Chapter 652: Susan Drinks with Theodore

Oscar and Hannah returned to the sitting room, hand in hand, while Susan preceded them, murmuring at the exuberant decorations. Her teasing comments were somehow endearing, not annoying. She continued chattering as she strolled into the garden, where the lights seemed brighter at night.

Reaching the dining table, Susan froze. She hadn't expected Theodore, let alone Manuel, to be there. She'd assumed Hannah, having refused her invitation, would spend the evening alone with Oscar.

Susan glared furiously at Hannah. Both Theodore and Manuel were present, yet she had been excluded. A wave of hurt washed over her; she questioned her standing as Hannah's best friend.

Hannah, aware of Susan's anger, felt speechless. She could only bite the bullet and say, "Take a seat, Susan."

Susan remained standing, her voice rising. "Hannah, we're not best friends anymore, are we?"

"Nonsense! Of course, we are!" Hannah replied instantly.

"Then why did you invite them but not me?" Susan's hurt was palpable.

Before Hannah could explain, Theodore interjected, "Hell, don't you know the reason yourself?"

Susan stared at him fiercely.

"Didn't you see Manuel is here?" Theodore said pointedly.

Manuel, who had been leaning over the table, sat up. He glanced at Theodore, pursed his lips, and remained silent.

"So what?" Susan retorted angrily.

"Don't you know what you've done?"

"It's no big deal. We just broke up…"

"It was a divorce," Theodore corrected.

Susan gritted her teeth.

"Fine. It was a divorce. No fuss. It's not the end of the world. We should move on."

"Yeah, right. It was only a divorce to you, but to Manuel…"

"Theodore," Manuel interrupted, "enough. Things between Susan and me weren't as bad as you think."

Susan saw Manuel's attempt to defuse the situation, but his indifferent tone disheartened her.

Hannah stepped in, attempting to smooth things over. "Susan, sit down. See? Theodore's drinking alone. You arrived just in time."

"No need. Thanks," Susan replied.

"Are you afraid I'll knock you out?" Susan challenged, her anger quickly subsiding. She possessed a generous spirit and rarely held grudges.

Theodore was provoked. "Are you kidding? You've been wasted every time you drank with me!"

"Not this time!" Susan sat down opposite Theodore. "You'll be stoned this time! I'll win!"

"Funny!" Theodore raised his wine glass. "Bring it on!"

He offered Susan a glass, and they began drinking, their earlier animosity dissolving into camaraderie. They were now drinking buddies.

Hannah watched them, giggling. "Jesus! They're so alike!"

Oscar nodded in agreement.

"Theodore's very different from you and Manuel," Hannah observed, studying Theodore. She considered him more mature.

"Don't be fooled by his playfulness. He handles serious situations well."

Hannah agreed wholeheartedly. She relied on Theodore in times of trouble, and he'd never let her down. Appearances could be deceiving. Susan, like Theodore, was restless, but far less capable. Hannah sighed, wondering when Susan would finally mature.

Theodore and Susan dominated the evening, drinking, laughing, and arguing at the dining table. The other three were accustomed to their antics and simply let them be.

As the night grew late, Oscar and Hannah retired to their room, leaving the trio in the garden. Manuel watched them go, appearing somewhat forlorn. Theodore and Susan continued drinking, while he sat beside them, restrained. He checked the time, deciding it was time to leave, given the hosts' departure.

"Where are you going?" Theodore asked, stopping him as he rose.

Susan glanced at him, quickly averting her gaze.

"Home," Manuel said calmly.

"What about me? Aren't you waiting for me?" Theodore exclaimed, appearing shocked at the prospect of being abandoned.

"You're having fun, right?"

"So? You should stay. Or, Susan and I… you should stay and see who wins!" Theodore insisted seriously.

Manuel was speechless.

"You're not going anywhere!" Theodore declared.

Manuel, accustomed to Theodore's bullying since childhood—he was the youngest, and Theodore wouldn't dare challenge Oscar—had become a doormat. He remained, watching them drink, judging their self-destructive behavior, anticipating the inevitable end.

Finally, unable to endure it further, Manuel took their wine glasses. "Okay. That's enough."

"No! Susan's not drunk yet!"

"I won't be drunk!" Susan stood, looking ready to strike him.

"Nonsense!" Theodore taunted. "I'll knock some sense into you, so you'll know your place!"

He tossed off his wine, but Susan didn't back down, reaching for the glass. Manuel intercepted her hand.

"What are you doing?" Susan demanded angrily.

"Time to go home," Manuel said coldly.

"I'm not leaving until Theodore's drunk and admits defeat."

"Enough," Manuel said firmly.

"Who are you to decide? Who the hell do you think you are to me!" Susan belched, her eyes misty, but her arrogance undiminished.

"I'm nobody to you," Manuel said calmly. Though slightly annoyed by her attitude, he remained emotionally detached. "I'll call Henry to pick you up."