I looked away from Ryan and walked with Roxanne.
There was no way Ryan would do something to me in Roxanne’s presence. Besides, Estelle and Joel know we stepped out together.
I convinced myself and tried to relax.
The moment we stepped inside, everything hit me at once.
Lights. Sound. Bodies moving too close, too fast.
The air was thick—perfume, alcohol, heat.
I stiffened... This felt wrong... All of it. And then it got worse.
"Isabelle!"
I turned and saw Stella and Dominic.
Two more cousins from the dinner. The obnoxious siblings.
They were smiling and laughing; apparently, they were already present. Which meant they were waiting for us.
My chest tightened.
"You didn’t tell me they were coming," I said under my breath.
Roxanne blinked innocently. "Ryan thought it’d be more fun this way."
Of course...Ryan... And, obviously, this was his idea of fun: catching me off guard.
I shot him a glare and gave him a look that said ’fuck you’.
The jerk smirked, probably enjoying my discomfort.
"Come, Isabelle, we have already reserved a table," Dominic said, leading the way.
I forced a smile. "Sure, let’s go."
I just needed to play my role as Isabelle. After this is over, I’ll give the shithead a piece of my mind.
"I didn’t expect this," I said lightly as they pulled me into their circle.
"Relax," Stella laughed, looping her arm through mine. "You look like you’re about to run."
"I want to," I said, "but I’ll trust my big brother to keep me safe." I continued, turning to Ryan and giving him my brightest smile. "Right, Brother?"
"Of course," Ryan answered.
"Want a drink?" Dominic asked, pressing a glass into my hand.
"I’m not drinking," I said.
"Oh, come on, you of all people need to unwind a little. Don’t tell me it’s because of Cassian," Stella cajoled.
"It’s not because of Cassian; I’m not drinking alcohol tonight," I insisted, my tone clipped.
"Okay, okay, let me order you another one," Dominic said, waving at a waiter.
"I said I’m not drinking–"
"I know, cousin; it’s just orange juice," Dominic chuckled. "We wouldn’t ruin our dear Isabelle."
They all laughed.
I smiled. Feeling a little headache coming on.
The waiter brought my order soon enough, and I smiled at her.
"Thanks," I said.
I lifted the glass and took a sip.
It was sweet and tasted normal.
Good. Safe.
I sat quietly and listened to them talk, picking up necessary words of information, chipping in once or twice and just watching and calculating.
Ryan was across the table, his gaze drifting back to me again and again.
Too often.
Too deliberate.
My fingers tightened slightly around the glass.
That was when I felt it...
Something felt... off.
It wasn’t the room or the people.
Me.
I set the glass down, then picked it up again.
I took another sip.
It tasted normal.
Maybe I was overthinking.
Minutes passed, or maybe it was longer; I wasn’t sure, but the music seemed louder now. Even the lights looked sharper... Brighter.
My head felt... light.
Strange.
I frowned slightly; I just drank orange juice... Why did I feel like someone who’s heavily drunk?
I blinked and the room shifted a little.
My sight began to blur.
My eyes scanned their faces; everyone looked engrossed in whatever conversation they were having. They weren’t looking at me.
...Ryan.
I moved my gaze towards him. Ryan was watching me again.
He was watching me closely now.
I tried to stand and nearly slipped. I blinked again and steadied myself against the table.
"Hey," Roxanne said, her voice sounding slightly... distant. "You okay?"
"I’m fine," I replied automatically, but my voice didn’t sound like mine.
It sounded too slow, too soft even for my own ears.
Ryan was holding me the next second.
"There, there."
When did he move?
"I think I need some air," I said, pushing back against him and standing sturdy on my own.
"Already?" Stella laughed. "You just got here."
"I just—" My words tangled.
Why were my thoughts so... slow?
"I’ll walk you out," Ryan said smoothly, already stepping forward again.
"No," I said quickly.
Too quickly.
His eyes flickered, turning into something dark. A knowing look in them.
"I can manage," I added.
I stumbled through sweat and bodies, my strength almost failing me as I tried to make it outside.
The hallway was a lot quieter, but it wasn’t enough.
The walls looked like they were getting closer to me, and the floor was uneven.
I reached out, pressing my hand against it.
What was happening?
I didn’t drink; I was careful because I was avoiding something like this.
Who did this? What did the person hope to achieve?
My breath came out heavy, my thoughts jumbled.
Think...Think...The drink.
No.
It tasted normal... Did Ryan spike it?
No... he wouldn’t... would he?
I heard footsteps behind me, and I stiffened.
Please, please, please don’t be Ryan.
I inwardly prayed, pressing my hand against the wall and steadying myself, not turning.
I bit my tongue hard and braced myself to attack the person when he spoke.
"Leaving already?"
That voice.
It was low, controlled, and familiar.
My heart nearly stopped.
I slowly turned... and there he was.
Cassian.
Standing at the end of the hallway like he had always been there, watching and waiting.
His sharp gaze locked onto me instantly, looking dangerous and full of calculation.
He took one step forward.
Then another.
His eyes swept over me once, taking in everything.
My unsteady stance.
My uneven breathing.
The way I leaned slightly against the wall, and his expression changed.
His gaze looked worse than when he walked into the Quinn Estate this afternoon. It was darker.
"What did you do to her?" he asked quietly.
His gaze wasn’t directed at me but at the space behind me.
I didn’t need to turn to know—Ryan was there.
"Cassian, look, I’m as confused as you. She just took orange juice. I swear, I’ll torture the truth out of the waitress."
I closed my eyes after hearing Ryan’s words.
I didn’t need to see his face to know that he was lying about everything.
Too late.
"Please take me away from here," I whispered.
"Let’s get you home, Isa. I’ll call mum and tell her what happened," Ryan said, stepping closer just as Cassian also stepped forward.
"No, don’t touch me."
I tugged on Cassian’s shirt. "Cassian, please."
I didn’t know why... but I knew he wouldn’t let me fall.
"You didn’t have to ask."