Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Lewis picked up his beer and joined Doris in drinking . Doris , however , didnt touch anything else on the table after that single bite of taco . Instead , she downed an entire bottle of beer in no time . Lewis frowned , nudging a plate of fried mozzarella closer to her . Dont tell me youre planning to get drunk without eating a thing . Slow down , or youll be out cold before we even finish . The aroma of the fried mozzarella wafied up to Doris , making her stomach growl slightly . She smiled faintly and said , Thanks . Picking up a piece , she took a bite , savoring the crispy , gooey perfection . Then , without missing a beat , she reached for a piece of snow crab leg , quickly cracking it open and devouring the tender meat . Its been ages since Ive eaten like this . Oh my , this is good . She ate with gusto , washing it all down with large gulps of beer . A rosy flush soon spread across her cheeks , her long lashes fluttering lightly as her gaze grew hazy . Her lips curved into a playful smile , and her eyes shimmered with alluring softness . Propping her chin in her hands , she fixed her gaze squarely on Lewis , a goofy grin spreading across her face . Lewis , ever composed , maintained his perfect posture . He hadnt eaten much ; his appetite was dulled after an earlier lunch with a high ranking government official . Doriss call had come in the middle of that meeting , disrupting his otherwise meticulous schedule . Setting his utensils down , Lewis reached for a napkin , dabbing his lips with practiced elegance before lifting his eyes to meet Doriss . His voice was calm , yet tinged with faint amusement . Had your fill of staring ? Doris pouted , undeterred , Whats the big deal ? Wont even let me have a good look ? Dont be so stingy . Lewis shot her a sharp glance , the kind that carried quiet authority . What does this have to do with stinginess ? he mused silently . But Doris took his look as a challenge . Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she braced her hands on the table , rising slightly . Leaning forward , she grabbed the lapels of his shirt , her boldness cutting through the space between them . Do you believe , she declared with a devilish smirk , that not only will I keep staring , but I might even kiss you ? Lewiss eyes widened slightly , caught off guard by her audacity . He reacted swiftly , his hand darting up to gently yet firmly grip her delicate chin . His thumb brushed against her flushed cheek as his sharp gaze locked onto hers . Already acting drunk now ? You havent even drunk that much . His tone was low , with a tinge of teasing annoyance and amusement . Lewis thought , She proposed to me while tipsy now shes trying to pull another stunt . Does she think she can keep taking advantage of me ? Not a chance . His grip on her chin tightened slightly , enough to make her wince . Ow , it hurts ! Doris whimpered , her brows knitting together . At least you can still feel it , Lewis muttered , releasing her and giving her shoulder a gentle push to make her sit back down . Doris plopped back into her seat , rubbing her sore chin with a pout . Her lips quivered slightly , and her misty eyes glistened as though she might cry . She looked so pitifully innocent , but Lewis wasnt buying it . Finish your lunch , and Ill take you home , he said flatly , clearly unimpressed by her theatrics . 1/4 13:18 Wed , 26 Feb EE && Chapter 21 But I havent finished my beer , she protested , holding up her bottle . By now , shed gone through five , setting a personal record . Watching her punish herself like this made Lewiss chest tighten with unease . When she poured herself another glass of beer , his hand shot out , catching her wrist firmly . Thats enough . Lets go home , he said . Im not going home . I want to drink , Doris retorted and wrestled against his grip , but Lewis tightened his hold , his expression resolute . Well drink at home , he coaxed , his voice softer now , as though trying to soothe a stubborn child . Really ? Doriss eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope , her resistance faltering . Only if you behave . Then Lewis successfully tricked Doris into coming home . 11 The moment the door swung open , Doris darted toward the kitchen like a moth to a flame . Lewis closed the door behind him and followed her briskly . He noticed two wine glasses sitting on the counter , but Doris was rummaging through the shelves like a woman on a mission . Wheres the wine ? Where is it ? she mumbled , her words slightly slurred as she scoured every inch of the kitchen . Its not in here . Lewis caught her arm gently but firmly , his voice calm and measured . Come with me . Doris stumbled , nearly losing her footing . Reflexively , Lewis reached out to steady her , his hands wrapping around her arms . Without a word , he guided her down the hall and into her bedroom , easing her onto the edge of the bed . Just as he released her , Doris latched onto his hand , her fingers clutching his like a lifeline . Her glassy eyes , wide and unfocused , stared up at him . She then spoke with the conviction of someone who thought they were perfectly sober , This is my room . Why would there be wine here ? Dont think for a second you can fool me just because Ive had a few drinks . Im not drunk . I can still drink more . She even pounded her chest as if to prove her point , though her words were so garbled they barely made it out in one piece . Of course , youre not drunk , Lewis said , suppressing a smile as he observed this unusually drunk and childish version of her . You can definitely drink more . Just lie down for a bit , and Ill get the wine for you . Liar , she yelled , her voice rising with indignation . Then , without warning , she leaned forward and bit down on the back of his hand like a feisty little kitten . Lewis winced slightly , his brows twitching at the sharp sting . Before he could react , Doris let go , pushed herself off the bed , and wobbled unsteadily toward the bathroom . He followed her , his strides closing the distance in seconds , only to find her hunched over the toilet , retching . Her poor tolerance for alcohol had reached its breaking point , and it was no surprise that she was paying the price and throwing up now . When the worst seemed to be over , Lewis handed her a glass of water , watching as she rinsed her mouth with half closed eyes . But the moment she set the glass down , she leaned against the toilet and drifted into an uneasy slumber . Kneeling beside her , Lewis gently tapped her cheek . Doris ? Wake up . You cant sleep here . Lets get you back to bed . 