"I need your help, Liam." Selina''s voice trembled through the phone. "Violet''s at Midnight KTV with some sketchy guys. I''m worried something bad might happen."


    I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache forming. "That''s not my problem anymore."


    "Please," she begged. "I don''t know who else to call. These guys—they keep pouring drinks and getting handsy. Room 888, the Emperor''s Suite. I''m scared."


    I checked the time: 11:43 PM. Thest thing I wanted was to deal with my ex-sister-inw''s poor life choices.


    "Violet made it clear I''m not family anymore," I said coldly, memories of the Sterling family''s treatment still raw.


    "I know, and I''m sorry, but—" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "She''spletely wasted. We''re the only two girls here with like eight guys. Please, Liam."


    I sighed heavily. Despite everything, I couldn''t ignore a genuine cry for help.


    "Fine. I''ll be there in twenty minutes. Try to stay sober."


    After hanging up, I called Eamon. As expected, he wasn''t thrilled.


    "You want to do what now?" he grumbled after I exined.


    "Just meet me there," I replied. "I might need backup."


    Forty minutester, we stood outside Midnight KTV, the city''s most expensive karaoke club. The building loomed before us, all sleek ss and pulsing lights. Inside, the receptionist eyed us suspiciously until I dropped Violet''s name and mentioned Room 888.


    "Ah, Mr. Yellow Hair''s party," she said with a knowing smile. "Top floor, end of the hall."


    As we rode the elevator up, Eamon shot me a look. "This is a waste of time. Your ex-wife''s sister isn''t your responsibility."


    "I know," I muttered. "But I can''t just leave two women in a potentially dangerous situation."


    "Your heroplex will get you killed one day," he said, shaking his head.


    The elevator doors opened to reveal a corridor lined with plush red carpet and gold-framed artwork. Music thumped from behind closed doors as we made our way toward Room 888.


    "Sounds like quite the party," Eamon observed as we approached.


    I didn''t bother knocking. I pushed open the door to a scene ofplete chaos.


    The Emperor''s Suite was enormous—easily three times the size of a regr KTV room. Champagne bottles littered the tables, some half-empty, others smashed on the floor. A massive screen yed music videos while strobe lights shed overhead. In the center of the room, several young men were dancing, their expensive clothes and watches glinting under the lights.


    I spotted Violet immediately. She was sprawled across a leather couch, giggling as a young man with dyed yellow hair whispered in her ear. Her makeup was smudged, her dress hiking up her thighs as she shifted position.


    Selina sat nearby, nursing a drink and looking deeply ufortable. Relief flooded her face when she saw me.


    "Liam! Thank god," she called out, hurrying to my side.


    Yellow Hair looked up, his eyes narrowing. "Who the hell invited these guys?"


    I ignored him, focusing on Selina. "Are you okay?"


    She nodded quickly. "I''m fine, but Violet''s totally gone."


    I walked over to Violet, who was trying to focus her zed eyes on me.


    "Liam?" she slurred, thenughed. "What are you doing here? Come to join the fun?"


    "We''re leaving," I said firmly, reaching for her arm.


    She yanked it away. "No way! I''m having too much fun with my new friends."


    Yellow Hair smirked, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "You heard thedy. She''s staying."


    I assessed him quickly: early twenties, designer clothes, the kind of entitled rich kid I''d encountered too many times. Behind him, another young man with electric blue hair watched our exchange with amusement.


    "Violet," I tried again, keeping my voice level, "you''re drunk. It''s time to go home."


    She stood up suddenly, swaying dangerously. "You''re not my brother-inw anymore! You''re nothing to me now that you divorced my sister!" Her words were slurred but sharp enough to cut.


    I felt the room''s attention shift to us, everyone now watching this ufortable family drama unfold.


    "Your sister cheated on me and your family treated me like dirt for three years," I replied evenly. "But that''s not why I''m here. Selina called because she was worried about you."


    Violet sneered. "Worried? Please. We''re just having fun." She stumbled, and Yellow Hair caught her, his hands lingering on her waist.


    I nced at Eamon, who gave me a look that clearly said, "I told you so."


    "Fine," I said, turning to leave. "Enjoy your night."


    Selina grabbed my arm, panic in her eyes. "You can''t leave us here!"


    "She doesn''t want help," I pointed out.


    "But I do," Selina whispered desperately. "I can''t leave without her, and I''m scared of these guys. Please, just stay a little while? Until I can convince her to leave?"


    I studied her face and saw genuine fear there. With a reluctant nod, I moved to a table in the corner, Eamon following with a resigned expression.


    "This is a mistake," he muttered as we sat down.


    "Probably," I agreed, keeping my eyes on Violet.


    Yellow Hair had noticed our decision to stay and was clearly unhappy. I watched him whisper something to Blue Hair, who nodded and approached our table with two bottles of expensive whiskey.


    "Since you''re joining us," Blue Hair said with a forced smile, "you should at least drink with us."


    "We''re fine," I replied.


    His smile faltered. "That''s not how it works here. Everyone drinks."


    I watched as Yellow Hair poured another ss for Violet, who was already swaying dangerously. When I stood up to intervene, Blue Hair blocked my path.


    "You''ve got two choices," he said, voice low and threatening. "Either join the party properly, or get out. You''re killing the vibe."


    I looked past him to see Yellow Hair''s hand sliding up Violet''s thigh as she giggled drunkenly, too intoxicated to properly object.


    "Fine," I said abruptly. "You want me to drink? Let''s make it interesting."


    Blue Hair raised an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?" <var ss="in-imprint-a">Chapter provided via *.</var>


    "A contest," I replied, eyes fixed on his. "Between you and me. If you can outdrink me, I''ll leave without Violet. If I win, both girlse with us—no arguments."


    He snickered, ncing back at his friends. "You want to challenge me? Do you even know who I am?"


    "Don''t care," I said tly.


    His face darkened at my dismissal. "I''m Ryan Chen. My father owns half the nightclubs in this city."


    "That exins why you''re such an outstanding drinker," I said sarcastically. "Are you epting the challenge or not?"


    Ryan''s nostrils red. "Fine. But with one condition—you have to match me drink for drink."


    I nodded. "And one condition from me: you have to drink everything I drink."


    By now, everyone in the room was watching our exchange. Even Violet had perked up, her zed eyes trying to focus on the brewing confrontation.


    Ryan smiled confidently, running a hand through his blue hair. "If I can''t outdrink you, I''ll crawl on the floor and bark like a dog!"