Chapter 463

And if Noah’s loving gaze from across the room was any indication, he was having the same thoughts. Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door. Noah jumped from his chair and strode to answer it, checking his watch. The pizza wasn't supposed to be here yet.

When he returned, he carried a bottle of wine—adorned with a red bow—and wore a curious expression. I sat up, eyeing the bottle cautiously. "What's that?"

"I guess my father stopped by the front gate and left this with the security officer," Noah said, handing me the bottle—an expensive red. "A gift."

Eyebrows raised, I opened the small card attached to the bow and read its contents:

"Dear Noah and Hannah; Congratulations on, well… everything! Consider this a little peace offering as well. I know my behavior was inappropriate last weekend and I hope this will make up for that, at least a little."

"P.S.," I read aloud. "I'd recommend pairing this with some of that delicious elk steak you served last week."

There was a moment of silence as we all processed whatever that was. Drake, leaning back in an armchair with Viona perched on his leg, spoke first.

"Well, that certainly sounds nice. I can't say I'm drinking that, though."

Noah and I exchanged curious glances. It was a fresh bottle of expensive wine, corked and factory-sealed. Marcus may have been a royal jackass, but he wasn't the type to tamper with someone's wine.

And although surprising, the note was… nice. An apology. A little peace offering. My mind wandered back to that plane ticket, and I wondered if Marcus was changing, however subtly.

Noah seemed to have the same thought, because he grabbed the wine and reached for the corkscrew behind the bar. "I guess we all get sentimental in our old age, don't we?" he mused as he uncorked the bottle. "Maybe my father is finally starting to see the benefit of treating people with a touch of kindness."

Viona snorted. "Or plying them with gifts and alcohol to make them compliant."

I chuckled. "That seems likely. But wine is wine, right?"

Noah poured two glasses—Viona and Drake opted to raid our liquor cabinet instead, settling on sloppily made margaritas—and handed one to me. It was good wine, and with Melody staying with my parents until I settled in, I could let loose a little.

And let loose I did. Before I knew it, I'd gotten far drunker than intended—so much so that not even four slices of pizza and several garlic knots could sober me up. We were all thoroughly drunk by ten o'clock, laughing until we could hardly breathe over increasingly ridiculous games of Charades.

At one point, Drake swept Viona up and danced with her around the room, causing her face to turn as red as a strawberry. Noah and I leapt up as well, clasping hands and twirling until the room blurred.

We weren't spinning long, however, before I tripped over Noah's feet, and we both sprawled across the carpet in a tangle of limbs and laughter.

I didn't realize something was wrong until Viona's face appeared above me, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Hannah? Hannah, are you okay?" Her voice sounded muffled, distant, like I was underwater.

The room spun as I turned my head. Beside me, Noah was being helped into a sitting position by Drake. He was conscious, but his head lolled, and he muttered something incoherent.

"I… I think…"

Everything went dark before I could say what was on my mind. Something was in that wine after all.

Chapter 464