Chapter 6: The Girl Next Door Enters the Game

I’d finished all the drinks on the table—empty glasses lined up like trophies. I ordered more: Long Island Iced Teas this time.

A nervous-looking server delivered them, but her hands shook, and a glass of whiskey tipped over, soaking my Versace skirt.

I frowned—this was designer, dammit.

She scrambled for napkins: "Sorry, I... it’s my first night. I’ll pay for dry cleaning, I swear."

Before I could wave her off, bullet comments flew in:

【The first meeting between the female lead and supporting female character is finally here!】

【Female lead Emma Miller is such a pitiful little treasure, still having to work at bars after school—heartbreaking.】

【This dress was a gift from Nathan last year. Don’t know how the evil supporting female character will humiliate the female lead. I’m preemptively feeling sorry.】

I studied her face in the dim light—big brown eyes, nervous smile—she looked like she belonged on a Disney Channel poster.

I was about to say something halfway nice when a beam of light shone through the crack of the VIP room door.

I quickly dropped a white pill—a fizzy vitamin C tablet—into my drink, downed it in one go for effect.

The door swung open and Nathan stepped in, all movie-star lighting and sharp lines.

Emma froze, blushing, pulling out a folded handkerchief—seriously, who even does that anymore?

"Mr. Hayes, do you remember me? The handkerchief you gave me at the gala—I’ve kept it ever since..."

So, they’d met before—Upper East Side charity, of course.

But Nathan didn’t even glance her way. He went straight for me.

Emma’s face went ghostly pale.

I let the "drug" kick in, fanning myself, squirming on the sofa.

Nathan crouched in front of me, suit be damned, and pressed his hand to my forehead.

He frowned: "How much did you drink? Are you okay? Should I call Dr. Morrison?"

I threw my arms around his neck, nuzzling him: "Nathan, I don’t know what they put in the drinks. I’m so hot... help me?"

I dragged his hand to my chest, right over my pounding heart.

His palm was burning.

Bullet comments went wild:

【Shout the slogan with me: Smash! Smash! Smash!】

【Such a snack, I want a bite!】

【Truly worthy of the evil supporting female character—drugging herself, ruthless enough!】

【Uh oh, love triangle alert. Is Nathan gonna ditch his wild child for the girl-next-door?】

Emma spoke up from the corner, voice trembling: "If you’re not feeling well, you should go to the hospital. Mr. Hayes, want me to call 911?"

Nathan blinked, like he’d just snapped out of a trance.

He pulled his hand back, then patted my head like I was a kid. I leaned into it, breathing in his scent.

His voice was hoarse: "Soph, I’ll take you to Mount Sinai, okay? Be good—you’ll feel better after some medicine."

Bullet comments groaned:

【Sigh, back to the plot line. The male lead still listens to the female lead’s advice.】

【I took off my pants and you show me this?】

【With the female lead present, the supporting female character is always second priority.】

【Go to the hospital for medicine—if you just kiss little treasure a few times she’ll feel better, don’t you understand?】