The Restrained Rose Is Surrounded By Brambles

"Give her the contract," Oliver commanded Emery. "Amelia, look at the last line. Don't think this is a place you can come to whenever you want."

Confused, Emery handed me the contract and explained, "Ms. Caldwell, you signed a three-year contract with the club. If you break it for personal reasons, you'll have to pay compensation."

Not only would I face financial penalties, but my future career prospects would also be affected.

I knew that if Oliver wanted to make my life difficult in Kingfolk, he had the means to do so.

Taking a deep breath, I turned around, accepted the contract, and firmly stated, "I'm not leaving."

Lamia couldn't help but laugh. "Well then, we should properly welcome our new member. Oliver, how about throwing a party?"

Oliver, holding Lamia in his arms, said lovingly, "Anything you say."

The club was given a day off, and all the members gathered in the restaurant, their curious gazes fixed on me as I sat in the corner.

Although Lamia called it a party, it was clear she intended to embarrass me.

Sitting arrogantly in the center seat, she ordered me to pour her wine.

Everyone's attention shifted to me.

"Isn't that Amelia, the one who had resigned before?" someone asked.

"I heard she was poached by a rival club. She actually has the nerve to come back," another sneered.

Some of my former colleagues recognized me and began discussing my character among themselves.

I could have refused Lamia's invitation and left, but doing so would only make this group of people see me as guilty.

My self-esteem wouldn't allow it.

So, I generously poured wine for Lamia and handed it to her. Unexpectedly, Lamia made things difficult for me.

"Ms. Caldwell, I heard you once betrayed Oliver. Wouldn't it be insincere to just pour a glass of wine?"

A heavy silence fell upon the room, with no one daring to speak.

Oliver stared at me coldly as if trying to see through me.

I smiled and pretended to be calm as I drank the wine. "I will do my best to serve the club as stated clearly in the contract. This toast is for Mr. Adams. Let's put aside our grudges."

Lamia raised an eyebrow, and someone immediately handed her another glass of wine.

I looked at Lamia, feigning a smile. "Ms. Bates, this glass is for you, who supported Mr. Adams and helped the club during its most difficult times."

With that, I quickly finished the drink.

Lamia laughed with satisfaction, while Oliver remained silent the whole time.

After I drank two glasses of wine, the party suddenly became lively.

Perhaps it was Lamia's intention, but many people approached me to toast.

I was actually couldn't hold my liquor, especially when faced with consecutive drinks.

However, if I wanted to stay in the club peacefully, I knew I had to drink these drinks.

Suddenly, memories flooded back to the past when I first joined the club. At the celebration party, someone had also teased me into drinking.

Back then, Oliver would stand up for me and even take the drinks on my behalf.

But now, there was no one to drink wine on my behalf; I was all alone.

The corners of my eyes reddened from the alcohol, and my face started to blush furiously.

To make matters worse, I realized my consciousness was slipping away.

As the wine glass approached me, I tried to push it away and slowly backed towards the sofa.

The crowd expressed their disappointment and attempted to force the drink down my throat.

That's enough," a commanding voice interrupted.

The restless crowd immediately ceased their actions, and my consciousness faded completely as I collapsed onto the sofa.

In a daze, I felt someone picked me up, but my vision was too blurred to discern who it was.