 55%.

Drinking the entire thing would either kill a person or send them straight to the hospital for their stomach to be pumped.

As he spoke, Brandon tossed several pieces of cashew shells into the bottle, wasting a hundred-thousand-dollar bottle of liquor just like that.

The people around us cheered.

"Brandon, that's so badass! Now, that's how you play!"

Amid their cheers, Brandon looked at me smugly.