Chapter: 1004

A sly smile played on Norah's lips, both charming and dangerous.

"Well, then," she drawled, “if that's all you have to say."

She found a seat near the exit and settled in. “Thanks for the assist, by the way."

She wasn't oblivious; she recognized his veiled support and offered a quiet word of gratitude.

The bartender wheeled in a cart loaded with booze, and Gerry stepped forward to verify the number.

Dolores, ever perceptive, felt a surge of unease. The woman she instinctively disliked from the very beginning was now a confirmed threat.

Her sharp eyes caught Marlin staring intently at Norah, a look she'd never witnessed him bestow upon another woman.

"Thirty-two bottles in total," Gerry announced, setting down the cart.

"Ten of them red wine."

“Sounds good," Marlin muttered, adjusting his collar self-consciously.

“Today is Dolores’ birthday, everyone. Let's have a good time. This one's on me."

A murmur of appreciation rippled through the room.

The atmosphere shifted, a wave of sycophancy washing over Marlin.

"Marlin, you're too generous!" one exclaimed. "Dolores, you're a lucky woman to have a boyfriend like him."

"Seriously," another chimed in, "I envy you, Dolores."

Dolores basked in the praise. This was what she craved — the admiration, the envy. It was the sole reason she was with Marlin, a trophy to flaunt, a status symbol.

Norah sat alone, an island in a sea of revelry. No one approached her and no one offered her conversation.

Gerry, however, took pity on her isolation. "Miss Wilson," he offered kindly, "why not join the fun? Have a drink?"

Dolores, feigning graciousness, chimed in, "Of course, Miss Wilson!

Since you're close with Martin's dad, you're welcome here. Come, have a drink."

Her voice dripped with veiled condescension as she addressed her friend. “That bottle costs thirty thousand dollars, you know. Be careful not to spill it.”

Her friend's eyes widened in disbelief. "Thirty thousand? I thought it was a few thousand at most!"

Dolores’ triumphant smile stretched across her face. "Naturally, only the finest wine suits Marlin," she declared.

Her friend's envy was palpable. “Dolores, you're so lucky. I wish I had your life."