Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Lewis picked up his beer and joined Doris in drinking.
Doris, however, didn’t touch anything else on the table after that single bite of taco. Instead, she downed an entire bottle of beer in no time.
Lewis frowned, nudging a plate of fried mozzarella closer to her. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to get drunk without eating a thing. Slow down, or you’ll be out cold before we even finish.”
The aroma of the fried mozzarella wafied up to Doris, making her stomach growl slightly. She smiled faintly and said, “Thanks.”
Picking up a piece, she took a bite, savoring the crispy, gooey perfection.
Then, without missing a beat, she reached for a piece of snow crab leg, quickly cracking it open and devouring the tender meat. “It’s been ages since I’ve eaten like this. Oh my, this is good.”
She ate with gusto, washing it all down with large gulps of beer. A rosy flush soon spread across her cheeks, her long lashes fluttering lightly as her gaze grew hazy. Her lips curved into a playful smile, and her eyes shimmered with alluring softness.
Propping her chin in her hands, she fixed her gaze squarely on Lewis, a goofy grin spreading across her face.
Lewis, ever composed, maintained his perfect posture. He hadn’t eaten much; his appetite was dulled after an earlier lunch with a high–ranking government official. Doris’s call had come in the middle of that meeting, disrupting his otherwise meticulous schedule.
Setting his utensils down, Lewis reached for a napkin, dabbing his lips with practiced elegance before lifting his eyes to meet Doris’s. His voice was calm, yet tinged with faint amusement. “Had your fill of staring?”
Doris pouted, undeterred, “What’s the big deal? Won’t even let me have a good look? Don’t be so stingy.”
Lewis shot her a sharp glance, the kind that carried quiet authority. ‘What does this have to do with stinginess?‘ he mused silently.
But Doris took his look as a challenge. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she braced her hands on the table, rising slightly. Leaning forward, she grabbed the lapels of his shirt, her boldness cutting through the space between them.
“Do you believe,” she declared with a devilish smirk, “that not only will I keep staring, but I might even kiss you?”
Lewis’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by her audacity. He reacted swiftly, his hand darting up to gently yet firmly grip her delicate chin. His thumb brushed against her flushed cheek as his sharp gaze locked onto hers.
“Already acting drunk now? You haven’t even drunk that much.” His tone was low, with a tinge of teasing annoyance and
amusement.
Lewis thought, ‘She proposed to me while tipsy–now she’s trying to pull another stunt. Does she think she can keep taking advantage of me? Not a chance.‘
His grip on her chin tightened slightly, enough to make her wince. “Ow, it hurts!” Doris whimpered, her brows knitting together.
“Good. At least you can still feel it,” Lewis muttered, releasing her and giving her shoulder a gentle push to make her sit back down.
Doris plopped back into her seat, rubbing her sore chin with a pout. Her lips quivered slightly, and her misty eyes glistened as though she might cry. She looked so pitifully innocent, but Lewis wasn’t buying it.
“Finish your lunch, and I’ll take you home,” he said flatly, clearly unimpressed by her theatrics.
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Chapter 21
“But I haven’t finished my beer,” she protested, holding up her bottle. By now, she’d gone through five, setting a personal record.
Watching her punish herself like this made Lewis’s chest tighten with unease. When she poured herself another glass of beer, his hand shot out, catching her wrist firmly. “That’s enough. Let’s go home,” he said.
“I’m not going home. I want to drink,” Doris retorted and wrestled against his grip, but Lewis tightened his hold, his expression resolute.
“Be good. We’ll drink at home,” he coaxed, his voice softer now, as though trying to soothe a stubborn child.
“Really?” Doris’s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope, her resistance faltering.
“Only if you behave.”
“Okay.”
Then Lewis successfully tricked Doris into coming home.
11
The moment the door swung open, Doris darted toward the kitchen like a moth to a flame. Lewis closed the door behind him and followed her briskly.
He noticed two wine glasses sitting on the counter, but Doris was rummaging through the shelves like a woman on a
mission.
“Where’s the wine? Where is it?” she mumbled, her words slightly slurred as she scoured every inch of the kitchen.
“It’s not in here.” Lewis caught her arm gently but firmly, his voice calm and measured. “Come with me.”
Doris stumbled, nearly losing her footing. Reflexively, Lewis reached out to steady her, his hands wrapping around her arms. Without a word, he guided her down the hall and into her bedroom, easing her onto the edge of the bed.
Just as he released her, Doris latched onto his hand, her fingers clutching his like a lifeline. Her glassy eyes, wide and unfocused, stared up at him.
She then spoke with the conviction of someone who thought they were perfectly sober, “This is my room. Why would there be wine here? Don’t think for a second you can fool me just because I’ve had a few drinks. I’m not drunk. I can still drink more.”
She even pounded her chest as if to prove her point, though her words were so garbled they barely made it out in one piece. “Of course, you’re not drunk,” Lewis said, suppressing a smile as he observed this unusually drunk and childish version of her. “You can definitely drink more. Just lie down for a bit, and I’ll get the wine for you.”
“Liar,” she yelled, her voice rising with indignation. Then, without warning, she leaned forward and bit down on the back of his hand like a feisty little kitten.
Lewis winced slightly, his brows twitching at the sharp sting. Before he could react, Doris let go, pushed herself off the bed, and wobbled unsteadily toward the bathroom.
