I didn't bother lowering my voice. The guests who hadn't left yet turned to look.
Neil's face went pale instantly. He covered his face, crying, "I know you're angry with me, brother. If ruining my reputation by calling me a homewrecker makes you feel better, then fine—I'll accept it. It's my fault for not knowing my place..."
The moment he finished, Julia's expression turned icy.
"Joseph, be a good boy and drink the wine. Don't make me have someone force it down your throat."
I met her cold gaze without flinching. Julia scoffed and produced an entire bottle of high-proof liquor.
"Don't play games with me. Back when you were entertaining those older women, you could drink all night without a problem. How could you suddenly be allergic?"
"You just humiliated Neil in front of everyone. One glass isn't nearly enough to express your apology. Finish this whole bottle, then you can leave."
The expressions around me shifted instantly to mockery and disgust.
"How much does the great Simmons heir charge for a night of pouring drinks? Do those older women even satisfy you?"
"No wonder CEO Henson wanted a new groom. Who'd want such a filthy man? He's a perfect match for that Gilbert girl who sleeps around and caught some disease. At least Neil is clean—pure as a little white flower."
My eyes widened in disbelief. My nails dug deep into my palms.
Julia was too proud to ever lower herself to ask for favors. To secure projects and investments for her, I'd forced myself to attend those business dinners, drinking until my stomach bled. But I'd always kept myself clean.
The long hours and irregular meals had wrecked my immune system. That's when the alcohol allergy suddenly developed.
I'd never told her. I didn't want her to worry.
Before I could speak, Julia had already lost patience. She turned to her bodyguards.
"You have three minutes. Get that bottle down his throat. Neil is tired—he can't stand much longer."
They pinned my arms and pried my mouth open.
The burning liquor poured down my throat in an endless stream. I choked, tears streaming involuntarily down my face.
Almost immediately, angry red welts bloomed across my face and neck.
I collapsed to my knees, clutching my throat. Suffocation closed in around me.
Julia's face drained of color. She kicked away the bodyguard still trying to pour.
"Stop! Don't touch him!"
"Call 911 now! If anything happens to Joseph, I'll have your heads!"
By the time the ambulance arrived, Julia came running after it, trying to climb in with me.
"Joseph, I'm sorry. I thought you were lying to me. I—"
Despite the paramedic's repeated warnings, I pulled off the oxygen mask.
I spat directly in her face. Every word came out sharp as a blade.
"Trash. Don't touch me. You're filth."
Julia froze.
Behind her, Neil cried out, "Jules! I twisted my ankle—it really hurts! Come help me..."
She hesitated for just a moment. Then she turned and ran to Neil.
They took me to the hospital. After treatment, I could finally breathe normally again. The welts gradually faded.
The next day, Julia took Neil on a shopping spree at the mall.
Photos of them holding hands, flaunting their love, flooded every social media feed.
Meanwhile, not a single person came to see me—except my father's personal assistant.
And even that wasn't my father's idea.
Seeing how pale I looked, Abraham Lambert sighed.
"Young Master, you've been treated terribly."
"I wish I could do more than just visit you in secret. But I don't have the power to stop you from walking into that fire pit with the Gilbert family in seven days."
He'd been brought up by my mother to help protect the company. After she passed, he stayed on to assist my father—though he'd always quietly looked after me on the side.
I let a slow smile curve my lips.
"You're wrong. That's no fire pit."
"Abraham—interested in a partnership?"
