Chapter7
1081 Words
"Look at you all, Freaking Miss Hartwell out."
Feigning intimacy, Emily caught Isabella's shoulder and pulled her back to the bar.
"Let me introduce her. She's a talented student from the Harmony Heaven Music School, winner of national competitions. She's here to work and earn money!"
Emily intentionally emphasized the words "work" and "earn money."
Knowing Isabella's connection with Nathan, they assumed she was his guest, showing some restraint. Learning that Isabella was here to work, they became more unrestrained.
"Really? Then, Miss Hartwell, how about playing a piece for Nathan?"
"Yeah, play 'Little Waist,' the most popular song recently. Left and right, front and back..."
Laughter echoed around.
"I think that works."
"Nathan guarantees he'll like it!"
...
"Sorry." Isabella shrugged off Emily's arm. "I only play classical music."
"OK,it's fine." Emily took a guy's glass, took it to Isabella. "We were high school classmates, and today is Nathan's birthday. Can't you at least toast to Nathan?"
"I'm here to work, not to drink!" Isabella pushed away the glass and tried to leave. The crowd, however, immediately surrounded her.
"Come on!come on!come on!"
"Yeah, play the violin or drink. What's your deal?"
"Don't be such a downer!"
...
Bang—
Nathan slammed his glass on the table and walked up to Isabella.
Reaching for her violin, he took a step back, leaning on the bar.
Chin up, he commanded, "Pour the drinks!"
A guy moved the glasses aside and filled three glasses with strong liquor.
"You want to earn money, right?" Nathan slammed the violin on the bar, threatening with his hand on the case.
"Ten grand for one glass. One more glass, another ten grand. If you finish all the three glasses, I'll let you go. Otherwise, you won't leave here today!"
Leaning against the bar, Emily grinned, holding her phone.
Miss Hartwell?
The little princess from the Hartwell family?
Huh! This time, let's see how Isabella will handle it.
...
Isabella glanced around. The violin was still in Nathan's hands, and the room was filled with Nathan's friends, some blocking the exit. If she didn't drink, she definitely wouldn't be able to leave.
Taking a deep breath, she walked over, standing at the bar.
"Ten thousand for a glass?"
"Ten thousand."
"Drink, and I can leave?"
"You can leave."
"If you're a man, keep your word!"
Grabbing a glass from the table, Isabella tilted her head back, pouring the alcohol into her mouth. The liquor was bitter and harsh, each sip feeling like a knife cutting her throat, the fire burning her stomach.
Suppressing the urge to vomit, she reached for the second glass.
One glass.
Two glasses.
Three glasses.
She downed all three glasses in one go, placing the empty glass on the table. Isabella raised her left hand, showing Nathan her bank account.
"Thirty grand, pay it!"
Ten thousand could keep her father in the ICU for another day. Three glasses wouldn't kill her.
Everyone was stunned, including Nathan. No one expected this gentle and soft-spoken girl to actually drink three glasses in one go.
"What?" Isabella lifted her right hand, wiping the alcohol from her lips with the back of her hand. "Aren't you a man?"
Embarrassed, Nathan looked around, took out his phone.
Seizing the opportunity, Isabella grabbed her violin and rushed towards the exit.
Driven by her momentum, the onlookers hesitated to make a move. Seeing her about to reach the door, Nathan reacted.
"Stop her!"
Several guys at the door immediately blocked it.
Isabella turned around, shielding her violin in her arms.
"We agreed that I could leave after drinking."
Jumping off the bar, Nathan walked up to her, smiling maliciously, leaning close to her ear. "Back then, you made me a laughingstock in front of the whole school. Do you think... I'd let you off easily?"
Standing up straight, Nathan scanned her slender waist. "You want to earn money, right? I'll give you another chance. Take off a piece of clothing, and I'll give you ten thousands. Take it all off... one million dollars!"
"Wow!"
"I like it!"
...
Inside the room, screams and whistles erupted instantly.
Isabella bit her lip, her face turning red.
"Nathan, don't go too far!"
"Too much?" Nathan pushed her onto the sofa, holding her chin. "I can do more than that!"
With his head lowered, he moved in to kiss Isabella.
Isabella struggled with all her might.
The smell of alcohol hit her face, the man's lips sticking to her skin...
No one helped her.
Everyone was laughing, some even taking out their phones to take pictures.
Isabella exerted all her strength to push Nathan away, her fingers touching a bottle on the sofa, left there by someone.
She grabbed it, swinging it forcefully.
Crash!
The bottle smashed on Nathan's head, shards flying.
"Nathan!"
"Nathan!"
...
The crowd exclaimed, rushing over to support Nathan.
"s**t!" Nathan shrugged off his companions, wiping the blood from his forehead. "Isabella, are you f*****g out of your mind?"
Huddled on the sofa, Isabella's clothes were disheveled.
With both hands tightly gripping the blood-stained bottleneck, her eyes were burning red.
"Who dares to come over, I'll fight him!"
Buzz...
In her fallen backpack, the phone vibrated once again.
On the screen, the caller's name was displayed — "AHusband!"
...
...
Kingsley Tower, top-floor restaurant.
Frowning, Dominic dialed Isabella's number again.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is not available."
In his earphones, the same reminder sounded again.
An hour, nine calls, and she didn't answer once.
"Isabella, how dare you!"
Dominic gritted his teeth and pressed the redial button again.
"This is your last chance!"
This time, the call finally connected.
"You better give me a reason for not answering!"
A man's voice, each word squeezed through gritted teeth.
"Are you Isabella's husband?"
It wasn't Isabella's voice on the phone but that of an unfamiliar man.
A man?
She's with another man?
"Who are you?" Dominic's tone sharpened. "How come Isabella's phone is in your hands?"
"This is the Meadowbrook Police Station. I'm the officer on duty. Your wife is in trouble. Come over."
Police station?
She's in trouble!
Dominic's heart clenched. Grabbing the phone, he rushed out the door.
Getting up abruptly, his knee hit the table, the tableware making a clattering sound.
Ignoring the pain in his knee, Dominic rushed out of the restaurant's door.
"Sir, your coat!"
A waiter chased him, holding the coat Dominic had left for storage, but Dominic was already rushing into the elevator.
- Writer
