Chapter 5

Hearing there would be some fun, everyone perked up.

"Sounds good. We've been sitting around bored. What are we playing?" someone asked.

"Dice game. Guess the numbers. We'll pair up, and whoever rolls the highest number and guesses correctly wins. The losing team has to take off a piece of clothing. How about it?" Wendy explained with a mischievous grin.

Alice frowned.

She didn't know how to play dice, and if she lost, she'd have to take off her clothes. She only had this one dress on. If she took it off, she'd be exposed in front of everyone.

But it wasn't up to Alice to decide whether to play. Derek wasn't about to miss out on such an exciting opportunity and agreed immediately.

Everyone else agreed too, except for James, who was sitting at the head of the table.

"I'm in too," he said, surprising everyone.

Oliver was shocked.

James never participated in these kinds of activities. He had only come because he heard Derek had brought a woman who looked remarkably like Gloria.

It was strange that he agreed to join the game.

"James, are you sure?" Oliver asked, still in disbelief.

James ignored him and reached for the dice cup on the table. Seeing this, Oliver didn't say anything more.

Wendy noticed Alice's troubled expression, "Ms. Tudor, we're all playing. You wouldn't want to spoil the fun, would you?"

With no other choice, Alice gritted her teeth agreed as well.

Teams were randomly assigned, and Alice ended up paired with Oliver.

The game began with pairs facing off against each other.

Alice had no clue how to play dice and had hoped to rely on Oliver, but he shrugged helplessly and smiled.

"Sorry, I'm not very good at this either."

Alice had grown up in an orphanage, living a disciplined life.

She had always stayed away from gambling, drugs, and other vices. Even during her years working in a bar, she had stuck to her duties. She had no idea how to play this game.

She looked at the slip of paper with Oliver's name on it, puzzled.

Oliver and Wendy were together, and he was a playboy. How could he not know how to play this game?

Were they teaming up to mess with her?

Her bad luck continued as she drew James and Wendy as her opponents.

James's expression didn't change much, but Wendy's seductive smile and raised eyebrows showed her delight.

"Ms. Tudor, I won't go easy on you."

Alice realized this game was designed by Wendy to get back at her for earlier.

But why was she being targeted for something Derek had said?

As she was stressing out, Derek took the dice cup and reassured her, "Don't worry, rolling dice is simple. I'll teach you."

Her focus was on the game, not noticing how close Derek had gotten.

Wendy pouted, "Mr. Brown, you can't help her."

Derek shrugged nonchalantly, "It's not in the rules."

Wendy was speechless. She hadn't specified that.

Derek rolled a twenty-three, looking pleased. "Alright, your turn. Think you can beat that?"

Alice didn't understand the rules but sensed that twenty-three was a high number. She felt relieved, only to realize Derek had his arm around her.

She instinctively tried to pull away, but Derek held her tighter.

"Don't move, or I can't guarantee what will happen."

Alice froze, too scared to move.

She looked up and met James's cold, piercing gaze.

As she wondered what his look meant, James's long fingers moved to the dice cup, each motion mesmerizing.

He revealed five sixes.

Oliver raised an eyebrow, impressed. "James, I didn't know you had it in you."

Wendy's eyes lit up with excitement as she announced, "We won. Ms. Tudor, you lost."

"According to the rules, you have to take off a piece of clothing."

Oliver sighed and removed his tie and jacket.

All eyes were on Alice. Wendy pressed, "Ms. Tudor, a bet's a bet."

It was clear to everyone that Alice only had a thin dress on. If she took it off, she'd be left in her underwear.

The crowd's eyes were filled with anticipation, not pity.

At that moment, Alice realized how insignificant she was to these wealthy heirs. She was just a toy to them.

She knew escaping unscathed was impossible.

Dignity was worthless. She only had three months left to live. There was no need to care about pride.

Steeling herself, Alice closed her eyes and reached for the zipper on her dress.

Just as she touched it, a jacket was draped over her.

Oliver stood up, taking off his white shirt, revealing his muscular torso. "We are a team. It's my fault we lost. I'll take the punishment for her."

With that, the onlookers couldn't argue.

Wendy clenched her fists, glaring at Alice.

"Thank you," Alice whispered, clutching the jacket, her eyes red.

"Oliver, stop playing the hero," someone teased as they prepared for the next game.

James's cold voice cut through, "Rules are rules. If everyone did this, what's the point of rules?"

His meaning was clear: Alice had to take the punishment herself.

Oliver looked at James, puzzled. James was usually fair. Why was he targeting Alice?

He argued, "James, don't make it hard for her. If she has to be punished, let's change it up."

Wendy quickly suggested, "How about drinks as a penalty? She'll keep drinking until Mr. James Russell says stop."

Derek, though unhappy, agreed, "Yeah, let Alice drink to apologize to Mr. James Russell."

Alice was his date. If she stripped in public, it would be embarrassing for him too.

"Yeah, let's do that," Oliver agreed, signaling Alice to pour the drink.

Wendy handed her an unopened bottle of whiskey and a glass, motioning for her to go over.

Alice took them, cautiously watching James, unsure of his intentions.