chapter 13 Who made you drink ===

Whether she attended or not was not important; what mattered was that Ulric was here. Without her interference, chatting with Ulric was much easier.
"Miss Dun, Mabel doesn't want to come."
"I know, I know her better than anyone. Since she doesn't want to join, let's go."
Wilma intended to take him, but Ulric hesitated, "Miss Dun, maybe I shouldn't go. I'm not familiar with Ryker, there's no need for me to get involved in your dinner."
"Oh, come on, I invited you to accompany me. What's the point if you don't come? Let's go!"
Seeing her insistence, Ulric couldn't refuse anymore, "Alright then!"
"That's more like it! Also, from now on, stop with the 'Miss Dun', I have a name, it's Wilma. You can call me Wilma or Sis Wilma, since you don't seem older than me."
Ulric chuckled, "Alright, I'll call you Sis Wilma then."
Palace Hotel, situated in the bustling downtown area, only the wealthy and influential could come and go here.
Following Wilma into the reserved private room, two men were already waiting inside.
One was Wilder, and the other was Ryker.
Seeing Wilma enter, Wilder hurried forward, but his expression changed when he saw Ulric following her.
"Wilma, why is he here?"
Wilma didn't mince words, "What's it to you?"
Wilder was dumbfounded.
Ryker, being shrewd, saw the awkward situation and quickly said, "Wilma, we're all old acquaintances, no need to be so formal. Come on, please have a seat."
Being polite, Ryker specifically invited Ulric to sit down. He could tell that Ulric's relationship with Wilma was out of the ordinary, so he wanted to be accommodating.
Wilder, seeing this, felt displeased, especially when the four were having dinner, leaving him out. He cursed inwardly, feeling aggrieved.
It was one thing for him to cozy up to Wilma, but now Ryker was sucking up to this bumpkin she brought along. Despite their longstanding acquaintance, Ryker was going all out to please Ulric.
"Bro Ulric, I'm sorry about last time. Here's to you, consider this my apology."
Without waiting for Ulric's response, Ryker downed his drink, and Ulric, not wanting to refuse, did the same.
"Alright, Bro Ulric, from now on, we're friends. If you need anything, just let me know, I won't delay."
At the dining table, the two acted like long-lost friends, enjoying their conversation while Wilder couldn't get a word in.
As the dinner came to an end, Wilder offered to take Wilma home, but she refused.
"Wilma, it's late, let me take you!"
Wilma ignored him and simply grabbed Ulric's arm, leaving the scene.
Watching their intimate figures, Wilder's mouth twitched. Ryker tried to comfort him, "Wilder, don't look, they've gone quite far."
Wilder turned to stare at him, his gaze making Ryker uneasy.
"What's with you? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"What's with me?" Wilder's tone was unhappy, "You're something else, being so enthusiastic with Ulric the moment you met him?"
"Isn't he Wilma's friend? Since Wilma brought him, I can't just ignore him, can I?" Ryker shrugged, "Besides, I just had a drink with him, what's the big deal?"
"The big deal? Ryker, you've been drinking with him since he arrived, where does that leave me? Despite us being old classmates."
Ryker playfully punched him in the chest, "Alright, stop nagging at me. As an apology, how about we go to my nightclub?"
"Not in the mood, I'll head back."
Ryker knew Wilder's thoughts very well. In this situation, he chose not to offend either side.
Though Ulric wasn't dressed lavishly, he wasn't foolish. Since Wilma brought him, their relationship was certainly special. The Cruz Family wasn't short of money, but compared to the Dun Family, they were nothing. For the sake of the Cruz Family, his choice to befriend Ulric was right.
The night breeze gently blew as Ulric and Wilma strolled. Looking at the sparsely populated street, Ulric spoke, "Sis Wilma, it's getting late, shall I walk you home?"
Wilma was slightly surprised, "Why? Don't you want to chat with me?"
"That's not it! I'm just worried about delaying your rest."
Wilma giggled, "Who goes to bed right after dinner? Come on, walk with me?"
With her invitation, Ulric couldn't refuse.
The two strolled until late, and it wasn't until eleven o'clock that Ulric returned to Bloomfield Boulevard.
Upon opening the door, he saw Mabel sitting in the living room watching TV, her arms crossed, looking icy even while watching TV.
Approaching her, she seemed not to notice, her eyes glued to the screen, silent.
"Um, why aren't you sleeping yet?"
"What's it to you?"
Faced with her sudden cold response, Ulric just nodded, "Right, you keep watching TV, I'll go to bed."
As Ulric turned to leave, Mabel suddenly caught a whiff of alcohol and furrowed her brows, "You've been drinking?"
Ulric didn't deny it.
Mabel stood up angrily, "Who permitted you to drink? Do you know whose house this is?"
Ulric was struck dumb.
"I had a drink, is it such a big deal?"
"Ulric, let me make this clear, while I'm living here, I don't want to smell even a hint of alcohol on you." Mabel slammed the TV shut and stormed off to her room. Ulric was speechless at her annoyed and aloof demeanor.
He sniffed at the faint scent of alcohol on himself. It wasn't even noticeable, why was she reacting so strongly? He glanced at her tightly closed door, then turned to take a shower.
The next day, Mabel left Ulric at their residence and went to work alone. As she arrived at the entrance of Bloomfield Boulevard, a Porsche was parked there, with a man leaning against it. Seeing Mabel, he quickly approached, "Mabel, let me give you a ride to work!"
Mabel was extremely repulsed, "Griffin, are you not listening to me? What did I say? I have a boyfriend, can you stop bothering me?"
"Mabel, don't lie to me. If you have a boyfriend, why haven't I seen him accompany you to and from work these days? Come on, I have nothing to do, I'll take you to the office."
Griffin tried to pull her, but Mabel disgustingly pushed his arm aside, embarrassing him.
"Mabel..."
"Griffin, can't you stop being so presumptuous? I have hands and feet, do I need you to escort me?" Mabel's tone was sharp, "Just go, I don't need your affectionate gestures."
"Mabel, I truly love you, can't you give me another chance?"
"That's your problem, it's none of my concern. I have a boyfriend, I'm not interested in you."
"I don't believe you, unless... unless you let him come over and I'll meet him in person."
Mabel glanced at him, "Why should you meet him? He's my boyfriend, why should I let you meet him? Are you leaving or not? If you're not, then don't block my way."
Watching Mabel's heartless departure, Griffin clenched his fists, trembling slightly, "Damn woman, even if I can't have you, no one else will either."