Amelia composed herself and met Simon’s gaze.
“Just my stomach acting up,” she said casually before lowering her head and splashing water on her face.
Simon didn’t say anything, just stood there watching her silently.
No clue how long that silence stretched before he finally turned and walked out.
Only when she couldn’t feel his stare anymore did Amelia let out a quiet breath of relief.
After washing up, she took her meds and headed into the bedroom.
Following the dosage Olivia had written out, she took them one by one.
Right as she finished the last pill, Simon pushed the door open and walked in.
His eyes landed on the pill box by the nightstand.
One hand in his pocket, he walked over and picked it up.
“Where’s this from?”
“A hospital.”
“When did you get it?”
She paused before answering, “That night I ended up in the ER.”
Simon narrowed his eyes slightly.
“How come I never knew you had stomach problems?
One incident and it’s already gotten this bad?”
Amelia gave a small smile.
“Had it for a while.
Maybe you just didn’t notice.”
Simon had always kept a watchful eye on her—but only when it came to other men.
Her health, apparently, never made it into his line of sight.
“That so.”
Simon didn’t follow up after that.”
Not feeling well?
Then try to get some sleep early.”
“Okay.”
Amelia grabbed her pajamas and headed into the bathroom.
When she came out after her shower, Simon was already gone.
As she was drying her hair, someone knocked on the door.
She opened it to find a delivery guy from the private kitchen Simon always ordered from.
“Mr.
Johnson said you hadn’t eaten tonight and your stomach was acting up, so he specially ordered some chicken soup for you.”
Amelia took the soup and said, “Thanks.”
She carried it back into the room.
Her stomach felt empty, honestly.
But she just wasn’t hungry.
Still, for the baby’s sake, she forced herself to finish every drop.
After eating, she lay down and drifted off to sleep before she knew it.
She was woken up by her phone buzzing.
Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Raymond calling.
“Raymond?
What is it?
It’s super late.”
“Amelia, my brother’s a bit drunk.
Could you come pick him up?”
Amelia sat up instantly.
“Alright.
Send me the address.”
By the time she got dressed, Raymond had already sent the location.
She followed it to the place.
Royal Club.
Some VIP suite.
Amelia pushed open the door and there he was—Simon, sitting on the couch.
Simon leaned lazily against the couch, a cigarette between his fingers.
He looked pissed, but clearly wasn’t drunk.
Amelia glanced over at Raymond, sitting next to her.
Raymond gave her an awkward smile, scratching his neck. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Sorry, Amelia.
I lost in truth or dare, had to call you and get you to come over no matter what.
I didn’t actually think you would, seriously, my bad.”
She stood there a moment, then gave a light laugh.
“It’s fine.”
After speaking, she looked at Simon.
He still looked just as indifferent, relaxed and emotionless.
He didn’t care at all that she’d been dragged out here in the middle of the night while sick.
A wave of bitterness hit her.
She closed her eyes briefly, forcing down the discomfort.
“Mr.
Johnson, if you don’t need anything else, I’ll get going.”
“Come here.”
Simon said it flatly, just two words tossed out.
Amelia froze.
The room was full of cigarette smoke, and she really didn’t want to stay here.
But if she disobeyed Simon, he’d only make things worse.
“Exactly, Amelia.
You’re already here, might as well stay and hang out a bit.”
Faced with Simon’s steady gaze, she had no choice but to sit down.
As soon as she did, he wrapped an arm around her waist.
He rested his chin on her shoulder, and his warm breath, tainted with alcohol, brushed against her skin.”
Why’d you come?”
Amelia’s back stiffened.
“I thought you really got drunk.”
Simon let out a low chuckle.
“Have you ever seen me drunk, Amelia?”
Amelia suddenly went quiet.
Yeah, when had Simon ever gotten drunk?
The man was always composed, always in control.
Losing it—yeah, that’s something he never allows.
He went to plenty of social events, sure.
He drank, but never once crossed his line.
“Sorry,” Amelia said softly.
Simon replied lazily, “No need to apologize.
I was just curious—would you show up no matter who called you tonight?”
She paused a moment.
“As long as it’s about you, I’d be there.”
He gave a careless reply.
“Stupid.”
Then he leaned back to the side.
Amelia lingered on that one word.
It wasn’t just a casual remark.
He was mocking her, mostly.
The rest?
He probably meant she was really that dumb.
“Miss Clarke, wanna join the game?”
She shook her head.
But clearly, they weren’t planning to let her off easy.
“Come on, Amelia!
It’s just a game—don’t be such a buzzkill!”
“Come on, we’ve known each other for ages and never played a game together.
Amelia, you’re not gonna be that cold, right?”
Everyone chimed in, one after another.
Amelia glanced at Simon.
Simon’s expression stayed cool and unreadable.
“Why are you looking at my brother?
Come on, stop standing there and join us!”
Left with no other choice, Amelia forced herself to sit down.
Another round of Truth or Dare.
She got lucky the first round—wasn’t her turn.
But just as she let out a quiet sigh of relief, trouble came knocking again.
This time, the one picked was Ethan Ross, basically one of Simon’s drinking buddies.
Ethan chose “Dare.”
The challenge?
Kiss the closest woman to him.
And just her luck—Amelia happened to be sitting right next to him.
The room exploded with noise.
People were egging him on, teasing, laughing.
Amelia sat there, face going stiff.
Seriously, was Mercury in retrograde?
Everything lately seemed to come for her.
As the crowd urged him on, Ethan turned toward her.
Her face darkened.
She instinctively looked toward Simon.
Simon, sitting quietly nearby, was watching her intently, his gaze unreadable.
“Why are you staring at me, Amelia?” he said flatly.
Amelia quickly looked away.
Ethan let out a chuckle and half-turned to Simon.
He clearly hadn’t forgotten what went down at Anselme that night.
Ethan looked at Amelia, his eyes glinting with mischief.
“I mean…
I could kiss you, but I should probably ask Simon first.”
Simon sat back on the couch, arms crossed, totally unfazed.
“You’re playing a game.
No need to ask me.”
That sentence hit her like a punch in the gut.
Amelia’s smile barely held as she turned to Ethan.
“Go ahead.
It’s fine.”
Ethan chuckled.
“Well, don’t mind if I do.”
He leaned in toward her.
But just before he got too close, Simon slammed his glass down on the table with a loud *thud*.
Ethan froze mid-move and awkwardly backed off.
“Kidding, I’m just gonna drink instead.”
He quickly downed his shot.
Everyone in the room exchanged glances, the whole vibe shifting.
Amelia lowered her gaze, silently swallowing the sour taste rising in her throat.
After gulping down the drink, Ethan looked back at her.
“Scared you, huh?
Don’t worry, I wasn’t actually gonna do it.”
Then he glanced over at Simon.
“Otherwise, I’d probably get eaten alive by him.”
Simon leaned against his side of the couch, his stare fixed on Amelia.
“Kiss her if you want.
As long as Amelia is okay with it, I really don’t care.”