But now, before the man had even been dealt with, they were already threatening to punish her by making her take off her dress.


    How was she supposed to survive in Capitolion after this?


    Scales'' lips twitched in disbelief.


    "She''s only got that one dress. If she takes it off, do you want her to stand here naked? What do you expect Magnus to do—just look the other way?"


    A cold, mocking glint shed in Nte''s eyes as she let out a derisiveugh.


    "Magnus''s reputation? Magnus, I''ve been meaning to ask-what exactly is going on between you and Elise?"


    Magnus frowned.


    There was nothing between him and Elise, but he certainly didn''t want her forced to undress in front of everyone.


    Nte''s tone dripped with ridicule. "Are you two a couple? If you can look Isadora in the eye and say you''re together, I''ll let Elise off the hook."


    Isadora thought, Why does he need to look at me and say that?


    Elise''s only hope now was Magnus. She desperately wished he''d speak up for her.


    She really didn''t want to take off her dress, and in this room, only he could save her.


    Her eyes grew wet, shimmering with unshed tears as she stared at Magnus, stricken with fear and shame.


    Magnus looked at Isadora''s cold, unyielding face.


    He opened his mouth to speak, but for a moment, he couldn''t find the words.


    Nte, confident she''d won, pressed on.


    "So you''re not a couple. Which means she can go ahead and strip."


    Scales protested, "Are you listening to yourself?"


    "Just before, Isadora lost a bet and owned up to it. No one acted like this. Now it''s Elise''s turn and suddenly it''s different?"


    The room fell silent, no one wanting to stick their neck out for Elise-after all, she wasn''t close to any of them.


    And, to be honest, half the men there wouldn''t mind seeing a beautiful woman exposed.


    Someone even snickered, "Yeah, a bet''s a bet. Off with it."


    Elise''s eyes filled with tears as she clutched the hem of her dress desperately.


    She would rather die than give in.


    She was done with their games.


    Nte had no intention of going easy on her.


    Fueled by anger, she spat, "Bitch, this is for all those times you picked on Isadora. Isadora''s under my protection. Let''s see if you dare act so high and mighty again."


    Before anyone could react, Nte lunged at Elise, the alcohol in her system making her movements even more forceful.


    She''d been in enough stage fights to know how to use her strength, and in a few rough motions, she tore Elise''s dress to shreds.


    Elise fell to the floor, barely covered, her arms wrapped around her chest.


    Her tears spilled over, rolling down her cheeks one after another as she sobbed, "Magnus, please... help me."


    The men in the room let out a chorus of whistles at the sight of her pale, trembling body.


    Magnus immediately stood, stripped off his suit jacket, and strode over to Elise, wrapping her in it.


    His icy re swept over the group, each nce sharp as a knife.


    Silence fell.


    Nte, feeling vindicated, finally started to rx as the drunkenness hit her full force.


    Isadora hurried to support her, turning to Sammy and saying, "Happy birthday. The game''s over-we''re leaving."


    She led Nte out of the private room.


    But Nte was clearly out of it, on the verge of passing out.


    Isadora helped her to a sofa, about to call a staff member to help get her to the


    car.


    Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind her.


    A man grabbed her wrist.


    Isadora jerked away.


    "Let go of me!"


    "Isadora, can we talk?"


    Her expression was frosty. "Magnus, there''s nothing left for us to say."


    Magnus looked exhausted, standing there with his shoulders slumped.


    "There''s nothing between me and Elise anymore. If that''s what bothered you, you won''t see her around me again."


    "Wow. That was considerate, giving her your jacket back there," Isadora replied, her tone dry.


    Magnus''s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.


    “It''s just friendship. I promise you, that was thest time."


    Isadora was done she just wanted to get Nte home. Her voice was impatient. "And what does any of this have to do with me?"


    For the first time, Magnus''s voice cracked, raw and pleading, eyes rimmed red.


    "Isadora, pleasee back to me. I was too proud before, too blind to see what I had. I always thought you''d be there waiting. Just give me one more chance-to make things right."