2/4 13:18 Wed , 26 Feb & • Chapter 21 But she didnt stir , not even a flicker of movement . Frowning , he thought to himself , I cant just leave her here all night . Shell catch a cold . 85 % Rolling up his sleeves , Lewis slipped his arms under her and carefully lifted her from the ground . She was lighter than he expected , but as he adjusted his grip , her legs gave out completely , nearly sending her collapsing back down . He reacted quickly , his strong arms steadying her waist before she could fall . She sagged against him , her head resting on his chest . His brows furrowed slightly at the unexpected closeness . Gritting his teeth , he carried her back to the bedroom , laying her down with deliberate care . Pulling the blanket over her , he made sure she was warm before attempting to step away . Just as he straightened and let go , her hand shot out , gripping his wrist with surprising tenacity . Hartman , she mumbled in her dreamy haze , her voice soft and sweet , like a child seeking comfort . Thank you for dinner tonight . Lewis froze for a moment , then responded coolly , Youre welcome . He gazed at her peaceful , albeit slightly flushed face , his thoughts unfurling quietly . He pondered , Were married , at least in the eyes of the law . I might not love her , but I dont dislike her either . I promised her that Id fulfill my responsibilities during this one year of marriage , and Im a man of my word . If Doris faces difficulties , I wont just stand by and watch . Doris looked heartbreakingly fragile , her lips trembling as if she were on the verge of tears . She pouted pitifully , resembling an abandoned child left to fend for herself . Hartman , she whispered , her voice tinged with a weary melancholy . Today wasnt so bad to me . But tomorrows a new day … a fresh start … Lewis stared at the faint crescent of teeth marks on his hand , a testament to Doriss drunken antics . Glancing back at the culprit , he found her blissfully unaware of the chaos she had caused , fast asleep and entirely guilt free . He sighed , torn between irritation and resignation . For someone who could barely hold her liquor , she sure knew how to turn a quiet afternoon into a whirlwind . But there wasnt anything he could do about it . As his gaze lingered on her peaceful face , he noticed how her disheveled hair framed her delicate features , strands falling across her soft , flawless skin . Almost instinctively , his fingers reached out , brushing the loose hair behind her ear with a surprising tenderness . Her warm breath grazed his fingertips , sending a sudden jolt through him as if hed been struck by a live wire . Shaking off the unexpected sensation , Lewis turned to leave , but just as he reached the door , Doriss phone buzzed loudly , shattering the silence . The caller ID lit up with a name Laura . Initially , Lewis hesitated , reluctant to answer a call that wasnt meant for him . But when the phone vibrated persistently , ringing a second and third time without pause , he figured there must be something urgent and finally picked up . The moment the phone clicked on , Lauras frantic voice came through , sharp with worry . Doris ? Hello , this is Lewis , he replied evenly . Oh, hi , Lewis . This is Laura , Doriss sister . Is she okay ? Concern threaded through her tone , making it clear she was deeply worried . Earlier , Laura had been helpless , unable to stand up to Jimmy and help Doris . So now , all she could do was call to express her care from afar . Lewis lowered his voice , not wanting to wake Doris up . Dont worry . Shes fine , he assured Laura , stepping out of the room 3/4 13:18 Wed , 26 Feb. Chapter 21 and into the living room to keep his voice down . She was exhausted and fell asleep . Relief was audible on the other end . Im glad she has you looking after her . I was so worried , Laura said , her voice softening From the way Lewis had defended Doris earlier , Laura could tell that he was someone worthy of her sisters trust . His actions spoke volumes , showing that he wasnt just a husband by name he was someone who would stand by Doris , no matter the situation . Thank you for trusting me , Lewis replied , his voice warm but polite . Doris has always had an eye for people . I believe in her choices and judgement , and I have faith in you , Laura said , her voice filled with warmth . Based on everything that had happened today , Laura was more than convinced of Lewiss character . As she felt a sense of relief , Lauras thoughts turned bittersweet , and she couldnt help but reflect on the past . My parents were always biased towards our little brother , Rupert , especially my dad . Mom had him when she was older , so they doted on him even more . While Doris and I both had a tough childhood , Doris endured even more hardship than I did . I was the quiet , obedient one , but Doriss personality just wouldnt allow her to bend or submit . Thats why my dad was always harsher with her . She let out a deep sigh before continuing , her voice tinged with nostalgia , Since we were little , anything good food , clothes , toys always went straight to Rupert first . Doris and I would watch him , green with envy . There was this one time , Rupert deliberately flaunted some delicious treat in front of Doris . She couldnt help but stare at him , longing . She asked him for just a little bite , hoping he might share . But instead , he tossed it to the dog without a second thought , leng Doris empty handed Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!