Ryan’s face remained frozen, his expression a mix of disbelief and indignation as Jessica calmly placed the whiskey bottle in front of him.
“Mr. Adams,” she said evenly, her tone deceptively light. “Go ahead and drink it now.”
The booth fell into a tense silence, the weight of her challenge pressing heavily on everyone present.
The sheer sight of the full bottle was enough to unsettle them. Everyone knew drinking an entire bottle of whiskey was no small feat—it bordered on self-punishment.
Finally, Emily’s voice broke the oppressive quiet, her concern evident in her tone. “Mrs. Clark, it’s just a game. There’s no need to take it so seriously, right? A whole bottle of whiskey—that’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
Jessica chuckled softly, her gaze never leaving Ryan’s. Her smile was as cool as her words. “Mr. Adams, are you afraid to drink, or do you simply not want to?”
She leaned in slightly, her tone sharpening with mischief. “It’s fine. I’m a reasonable person. How about this—if you go downstairs, stand on the stage, and shout three times, ‘I am a coward,’ I’ll let you off the hook. You won’t have to drink the bottle.”
Her challenge hung in the air like a blade.
Ryan’s face darkened instantly, his jaw tightening as Emily’s expression mirrored his unease.
The group exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to react. Jessica’s alternative was cruelly simple: public humiliation or physical torment.
Most would have chosen the bottle to protect their pride.
Ryan forced a strained smile onto his lips, his voice tinged with defiance. “Mrs. Clark, you’re overthinking this. A bet is a bet, and I’ll honor it.”
Without waiting for further comment, he grabbed the bottle, his grip firm despite the nervous tremor in his hand.
The room held its collective breath as Ryan tilted the bottle to his lips and began to drink.
________________________________________
The sound of his gulps filled the air, each one echoing the tension in the room.
The whiskey burned its way down his throat, the fiery sensation spreading through his chest and into his stomach.
By the time Ryan lowered the bottle after a few gulps, his face was already flushed a deep crimson. His body shuddered involuntarily from the intensity, but his pride refused to let him stop.
Emily’s concern deepened, her gaze darting to Ethan. “Ethan,” she began softly, her voice tinged with desperation.
But Ethan cut her off with a sharp, quiet command. “Shh. Don’t distract him.”
Emily’s lips pressed into a thin line, her pale face reflecting her frustration and helplessness.
Time seemed to stretch unbearably as Ryan forced himself to continue, pausing between labored gulps to catch his breath.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he tipped the bottle upside down to show it was empty.
________________________________________
Jessica’s sharp applause broke the silence.
“Bravo!” she exclaimed, a wide smile lighting up her face as she clapped. “Well done, Mr. Adams! Truly impressive—you’re a man of your word.”
The room remained quiet, the tension barely lifting as Ryan slumped into the sofa.
His face was a vivid red, and his breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps. His stomach churned violently, and his vision swayed as if the entire room was spinning around him.
“Ryan, are you alright?” Emily asked, her voice trembling with worry as she knelt beside him.
Ryan gave a weak nod, trying to muster a response. “I… I’m fine—”
Before he could finish, his stomach rebelled.
A sudden, violent spasm overtook him, and he began to vomit uncontrollably.
The sound and smell of his retching filled the booth, prompting grimaces and discomforted glances from those around him.
Emily paled further, panic flashing in her eyes as she hovered helplessly beside him.
Jessica, however, remained seated, her expression unshaken.
Her lips curled into a small, knowing smile as she watched the scene unfold. Her eyes glittered with quiet sarcasm, a sharp contrast to the chaos around her.