Chapter 25 Are You Just Going to Let Him Kiss You?

Henry thought back to that wild night when Alice drugged herself to try and seduce him, saying she wanted to be his girlfriend and even asking him to keep her as a mistress.

Was she scared of him?

Alice had guts, that was for sure!

He smirked, "Maybe."

Right then, Rupert piped up, "How about a game of Truth or Dare?"

Kieran chuckled, "You must think Alice is hot and want to make a move, huh?"

Rupert grinned, "Why can't Alice make a move on me?"

Everyone laughed except Henry, and they all sat in a circle.

Alice glanced at Henry, who was sitting there, lazily running his fingers around the rim of his glass, looking all cool and detached.

Henry was exactly her type, making her heart race and her cheeks flush.

Rupert, sitting next to Alice, placed a beer bottle in the middle of the table. "Alright, whoever the bottle points to has to pick Truth or Dare. If you chicken out or fail the dare, you gotta drink three shots of cocktails! Then you spin the bottle for the next round."

Everyone gathered around the table.

Rupert gave the bottle a spin, and it landed on Charles.

"Truth or Dare?" Rupert asked.

"Truth," Charles replied.

"Have you and Esme done it yet?"

Charles adjusted his glasses and glanced at Esme. "Not yet."

Rupert raised an eyebrow. "When's it gonna happen?"

Charles smiled, "On our wedding night."

Esme rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that it would never happen.

Charles spun the bottle, and it pointed at Rupert. "Which one?"

"Dare." Rupert gave Charles a look that screamed, "Please! Dare me to kiss someone."

Charles nodded, but Esme pinched his waist and whispered, "If you mess with Alice, you're dead."

Charles put his arm around Esme. "You know a guy's waist is off-limits, right?"

Esme gritted her teeth. "If you cause trouble, I'll rip out your kidney!"

Charles nodded and said, "Rupert, pick a guy and kiss him."

Rupert muttered, "Are you serious?"

He looked around and his eyes landed on Kieran, who immediately recoiled, "I'll drink, don't touch me!"

Kieran downed three shots and let out a burp.

Rupert spun the bottle again, and it stopped at Alice.

"Alice, what's it gonna be?"

"Dare."

Rupert rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Kiss a guy here for one minute." He looked at Alice, clearly hoping she'd pick him.

Alice pointed at Henry. "I choose you."

Rupert's face fell, and the room went silent as everyone turned to Henry.

Henry narrowed his eyes, a playful glint in them. "You wanna kiss me?"

"Why not?" Alice challenged, hoping he wouldn't back out. "If you can't handle it, just drink!"

Henry chuckled, "You're right, I can't. I'll drink three shots."

He poured himself three shots, downed them, and placed the empty glass upside down. "Happy now?"

Alice bit her lip, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "Happy."

She spun the bottle, and it landed on Henry.

Before she could say anything, Henry cut in, "I'll drink three shots."

Alice watched as he downed the liquor, feeling a mix of emotions as it trickled down his throat and into his shirt.

Henry's voice was a bit rough, his eyes half-smiling, "Happy now?"

Alice looked down, feeling a bit bummed, "Yeah, happy."

Everyone sensed the weird vibe but didn't dare to ask what was up.

Henry lit a cigarette slowly and spun the bottle. It landed on Rupert. "Your turn."

Rupert looked eager, "Dare."

Henry's eyes flicked to Alice with a teasing grin. "Then pick a woman to kiss for one minute."

There were only two women there, and Esme was Charles's wife, so Rupert couldn't pick her. Plus, Rupert had his eyes on Alice anyway.

Henry looked at Alice, "Alice, you up for it?"

Seeing Henry's teasing smile, Alice suddenly looked at Rupert with a hint of a smile in her eyes. "Sure, I am in. Let's go somewhere private; I don't want an audience."

As Alice stood up with Rupert and walked towards the shadows, Henry's smile slowly faded, his tongue pressing against his molars.

'I like you.'

'But I want to be your girlfriend.'

'Uncle Henry, will you take care of me? I'm easy to take care of.' Alice's words kept echoing in Henry's mind as he clenched his jaw. He stubbed out his cigarette and suddenly stood up, striding towards the shadows.

Rupert led Alice to a dark corner, his heart pounding. "Alice, are you nervous?"

Alice ignored him, her eyes fixed on the light. She was betting on whether Henry cared about her.

Rupert placed his hands on her shoulders. "Alice, I can take responsibility for you. If you're willing, I can date you. So, should I kiss you now?"

Alice sighed inwardly. Watching Rupert's face slowly approach, her lips pressed tightly together.

Suddenly, there was a rush of footsteps, and Rupert's neck was grabbed and he was thrown aside. "Oh my God! What's happening? My neck is broken!"

Rupert was about to get mad, but when he saw it was Henry, he paused. "Henry, what's up?"

Henry's expression was cold, his deep eyes showing a hint of anger, though the dim light made it hard to notice. He spoke calmly, "She's still young, not suitable for this game."

As he said this, he grabbed Alice's wrist and walked away.

Rupert frowned, muttering, "She's twenty, not that young! If it weren't for Oliver's betrayal, Alice would be engaged next month."

Henry pulled Alice into the stairwell, the door slamming shut as the motion-sensor light flicked on.

The bright light lit up Henry's handsome face. He asked, "If I hadn't come, would you have let him kiss you?"

Alice rubbed her sore wrist. "I will!"

Henry suddenly leaned in, his gaze sharp.

After a long moment, the motion-sensor light went out, and the distance between Henry and Alice seemed to shrink, their breaths audible.

With heightened senses, Alice's heart raced.

Henry's warm breath brushed her ear, his voice deep and magnetic, "Alice, as an elder, let me give you some advice. When you invest in a relationship, be wholehearted. Don't keep backups. Otherwise, your affection will seem cheap."

It was like cold water being poured over her. Alice's hands clenched tightly at her sides as she closed her eyes, afraid to see Henry's mocking and disdainful gaze.

It wasn't until she heard the door close that she slowly opened her eyes.