Drink Like a Fish

Irene didn't want to celebrate something that she hadn't done yet. However, Sebastian's offer didn't sound bad either. For a few days, she had already suffered because of her wicked sister, so she decided to have fun that night.

Sebastian brought her to a fine dining restaurant on the hotel's first floor. He reserved a private room so no one would disturb them.

When the waiter poured red wine into their glasses, Irene searched for her name on several well-known news sites. After receiving a lot of negative comments and fake news that made her look bad, many new articles started appearing that tried to clear her name.

HOAX: Irene Russell Never Bad Mouthing Her Sister!

HOT NEWS: Irene Russell and Catelyn Russell Turn Out to Be Good Sisters

Irene raised one of her eyebrows, then looked at Sebastian across the table. "Really? Good sisters?"

Sebastian swayed his glass, so the red wine mixed with ice cubes. "Everyone will start to leave you alone when they know two sisters from a wealthy family are not at each other throats."

He continued to talk before sipping his red wine, "No drama, no case."

Irene sighed but found Sebastian's words to be true. Although she hated being considered to have a good relationship with Catelyn, at least it was better than being chased by those damn reporters.

"People are such a shit, aren't they?" Irene rubbed her sore forehead and continued, "I hope this kind of news will never chase me again."

Sebastian chuckled. "Why should you be afraid? As long as you have my money, nothing bad will happen to you."

Bad gossip? He just needed to bribe the media companies to take down that news.

A failed business? Irene didn't have to worry because Sebastian could provide a lot of money so she could build a new business.

Even if she did some bad things, Sebastian could shut everyone's mouth with his money.

As long as she had Sebastian's money, all her problems would disappear, and no one could blame her.

The sudden realization hit her like a bus, making her want to marry Sebastian as soon as possible to gain his fortune.

"Mr. Delacroix, I still don't believe you married me just because you wanted to find a decoration for your party," Irene smirked and looked at Sebastian with a sinister glance. "Are you involved in something that money can't solve? Having an affair maybe?"

He was able to control the media, but even Sebastian could not control bad rumors spread among wealthy people. Those nasty rumors might gradually die down if he had other big news to throw at them.

"Affair? Miss Russell, why would I become someone's secret lover?" Sebastian pushed a bottle of red wine towards Irene, then challenged, "How about this ... if you can finish this bottle of wine, then I answer all your questions."

Irene happily took the bottle. She smiled. "You've chosen the wrong opponent, Mr. Delacroix."

She had been a great drinker since college. She had to drink three bottles of booze to get drunk and become wasted. Hence, drinking one bottle of red wine was not a big deal for her.

At least, that's what she thought.

After finishing half a bottle of wine, Irene's head suddenly spun around. Her whole face turned red, and she couldn't stop looking at Sebastian with a stupid smile on her face.

She was drunk just by drinking half a bottle of wine.

Irene pointed at Sebastian after hitting the table. "That's not ordinary red wine, is it?"

Sebastian held Irene's index finger and smiled slyly. "I ordered a red wine with a stronger alcohol than the usual wine. I'm kinda surprised you can drink half of it."

"You liar bastard." Irene pulled Sebastian's hand until their faces were close. "You must be doing this on purpose ... so... so I can't ask you anything."

Irene swayed her index finger and clicked her tongue several times. "Even though I look drunk, my brain can still function well."

Sebastian lowered his gaze, looking at Irene, who was having trouble lifting her head. "I can see that."

She had only drunk half a bottle; if Irene had downed an entire bottle of wine, she would be completely wasted. Let alone asking Sebastian anything important, she probably wouldn't be able to maintain her consciousness.

"Give me ... give me a discount." Irene placed her forehead on the table. "If you answer my question, even though I've only drunk half the bottle, I'll give you something else in return."

"Oh, what is that?" asked Sebastian enthusiastically.

Irene raised her head, her eyelids blinking so slowly and her reddened face looking adorable in Sebastian's eyes. "Anything you want, Mr. Delacroix."

"Be careful with your words, dear." Sebastian patted Irene's head. "You don't know what kind of person I am."

"You're a nice person." 

"How do you know that? Didn't you always suspect me from the beginning?"

The smile on Irene's face widened, and she giggled. "You're the only person who helped me when I was in trouble, even gave me a lot of money." she raised her thumb. "I really really love money."

Although Irene loved chugging alcohol until she forgot about her problems, she did not like her behavior when drunk. Not only would she keep smiling like a fool, but her words would also become kinder than when she was sober, even complimenting people she hadn't known for a long time.

Until now, Irene had only drunk to the point where she couldn't tell north from south when she was alone, so this was the first time someone had seen her drunk until she lost her mind.

"If I give you more money, will you like me more?" Sebastian had a lot of fun when he saw the cold woman in front of him turned out to be an adorable, kind-hearted woman.

Irene held Sebastian's hand, touching each of his fingers as if she wanted to count them. "But I just want your answer now. In return, I can give you anything you want."

"Well, if you insist, then I'll do it." Sebastian smiled schemingly. "I will answer your question despite you can't finish one bottle of wine. However, I will ask for something in return. Do we have a deal, Miss Russell?"

Irene shook Sebastian's hand quickly like a kid, who was about to be given a gift by her parents. "Deal!"

"You should act this cute when you're sober, Irene." Sebastian stroked her cheeks and asked softly, "Alright. What do you want to know?"