Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 62

He muttered, "I can't do this anymore," and stumbled toward the bathroom to throw up.

Seeing that the games weren't working, everyone switched tactics. They each poured a glass and took turns toasting Stella.

Stella accepted every single one. Whether it was the men or the women offering a toast, she downed her glass to the last drop, giving Julius absolute face and never turning anyone down.

Several rounds later, the bottles on the table were completely empty, yet Stella's expression hadn't changed in the slightest.

Julius looked around at Hammer, Vernon, and Ian, who were all slumped over in various states of intoxication. Steward was the only one still sitting upright, but he was so drunk he was giggling and swatting at imaginary bugs.

As for their dates, they had tapped out a long time ago.

Stella had thrown back at least thirty glasses tonight. How could her tolerance be this high?

Refusing to believe it, he poured her a glass of hard liquor. "I didn't know my wife was such a heavyweight. Come on, let's have a drink."

If Stella couldn't see right through his little scheme by now, she wouldn't be Stella.

But she didn't call him out on it. She simply took the glass he offered and clinked it against his. "Cheers!"

With a slight tilt of her head, the liquor was gone.

"Do you drink a lot? How is your tolerance so incredible?"

Instead of answering him directly, Stella countered, "Didn't you bring me here to help you save face? If I don't drink, your pride is ruined."

She grabbed the bottle from the table and refilled his glass. "Come on, let's keep going. This stuff is actually pretty good. Strong, but not too sharp. It's got a nice, rich flavor."

What she didn't mention was that it probably packed one hell of an afterkick.

Julius was speechless. Not only could she drink, but she was a connoisseur, too?

His brother really was something else. He went out drinking with his friends but didn't even come to Jason's bar. Why give the business to someone else? He didn't even want to look at him right now!

But despite his complaining, he went out and grabbed a few waiters to help haul the drunks upstairs. He booked two suites—one for the men, one for the women—and tossed them all onto the beds like dead fish.

Terrified they might choke on their own vomit in their sleep, he even paid someone to keep an eye on them through the night.

He had officially had enough. What a total disaster!

Seeing how completely wasted Julius was, Stella didn't dare take him back to the manor in case Nadine worried, so she booked a room at the hotel as well.

By the time she stepped out of the shower, Julius was already fast asleep, snoring softly.

She gazed at his handsome face, gently tracing the line of his straight nose and his sharp brow, muttering to herself, "Julius, what exactly were you trying to achieve by getting me drunk?"

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