He stood beside Portia, his gaze cutting straight to Calliope. His presence radiated authority as he demanded, "How much has she had to drink?" A thunderous scowl darkened his features as he spoke.


    "Almost all of those are hers,” Portia blurted, ncing at Nigel with confusion, unable to fathom why he''d appeared so suddenly or why his tone was somanding.


    "Nigel turned his piercing gaze on Damien. "Is this how you look after her?" he challenged. "Does Mr. Myers let his wife get drunk? While he''s gone, you just stand by and let her do this? Do you really think that''s eptable?"


    The force of Nigel''s words was suffocating. Damien felt a wave of shame crash over him-he''d failed, and he knew it.


    "I—no, it''s not—" Damien stammered, btedly realizing he should have intervened, should have protected her from the drinking games.


    "Are you hoping she''ll drink herself to death?" Nigel''s tone was icy. "Shouldn''t you be the one stepping in? Or are all Mr. Myers''s people this ipetent?" His eyes shed with contempt.


    Nigel didn''t wait for an answer. He strode over to Calliope, his tall figure imposing as he looked down at her. "That''s enough."


    With that, he reached out and deftly confiscated the ss from Calliope''s hand.


    Calliope stared up at him, bewildered. “What are you doing?" She reached for her ss, but Nigel simply held it out of her reach.


    "You''ve had more than enough," he said, his frown deepening. "You reek of alcohol. If you drink any more, you''ll be drunk."


    "I won''t get drunk," Calliope shot back, her gaze clear, defiant. "If I don''t want to be drunk, no one can make me. As a doctor, she knew exactly how to pace herself-and exactly which metabolic tricks to use to keep the fog at bay.


    And the truth was, unless something unusual happened, her tolerance was simply too high.


    Nigel didn''t budge. "That''s not the point. Even if you''re not drunk, this much isn''t healthy." He cast her a look of disapproval before setting her ss on a nearby table. Then his expression darkened as he turned to Lisette. "What''s your angle here? Are you trying to poison her? Or is there some other scheme you''re hatching?"


    Lisette stiffened. Where the hell did Nigele from? What was he up to? His interference threatened to ruin their entire n! Why did Calliope always have someone rushing to her rescue wherever she went?


    "Oh, lighten up I was only having a


    little fun," Lisette said sweetly, her toneced with venom. "Mr. Howell, aren''t you being a bit too familiar? Calliope is Ss''s wife now. Isn''t it a little inappropriate for you two to be this close? the arched an eyebrow her voice pure innuendo. Or maybe, with Mr. Myers away, you and Calliope see an opportunity?"


    Her words were a spark in a powder keg—the room instantly erupted into a frenzy of hushed spection.


    Everyone knew Nigel had been fiercely protective of Calliope, and hismanding stance a moment ago had been undeniably impressive. But the problem was, Calliope was a married woman. And her husband just happened to be Nigel''s sworn enemy.


    Were they really getting involved behind Ss''s back?


    Lisette''s sly remarks sent a jolt through the crowd. With Ss nowhere in sight,


    every look in the room turned suspect, eyes flickering between Calliope and Nigel, wondering-were they witnessing the start of a scandalous affair?