Sebastian looked on, chuckling to himself.


    Priceless.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Everyone knew that the kind of stuff you only do when you''re sloshed, you could never pull off sober.


    In vino veritas, every move was a real tell from deep down.


    Gracie just stood there, fingers starting to tremble.


    He was really pushing her buttons.


    He was drunk, but she wasn''t!


    Ashley caught sight of this and couldn''t help but sigh. She handed Emily off to Stephanie, then walked over and said, "Gracie, do you feel like I owe you so much that I could never pay you back in this lifetime? Maximus is already like this; don''t you feel the least bit sorry for him? I''ve ruined my life and dragged you down with me, and you''ve dragged him down too. I''m the culprit! You seduced him first, and I don''t think he was wrong in the first ce! It was everyone, not just him, who didn''t step up! I, the one involved, don''t me them; who gives you the right to? Maximus did nothing wrong. You''re just taking out your anger on him; that''s the real mistake! Maximus doesn''t owe you anything. You lured him in, he developed feelings for you, and then you treat him like this. Is that fair?"


    Gracie shot her a cold nce and said "I did it all for you!"


    don''t


    "I don''t want you to do anything for me. I''m scared of you! It''s all in the past; I''ve moved on. Why are you still stuck there? Let''s cut to the chase, I owe you too much in this life; I want to owe you anymore! If you keep treating the person you once loved like this, I''ll keep my distance, go abroad, and cut ties with you! Otherwise, I''ll owe you even more and will never be able to pay you back."


    Gracie snapped, "Ashley, are you threatening me?"


    "If you think it''s a threat, then so be it! Anyway, it''s a fact that I owe you; Maximus really doesn''t owe you anything. How you''re treating him is wrong!"


    Gracie took a deep breath: "Fine, all of you, just stand around and watch me make a fool of myself!"


    Mr. Finnegan quickly exined, "Didn''t you bring this on yourself, though?"


    The actors chimed in, "Look, where can you find a great guy like Maximus? He passionate and loaded. Even when his family forced him into marriage and his mother threatened suicide, he didn''t back down. This is what he shared thest time he was drunk: he''s actually quite sad. He''s been lonely for so many years; he doesn''t even have friends."


    ?Can


    "Gracie, you don''t know... when he''s drunk, he''s like a goofball... counting on his fingers, calcting... how much he''ll make after this film... can buy a sapphire ring for his wife, how much hell, make after that film, after tax... can buy you a house, only in your name... He also said that childbirth is like going through death: You''re scared of pain; he won''t let you have kids; it''s so touching; the odd thing is, this guy, when he sobers up, it''s like nothing ever happened; he''s working hard to make money; I refuse to believe you don''t know how hard he''s hustling in the entertainment industry."


    "That''s right!"


    Deep down, Gracie had to be moved, even a little.


    Their rtionship used to be really great-maybe not as passionate as Ashley and Jeffrey''s, but their calm and steady love was just as touching.