CHAPTER 81: TEENAGERS

"But now that you are here, maybe we can catch up later." Paul joked lightly, attempting to smooth the tension, smiling as if he had known Roman for years.

Roman, however, remained indifferent. He lazily turned his gaze away from Paul, parting his lips just enough to say, "I guess..." His disinterest was plain, and most people at the table were still puzzled by his open hostility. But those who knew Paul well enough weren’t surprised. His wayward lifestyle was no secret and if not for his wealth, which kept silencing every rumor, he would have been exposed long ago.

Patricia shifted toward Roman, ready to speak, but before she could, Silver cut in. "Okay, let’s not kill the vibe. It’s my birthday we are celebrating today." Her tone was sharp, her gaze hard enough to remind everyone that her patience was thinning. She glanced at her husband, signaling him to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"Ah! My wife is right. Today is all about her," Nathan said with a half-hearted smile, darting nervous glances around the table.

"So what’s your plan for us, then? Surely you didn’t bring us here just to eat like kindergarteners?" Someone teased from across the table, drawing laughter and pulling the spotlight back to Silver.

Nathan exhaled quietly when no one noticed, silently grateful to the speaker for easing the tension. He knew well he would have faced Silver’s wrath once the guests left if not for the speaker.

"Of course not," Silver replied, smirking, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "The real question is, are you all up for what I have planned?"

"Are you daring us? Bring it on," the man challenged, returning her bold smile.

"Good. Then let’s start with a game of truth or dare," Silver proposed. Her suggestion earned cheers, mostly from the men who were more than eager to entertain her.

But Roman’s voice broke through the excitement. "Aren’t we too old for that?" The cheerful chatter stilled, uncertainty creeping in. Though none dared oppose Silver openly for fear of her temper, many wore expressions that silently agreed.

"I agree. What are we, teenagers craving validation? Please, think of something better," Paul’s sister, Joanna, added without hesitation, unbothered by Silver’s feelings.

"She’s right."

"Yes."

One by one, the women at the table chimed in, emboldened by Joanna’s defiance.

Silver’s smile faltered. Her hands clenched into fists on her knees as she tried, unsuccessfully, to mask her irritation. The cracks in her forced grin were obvious.

Finally, she dropped her gaze on Joanna. "What do you mean old? We played this game plenty of times when we were still a thing... or have you forgotten how much you enjoyed my touch?" Her eyes slid toward Roman mid-sentence, leaving the entire table stunned.

Of course, everyone at the table knew about Silver’s past flings, including Roman. She never kept them a secret. Most of the men she had been with had grown into either wealthy or famous figures, and she never missed an opportunity to boast about it, even after marrying Nathan. Poor Nathan. He stayed with her despite everything.

In the midst of all the commotion, one figure went unnoticed: the woman seated quietly beside Roman. It was as if she wanted to erase her presence entirely. But Roman noticed. His gaze darkened immediately.

"Do you really take pride in announcing your past flings in front of your husband?" Before Roman could voice his thoughts, Joanna spoke up, saying the words no one else dared.

"Why not? It’s not like I killed anyone. Most people here have dated more people than I have. So what?" Silver rolled her eyes, flicking her wrist dismissively as if she were bored by the question.

"Oh, but no one goes around announcing it like it’s some kind of achievement," Joanna countered sharply. She looked as though she were Nathan’s spouse at that moment, her face twisted with frustration and distaste.

Silver scoffed. "Besides, my husband has no problem with it. He and Roman are still close friends, so why should you care? What are you? His speaker?!" Murmuring the last words with a roll of her eyes.

"Yes, it’s fine, Joanna. Let’s not ruin the mood," Nathan interjected quickly, covering for Silver as he always did. No one quite understood why he stayed married to her. Others tolerated Silver only because her father owned the largest company in the city. But Nathan’s family business wasn’t even in partnership with her father’s company, so what exactly bound him to her? Love?

"What do you say, Roman?" Silver asked smugly, slipping her hand into his.

"Sure," Roman replied curtly.

Patricia felt a sharp pang in her chest, an emotion she couldn’t fully explain. Betrayal? It made no sense. She had no claim on Roman. They had dated as teenagers, mere products of puberty and circumstance. If not for the mistreatment she endured from her own family, maybe she would have had the freedom to experience romance properly. But back then, her only focus had been survival and escape. Love had no place in her world.

Still, Roman’s willingness to entertain Silver, worse, to accept her touch, infuriated Patricia. She shouldn’t have felt this way, but she did, and this time she refused to dismiss it. He had made no promises... yet after what they had shared the night before, wasn’t something supposed to change? Progress?

"Oh, is your wife going to play too? Or..." Silver’s gaze slid toward Patricia, whose head remained lowered.

"No. She won’t be joining us." Roman’s interruption was swift, his tone laced with possessiveness clear enough for everyone to hear.

Patricia’s anger simmered. He didn’t want her having fun with other men but he was free to do as he pleased? Typical.

"Me too. I will excuse myself now," Joanna declared, her annoyance still plain. Rising from her seat, she walked over to Patricia and extended her hand like a man asking for a bride’s. "Why don’t we give them space to play their stupid little game, hmm?"