After Rebirth, I Replaced My Ex-Husband's True Love-Chapter 76: The Arena

As Silas Lockwood pressed the start button, the silver needle started spinning quickly. The first person it pointed to was someone I didn’t know, sitting next to Silas. She was a young woman, probably also brought by Angelica Jorand.

"I’ll go!" she excitedly raised her hand, then looked around at us, pondering whom to pick.

Jason Forrest was the unfortunate one, the first to be named. He chose dare.

"Go find a stranger and say to him, ’Your lips are very sexy.’

After hearing that, Jason looked as if he’d had a heart attack. I and the others burst out laughing. Isn’t this like asking a straight guy to die?

He gritted his teeth, looked at the woman, and spat out three words, "I’ll drink!"

With that, he picked up a glass and downed it in one go.

After Jason finished drinking, it was his turn to press the start button, and this time it landed on Ivan Underwood.

Ivan, wearing a white sweater, had a calm expression. "Truth."

Jason chuckled slyly, "Hey hey, Ivan, are you really still a virgin?"

This question made us all widen our eyes. Ivan was indeed an outlier in our circle; never seen him have any flings with women, almost like a monk with no desires.

But that’s just the surface. Some people hide it well. Who knows if he’s been with a woman or not?

Even Henry Preston looked at him with interest.

I thought Ivan would opt to drink, but unexpectedly, he stayed silent for a few seconds and then nodded, "Yes."

His answer caused a commotion, with several women’s eyes lighting up, eyeing him like predators, as if they couldn’t wait to pluck this rare flower off its high peak.

I wasn’t wrong about him. He’s a pure-hearted dude.

The needle spun again, finally slowing down and pointing at me. I sighed, looking into Ivan’s eyes, "Truth, please."

"Besides Henry Preston, are you interested in any other men?" Ivan slowly asked.

The previously lively room fell into silence instantly. Henry’s eyes were on me, dark and deep, devoid of any discernible emotion. Yet, I could clearly feel the pressure, as if a ferocious beast was hidden within, ready to pounce and tear me apart if I said something wrong.

I never expected someone as unique as Ivan would ask such an outrageous question.

"Can I switch to a dare?" I hesitated and asked.

"Sure," Ivan smiled faintly, "Pick any man here, except Henry, and kiss him."

Damn it!

Did Ivan take the wrong medicine today? It’s like he has a blood feud with me!

Henry hadn’t said a word all this time. He remained silent, but the unmistakable aura he exuded made everyone slightly anxious. At this moment, he gazed at Ivan, and the two men’s eyes met, hinting at a whiff of gunpowder.

What’s happening? Have they started fighting over Azure already?

Don’t use me as a pawn. I finally got a second chance in life; I don’t want to step into The Arena.

After a few more seconds of silence, I picked up that glass of strong liquor and downed it in one go. The fiery liquid burned its way from my mouth to my throat and finally into my stomach, making me stick out my tongue involuntarily.

Silas shouted for us to continue, and the needle spun several more rounds as everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

Among us, Crystal Dawson was the most ruthless. Whenever she had the upper hand, she’d always pick Silas Lockwood. By now, Silas was nearly on the verge of tears, his puppy-like face full of indignation.

When Angelica Jorand picked me, I had already consumed three or four glasses. This liquor was strong; if I weren’t somewhat tolerant of alcohol, I’d probably be passed out on the floor by now.

"Take out what’s in your pocket and let Jason use it." Angelica smiled at me, but for some reason, I sensed hostility.

They’d used this trick before. A woman’s pocket would likely hold lipstick, perfume, or powder for another man to use, which counted as a form of flirty fun.

Like Silas, he’d already been subjected to a full makeup job by a few women under Crystal’s assault—fiery red lips and wild brows—making him look like an older sister at this point.

"I’ll drink—" I was about to continue drinking.

"That’s no fun. I’ve only called you four times, and you’ve chosen to drink each time. What’s the point of playing this game then?" Angelica was displeased.

Crystal gave her a glare, "What’s wrong with that? The rule is to drink if you can’t do it, right?"

Tiana O’Connell and Leah Lane chimed in, "Exactly. No one said you must choose dare or the truth. Zoe, if you don’t want to do the dare, just drink!"

I could feel that some people were annoyed. Just drinking wasn’t much fun. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

In my pocket, I only had a box of Durex; even my phone was on the table.

"Smack!"

The Durex was slapped down on the table by me, the black packaging glimmering slightly under the light.

Upon seeing this, Jason turned pale, quickly glanced at Henry, and then put his hands together to plead with Angelica, "Dear goddess, just let her drink. Do you want me dead?"

Angelica’s face flashed surprise, blurting out, "What are you doing bringing a box of Durex to a bar?"

I smiled a little, "To fill with water and make water balloons for you. Satisfied?"

This woman has feelings for Henry, so she targets me on purpose. She knows Crystal and I are tight but still invited Crystal over to watch Henry, not worried at all I’d catch on.

From the moment I arrived till now, every look she cast at me was filled with barbs.

"Do you have to be so passive-aggressive? I thought it would be lipstick in your pocket, who knew it was this? Fine, I’ll just stop playing the game!" Angelica seemed aggrieved.

"That’s enough, Angelica!" Crystal snapped, pointing at Angelica’s nose, "Don’t you know what kind of relationship Zoe and Henry have? Pulling this stunt, I won’t consider you a friend anymore!"

Seeing the dispute escalate, Henry sternly reprimanded, "Enough!"

The clamor quieted down significantly, and Ivan lifted his eyes to glance at Henry, then at me, his gaze inscrutable.

I was already intoxicated, coupled with having had an argument with Henry a few days ago. I wanted to annoy him, so under everyone’s watchful gaze, I swiftly tore open the Durex box, took one out, and offered it to Jason, "Do you want it?"

Jason, clutching his forehead, collapsed onto the sofa, rolling over and curling up, "My head hurts..."

"Zoe Hathaway, know when to stop." Henry grasped my wrist, warning me in a cold voice.

"Let go of me!" I looked at Henry’s incredibly handsome face through my drunken haze, a face between his brows that seemed to carry frost, staring intently at me.

And so, the drunken show started. I broke free from Henry’s grasp and pointed the Durex right at his nose, shouting loudly, "I’ve finally won a round, and you won’t let me use it? Do you know how rare this box of Durex is? Everyone else has perfume, lipstick, earrings, but I have Durex!!"