Chapter 4 (Part Two)

After a while, she lost count of how many rounds she had played and began to feel dizzy and feverish. The figure in front of her also became blurry and she was seeing double. She just hoped that she could hold on longer than Lambert.

Nicole eyed the man across her suspiciously. A light shone behind him brightly, making his face appear hazy while his eyes were dark with a faint light glimmering in them, just like distant stars in the night. She didn't know who had turned on the disco lights in the room. The stars in the walls swayed, making her dizzier.

She grinned and lay down on the sofa.

Lambert bent down close to Nicole and asked softly, "Why do you hate me so much?"

She opened her eyes and gazed at him, "Why did you do this to me?"

Lambert didn't answer her, but pursed his thin lips in a ruthless smile.

Nicole saw the star-shaped pendant swinging from his neck. It was a gift from her sister, Primrose Lin. 'How ironic,' she wondered, thinking about the name Primrose.

It sounded similar to the word 'promise', a promise of loyalty to love. It was her father's promise to another woman, and her stepsister Primrose Lin was the result of his love with his mistress.

Nicole used to hate that name, especially when the man she loved the most whispered, "Primrose... I like you!" Every time he said her name, a knife pierced Nicole's heart. Primrose Lin had stolen both, her family as well as her love. Why did Nicole hate Lambert so much? He knew the reason and yet he repeatedly asked her to torture her.

Nicole spoke in a hoarse voice, "One more glass of wine. The last one... This final round will decide the winner!"

"Okay," said Lambert in a soft voice.

Everyone thought that Lambert still liked Nicole. Why else would he treat her so lovingly? The single girls were angry and jealous, while the married ones felt sad. After all, when it came to eligible bachelors in A City, no one could compare to Lambert. Even the second son of the Fu family, to whom the class belle was married, was nowhere close to Lambert. Rumor had it that Lambert had come to the reunion for Nicole. How could Nicole, who was down on luck, have this honor?

For the last round, Samuel had to roll the dice on behalf of Nicole. The game was simple, but she couldn't even muster the strength to play the last round. Nicole vaguely guessed a number. The next thing she heard was cheers from the crowd and Samuel's hesitant voice. "Dear Nicole, You lost!"

'No, it can't be!' Nicole was horrified. She leaned back on the sofa and vomited suddenly.

Lambert walked up to her, still holding his glass of wine, and squatted in front of her. "Can you have another drink?"

Nicole covered her mouth firmly to suppress the puking sensation and stared daggers at him.

Lambert drawled, "Do you know why I did this to you?" He pulled her hand away and wiped her mouth gently with a tissue.

The woman with curly hair snapped, "Why is Mr. Lambert so good to Nicole? Does he like her?"

Lambert stood up and looked down at Nicole. His eyes were filled with sarcasm. He suddenly smiled and replied, "Why am I so good to her?" He raised the glass and poured it over Nicole's head.

The red liquid drenched her hair, rolled down along her face, and stained her clothes before forming a puddle on the ground. Nicole was bathed in the sweet smell of the red wine, but she had no energy to react. Everyone gasped in shock. The women covered their mouths and retreated. They couldn't believe it. Nicole was humiliated and the whole thing was witnessed by her classmates. She was completely disgraced in this circle.

Lambert opened his mouth and announced, "Because I hate her!"

With blood-shot eyes, Nicole looked up and asked him, "Lambert, I had no animosity with you before!" Nicole gritted her teeth and tears filled her eyes.

"Nicole, the hatred between you and me is far more than you think!" he retorted.

"Why?" Nicole asked but when she saw the star-shaped pendant around his neck, she immediately understood. The past incidents flashed in front of her eyes: Primrose's accusation of being pushed down the stairs by her, her scream resounding throughout the building, and Nicole's mother jumping off the twenty-storied building.

All these images came rushing back to her and tears flowed freely down her face. She suddenly lifted the bottle of wine and stood up with a murderous intent. However, Samuel and the others stopped her. She shrieked madly, "Lambert, I'll kill you! And then I will kill myself!"

However, the crowd restrained Nicole while Samuel tried to control her. Nicole couldn't get close to Lambert no matter how hard she tried. Lambert stood far away, mocking her cruelly. His posture was laid-back and his behavior was as aristocratic as a prince.

He strolled out of the room triumphantly with his men, while Nicole finally collapsed on to the sofa.

Her classmates went back to singing and dancing, and no one paid attention to her. No matter how much Nicole retched, no one cared about her.