Chapter 3

"There's no need to dig up the past." My tone went flat. Bored. "If Miss Walker is so bothered, maybe you should go home with Mr. Gilbert and settle the score in private."

Scarlett probably didn't realize that after I left the flower base, I'd spent years fighting tooth and nail in the flower fields of Yunnan. I wasn't the docile girl James remembered.

Leave me alone, and I'd ignore you. Come looking for trouble, and I wouldn't make it easy.

Even if it was just a war of words.

Scarlett bit her lip. A tear rolled down her cheek at the exact moment she wanted it to. But seeing James watch the scene with cold detachment, she stubbornly wiped it away.

"Fine. I won't drink." Her voice trembled. "Let's play Truth or Dare. I'll be the judge."

The tension broke slightly. No one wanted a fight.

Scarlett grabbed an empty wine bottle. "Whoever I spin to has to answer a truth question!"

The bottle spun, rattling against the glass table, before slowing to a stop.

The neck pointed directly at me.

A flicker of malice passed through Scarlett's eyes.

"Layla." She leaned forward. "Did you really come back from Yunnan just for the wedding? Or... did you have other motives?"

James's gaze locked onto me, heavy and suffocating.

I picked up my glass and took a slow sip. "I came back to get married."

Eyes darted back and forth between James and me.

Scarlett shook James's arm. "Oh no! Layla is getting married? Does that mean she can't be our bridesmaid?"

"It's fine." His tone was perfunctory, but his eyes never left my face.

I set down my glass, checked a message on my phone, and replied before looking up. "Even if I weren't getting married, I have zero interest in being a bridesmaid."

Rebuffed again, Scarlett pouted. She grabbed the bottle and spun it hard.

"Since the rule is 'no one goes home until they're drunk,' whoever it lands on this time has to finish this entire pitcher of beer!"

The bottle whirled and stopped precisely between James and me.

"How do we count this?" someone asked.

"Split it?" Maya suggested, grinning. She leaned into my ear, whispering, "Actually, I think there's still something between you and Mr. Gilbert. Did you come back to steal him because his new girl is a knockoff?"

My head was pounding. I rubbed my temples wearily. "No. I really came back to get married."

Maya clicked her tongue, clearly not buying it.

I didn't have the energy to explain. I reached for the pitcher, intending to pour half for myself.

Scarlett's hand shot out, stopping me.

"Layla, I'm not targeting you." Her voice went sickly sweet. "But I really don't like my *boyfriend* sharing a drink with another woman. Let's spin again."

She bit down on the word *boyfriend* as if to remind me of my place.

"It's just alcohol," I said. "It's poured into separate glasses. We aren't sharing a cup."

Maya finally snapped. "If you're so worried about your boyfriend, tie him up and keep him at home!"

Scarlett widened her eyes, putting on her best innocent face as she looked at James. "I just want everyone to have fun..."

A shadow crossed his face, but he nodded. "We'll do what you say."

The bottle spun again.

And very quickly, it stopped in front of me.

I accepted the loss without a word. Lifted the pitcher. Drained the beer in one long, burning go.

The game continued. Round after round, the bottle slowed, wobbled, and pointed its accusing neck straight at me.

I don't know if Scarlett had a trick up her sleeve.

But by the fifth round, I stopped caring.