Chapter 4

As the scraps of paper fluttered down, Caius's smile faded, and his face turned frighteningly dark.

The atmosphere was tense, like a bowstring drawn tight.

Aria hurried to smooth things over.

"We've been high school classmates for so many years, and it's rare to gather like this. Let's all just be happy. Come on, let's play a game."

She pulled a deck of cards from her bag and spread them out on the table.

"Truth or Dare. Same old rules-the bottle decides the order."

For the first round, the bottle landed squarely on Caius.

He didn't hesitate.

"Truth," he said.

Aria drew a card and cast an uneasy glance at Selena.

"Have you ever used your mouth to pleasure someone of the opposite sex here? If yes, name them and describe the scene in detail-what happened, and how they felt."

"Of course-with Charlotte," Caius replied.

Amid the uproar, Charlotte shyly burrowed into Caius's arms. He wrapped an arm around her waist, leaned back against the sofa with nonchalance, and launched into a vivid, colorful account.

Selena listened, her face slowly draining of color.

By the end, the ringing in her ears was so loud that she couldn't hear another word.

She had never imagined that Caius, who had always been proud and used to being waited on, would go to such lengths for Charlotte.

Selena couldn't stand it anymore and abruptly stood up.

"I'm going to get some wine."

In the bathroom, Selena splashed handfuls of cold water on her face, but it couldn't wash away the restlessness in her chest.

Her ring was splashed with water, and she instinctively reached for a tissue to wipe it.

The moment her fingertips brushed against it, she froze.

It was the ring Caius had given her ten years ago when they made their relationship official- a cheap silver band, tarnished and badly worn.

She had worn it ever since, never once taking it off.

But today, she was really going to take it off.

Not only take it off-she was going to throw it away.

Selena silently slipped off the ring.

For the first time in ten years, she slipped it off.

She tossed it into the trash.

Since they had broken up, there was no reason to keep it anymore.

It was bitterly ironic-and unbearably sad.

Through the door came Charlotte's bright, clear laughter.

Selena stared at the whirlpool swirling in the drain, suddenly wishing she could wash Charlotte and Caius down with it.

She went back with the wine, only to find her classmates still egging Caius on for more details.

But he walked straight toward Selena, seizing her hand. On her left middle finger, a red mark still showed where the ring had been forced off.

"Where's the ring I gave you? It was there just a moment ago."

Selena's wrist throbbed from his grip, but she only lifted her gaze with a mocking smile. "I threw it away."

Caius's pupils contracted, his tone laced with disbelief and fury. "Say that again?"

Selena met his gaze and enunciated each word. "I said, I threw it away."

The air froze for a moment.

Charlotte stood not far away, her smile stiffening as she softly called out, "Caius..."

But he paid her no mind, keeping his eyes locked on Selena, his voice hoarse. "How could you?"

"Because we've already broken up," Selena replied calmly, though her eyes grew red. "If I could, I truly wish I had never met you."

Caius trembled, about to speak, but Aria had already spun the bottle.

This time, the bottle's neck pointed at Selena.

The room fell silent.

"Truth," Selena said dully, rubbing her tired eyes.

"Listen up, Selena-among the men you've slept with, whose performance was the worst? Answer!"

Her classmates watched with glee, their eyes glued to Selena. Caius's gaze, too, was locked firmly on her.

Selena gave a faint smile. "Caius."

His face instantly darkened.

Selena slouched lazily against the sofa, her fingertips tapping the rim of her glass, her voice light and drifting. "Three minutes at most-like he was just checking a box-and he still had the nerve to ask me, 'Was it good?'"

Someone couldn't hold back a laugh, then quickly stifled it.

Caius's face visibly darkened even further.

"Selena," he said, his tone heavy with warning.

Selena tilted her head at him, her eyes innocent yet defiant.

"What? It's Truth or Dare-you can't lie."

Charlotte bit her lip and suddenly stood up.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

Caius didn't move, his gaze fixed tightly on Selena's face.

Selena took a slow sip of her wine.

"Not going after her? The moment she heard you couldn't perform, your fiancée bolted."

Caius narrowed his eyes, then hurried off after Charlotte.

Selena watched his back as he left, then tipped her head back and drained her wine in one defiant swallow.

The party went on until dawn.

Caius and Charlotte never came back, and Selena, fueled by alcohol, enjoyed herself to the fullest.