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Adrian sat at the bar, guzzling liquor as if it were water. His movements were unsteady, but the liquor seemed to calm the storm raging inside him. John Harrison and Jason Brown exchanged alarmed glances.
“Should we say something?” John mouthed to Jason, his concern palpable.
Jason shrugged, a wry smile forming on his lips. “Do you think we can actually stop him?”
John’s frown deepened. “He’s had too much. It’s not good for him.”
Jason nodded in agreement, but both men knew better than to intervene too directly. They watched as Adrian took another long gulp, his eyes bloodshot, his aura darkening with every sip. Finally, they decided to step in.
“Enough, Adrian,” John said firmly, moving toward him. “Stop drinking. Even if you’re trying to drown your sorrows, you’ve had enough. If you keep going, you’ll pass out soon.”
Adrian sneered, his eyes cold but unfocused. He didn’t respond, continuing to drink as though the words didn’t matter. The two friends exchanged a glance, unsure if they were getting through to him.
Jason raised an eyebrow, observing Adrian’s behavior. “What’s going on with him? Vivian’s back. Why isn’t he rushing off to see her instead of getting wasted here?”
John thought for a moment, then nodded slowly. “It’s probably because Vivian’s back that he’s like this.”
Jason blinked, not following immediately, then a realization crossed his face. “You mean… he’s torn, right? He knows he has to divorce Eva, but he can’t bring himself to do it.”
John sighed deeply. “Makes sense. They’ve been together for so long. He’s probably struggling to let go.”
As they exchanged their observations, Adrian suddenly turned toward them, his piercing gaze cutting through the conversation. Jason felt an immediate chill run down his spine.
“Who’s struggling to let go?” Adrian’s voice was low, dangerous.
Jason hesitated, caught off guard. But after a moment of uncertainty, he pointed at John. “I was talking about him. He can’t seem to let go of his girlfriend.”
Jason quickly refilled Adrian’s glass, trying to redirect his attention. “Just drink quietly, Adrian. No need to get involved in our conversation.”
Normally, Jason wouldn’t dare talk to Adrian this way, but the alcohol had dulled Adrian’s sharpness, and he was starting to feel a little more confident. However, he underestimated how quickly Adrian could snap out of his drunken stupor.
“How dare you command me?” Adrian’s voice grew dangerously cold.
Jason’s heart raced. “I didn’t command you! You wanted to drink, I was just pouring for you! Did I say something wrong?” He stammered, attempting to smooth things over.
Adrian glared at him, displeasure radiating from his every movement. He glanced down at the filled glass, his lips pressed into a tight line, but then he lifted it to his mouth, ready to drink again.
John, sensing the rising tension, reached out to stop him. “Enough, Adrian. Let’s just talk about this. Drinking won’t solve anything.”
Adrian paused, his gaze icy. The silence between them thickened, and for a moment, even John felt a pang of hesitation. But before he could pull back, Adrian suddenly collapsed onto the table with a loud thud, his body going limp.
Jason’s eyes widened. “Is he really drunk? No way!”
John, who had been watching closely, nodded. “Seems like it.”
“I thought he was fine. I was worried his tolerance had gone up, but it turns out it’s the same as before,” Jason muttered, still in disbelief.
Taking advantage of the situation, Jason smirked, considering playing a prank on Adrian. But John’s warning stopped him before he could do anything.
“If you don’t want to be killed when he wakes up, you better stop,” John said, his tone serious.
Jason quickly backed off, realizing the gravity of the situation. “What do we do now? Take him home?”
John shook his head. “We can’t leave him like this. I’ll call his family.”
Jason raised an eyebrow. “His family? Why? Isn’t Vivian the one who can reason with him?”
John looked at him nonchalantly. “Is that so? Let’s see.”
Jason was about to argue, but then he watched as John unlocked Adrian’s phone and started scrolling through his contacts. To his surprise, John didn’t dial Vivian’s number. Instead, he dialed Eva’s.
Jason frowned, his unease growing. “Why are you calling Eva? You know Adrian… she’s probably not the one he wants to hear from right now.”
John didn’t respond, but his actions spoke volumes. He glanced at the phone, watching the call ring.
Jason muttered, almost to himself, “Maybe she’s asleep. It’s late…”
The phone rang for what felt like an eternity, and just as Jason spoke, the call was answered. But there was silence on the other end, as if the person picking up wasn’t quite sure they wanted to talk.
John cleared his throat softly, sensing the tension. “Hello, Eva? This is John.”
Eva’s voice, faint with surprise, came through. “John? Is everything okay?”
John took a moment, glancing at Adrian, who was still slumped over on the table, unconscious. He spoke softly, careful not to reveal too much. “Adrian’s drunk, and I had to use his phone to get in touch with you.”