He followed her, his strides closing the distance in seconds, only to find her hunched over the toilet, retching.
Her poor tolerance for alcohol had reached its breaking point, and it was no surprise that she was paying the price and throwing up now.
When the worst seemed to be over, Lewis handed her a glass of water, watching as she rinsed her mouth with half–closed eyes. But the moment she set the glass down, she leaned against the toilet and drifted into an uneasy slumber.
Kneeling beside her, Lewis gently tapped her cheek. “Doris? Wake up. You can’t sleep here. Let’s get you back to bed.”
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But she didn’t stir, not even a flicker of movement.
Frowning, he thought to himself, ‘I can’t just leave her here all night. She’ll catch a cold.
85%
Rolling up his sleeves, Lewis slipped his arms under her and carefully lifted her from the ground. She was lighter than he expected, but as he adjusted his grip, her legs gave out completely, nearly sending her collapsing back down.
He reacted quickly, his strong arms steadying her waist before she could fall. She sagged against him, her head resting on his chest.
His brows furrowed slightly at the unexpected closeness. Gritting his teeth, he carried her back to the bedroom, laying her down with deliberate care. Pulling the blanket over her, he made sure she was warm before attempting to step away.
Just as he straightened and let go, her hand shot out, gripping his wrist with surprising tenacity. “M–Mr. Hartman,” she mumbled in her dreamy haze, her voice soft and sweet, like a child seeking comfort. “Thank you for dinner tonight.”
Lewis froze for a moment, then responded coolly, “You’re welcome.”
He gazed at her peaceful, albeit slightly flushed face, his thoughts unfurling quietly. He pondered, ‘We’re married, at least in the eyes of the law. I might not love her, but I don’t dislike her either.
I promised her that I’d fulfill my responsibilities during this one year of marriage, and I’m a man of my word. If Doris faces difficulties, I won’t just stand by and watch.
Doris looked heartbreakingly fragile, her lips trembling as if she were on the verge of tears. She pouted pitifully, resembling an abandoned child left to fend for herself.
“Mr. Hartman,” she whispered, her voice tinged with a weary melancholy. “Today wasn’t so bad to me. But tomorrow’s a new day… a fresh start…”
Lewis stared at the faint crescent of teeth marks on his hand, a testament to Doris’s drunken antics. Glancing back at the culprit, he found her blissfully unaware of the chaos she had caused, fast asleep and entirely guilt–free.
He sighed, torn between irritation and resignation. For someone who could barely hold her liquor, she sure knew how to turn a quiet afternoon into a whirlwind. But there wasn’t anything he could do about it.
As his gaze lingered on her peaceful face, he noticed how her disheveled hair framed her delicate features, strands falling across her soft, flawless skin.
Almost instinctively, his fingers reached out, brushing the loose hair behind her ear with a surprising tenderness. Her warm breath grazed his fingertips, sending a sudden jolt through him as if he’d been struck by a live wire.
Shaking off the unexpected sensation, Lewis turned to leave, but just as he reached the door, Doris’s phone buzzed loudly, shattering the silence. The caller ID lit up with a name–Laura.
Initially, Lewis hesitated, reluctant to answer a call that wasn’t meant for him. But when the phone vibrated persistently, ringing a second and third time without pause, he figured there must be something urgent and finally picked up.
The moment the phone clicked on, Laura’s frantic voice came through, sharp with worry. “Doris?”
“Hello, this is Lewis,” he replied evenly.
“Oh, hi, Lewis. This is Laura, Doris’s sister. Is she okay?” Concern threaded through her tone, making it clear she was deeply worried.
Earlier, Laura had been helpless, unable to stand up to Jimmy and help Doris. So now, all she could do was call to express
her care from afar.
Lewis lowered his voice, not wanting to wake Doris up. “Don’t worry. She’s fine,” he assured Laura, stepping out of the room
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and into the living room to keep his voice down. “She was exhausted and fell asleep.”
Relief was audible on the other end. “I’m glad she has you looking after her. I was so worried,” Laura said, her voice softening
From the way Lewis had defended Doris earlier, Laura could tell that he was someone worthy of her sister’s trust. His actions spoke volumes, showing that he wasn’t just a husband by name–he was someone who would stand by Doris, no matter the situation.
“Thank you for trusting me,” Lewis replied, his voice warm but polite.
“Doris has always had an eye for people. I believe in her choices and judgement, and I have faith in you,” Laura said, her voice filled with warmth. Based on everything that had happened today, Laura was more than convinced of Lewis’s
character.
As she felt a sense of relief, Laura’s thoughts turned bittersweet, and she couldn’t help but reflect on the past.
“My parents were always biased towards our little brother, Rupert, especially my dad. Mom had him when she was older, so they doted on him even more.
“While Doris and I both had a tough childhood, Doris endured even more hardship than I did. I was the quiet, obedient one, but Doris’s personality just wouldn’t allow her to bend or submit. That’s why my dad was always harsher with her.”
She let out a deep sigh before continuing, her voice tinged with nostalgia, ‘Since we were little, anything good–food, clothes, toys–always went straight to Rupert first. Doris and I would watch him, green with envy.
“There was this one time, Rupert deliberately flaunted some delicious treat in front of Doris. She couldn’t help but stare at him, longing.
“She asked him for just a little bite, hoping he might share. But instead, he tossed it to the dog without a second thought, leng Doris empty–handed”
