Chapter 7

After handling her discharge paperwork, Juliet dragged Henry along under the guise of a girls' dinner. When they stepped into the private room and saw Damien and Callie seated in the middle, Henry's expression darkened. He immediately turned to leave. Juliet held him back with all her strength and softly pleaded with him before he reluctantly sat down. The group of buddies exchanged glances and paid close attention to their expressions. Every now and then, they would crack jokes to lighten the mood. Callie seized the chance and walked over to Henry. She said apologetically, "Henry, what happened at the hospital was just an accident. Damien only reacted the way he did because he was worried about me. Julie and I are gonna feel bad if you two keep fighting over something so trivial." With Callie handing him a way out, Henry's expression eased, though his tone remained cold. "I'll let it slide as long as he apologizes to Julie." Damien shot him an equally cold look and said firmly, "I'll apologize to her if she apologizes to Callie first." The two men were on the verge of snapping again when their buddies rushed to step in. "Hey, we've known each other for years now, so why make such a big deal out of this? Say… let's just drink a toast to it and put everything behind us, alright?" Callie was the first to pick up her glass. Seeing that, Damien frowned and got up to grab her glass. Then, he downed it all in one gulp before setting the empty glass in front of Henry. It was only now that Henry followed with a drink. The tension in the room finally began to ease and thaw. "Damn, you sure are whipped by your future wife, Damien. Does that mean we'll have to get her permission the next time we get you out for a drink?" Amid the teasing, Callie's cheeks flushed. She gave Damien a playful push, and a faint smile cracked on his lips. He lazily said, "Callie's on her period, so she shouldn't drink. It makes sense that I step up for her now that I'm her future hubby. "Once we're married, she'll always be updated on where I am and what I do. What's so strange about that?" His words sent a wave of teasing laughter around the table. "You're really something, Callie. Look at the cold, untouchable bachelor of Novara getting completely tamed by his woman. You guys are so in love it's sickening." Sitting quietly to the side, Juliet listened to it all and felt strangely numb. When Henry turned to check on her with a concerned look, she simply smiled and gestured that she was fine. Before long, they started playing drinking games. Callie lost round after round, racking up quite a number of penalty drinks. Damien barely frowned as he laughed, downing every glass for her. Watching him tirelessly chug down glass after glass, Juliet quietly got up and slipped out to the restroom alone. After washing her hands, she was about to return to the private room when a familiar voice came from around the stairs. "Honey, do you know that it was love at first sight the first time I saw you? But you were always so cold toward me that I thought you only saw me as a friend. That's why I never dared to confess and just stayed by your side year after year. I guess loving someone really does make you fear losing them…" Damien leaned drunkenly against Callie's shoulder as she steadied him. Her eyes sparkled with a shy glint, and there was a playful scolding in her tone as she asked, "Is that why you came up with this plan and used Juliet as your cover, just to make me your girlfriend? Do you like me that much?"