I Faked My Death—Now I Have to Tame the Crazy Men I Left Behind

Chapter 137 - 135: The One Who Isn’t Loved Is the Third Party

BOOM. Mia felt like her brain had just exploded.

Kissing?

Here??

Huh???

Mia had never been one for theatrics. Since she was already here, she was game.

It’s just...

...this situation felt a little off.

She glanced at Felix, then peeked at Ian from the corner of her eye.

Yikes.

Unfortunately, both brothers were staring right back at her.

Logically, she should choose Felix.

But, she was afraid that if she did, the puppy across from her would go ballistic and flip the table.

"Can I just drink?"

’The penalty is drinking, right? It’s only three glasses.’

With that, she started to pour a drink.

The moment she lifted the glass, someone couldn’t stay seated.

A hand clamped down on her wrist.

"I’ll drink for you."

The voice belonged to Ian, but the one holding her wrist was... Felix.

Mia’s expression, like everyone else’s, was one of surprise.

Ian rubbed his nose sheepishly. "This stuff is strong. Forget three glasses—one would knock you out."

’He had a point. But Ian couldn’t drink it for her either.’

’What would people think if Ian drank in her place?’

While she hesitated, Felix had already released her hand and taken the glass.

Without a word, he drained the glass.

Mia froze, rushing to stop him as he poured a second glass. "No, no, no, your alcohol tolerance is even worse than mine..."

"I’m fine," Felix said lightly, his gaze reassuring.

Someone chimed in, "Hey, if neither of you can drink, just don’t. Why not just do the dare..."

Before they could finish, someone nudged them.

The voice cut off abruptly.

Realizing she couldn’t dissuade Felix, Mia felt her eyelid twitch.

This time, she used more force, snatching the glass back and setting it firmly on the table.

Felix looked up.

He’d only had one glass, so he wasn’t drunk yet. His mind was still clear.

So, he watched with perfect clarity as Mia picked up a napkin from the table.

Watched with perfect clarity as she stood up.

Watched with perfect clarity as she placed the napkin over his lips, then leaned down and kissed him.

Three seconds. It felt longer than she had imagined.

Far, far longer than the glance she’d given him from her seat on the bus.

Across from them, Dixon glanced over, silently observing Ian.

Ian was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, watching the farce unfold with a blank expression.

The puppy was grinding his teeth.

His canines scraped against each other, making a harsh, grating sound.

Unfortunately, it was easily drowned out by the surrounding catcalls, and no one noticed.

Strange.

It was too strange.

’Knowing Ian’s personality, there was no way he’d be this quiet at a time like this.’

Halfway through the game, Dixon used a smoke break as an excuse to drag Ian outside.

「The restroom.」

Dixon lit a cigarette and casually tossed the lighter across to him.

"You punk, I really never saw it before."

"See what?" Ian leaned lazily against the wall, fiddling with the lighter without lighting a cigarette.

"That you’re totally down bad, you romantic."

At that, Ian looked up, a smile revealing his sharp canines. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

Dixon rolled his eyes and jabbed him with his elbow. "Are you insane? That’s your brother!"

"Don’t tell me the girl—uh, female classmate—you’ve been talking about all this time... is her!"

The flint wheel scraped, a blue flame leaped up, and with a CLICK, the lid snapped shut, extinguishing it.

After flicking it open and closed a few more times, Ian finally answered nonchalantly, "It’s not."

"Stop pretending! That’s your sister-in-law! Yes, she’s gorgeous, but this is immoral!"

Dixon, who had just taken a drag from his cigarette, suddenly remembered why Mia Grant looked so familiar.

The person who’d rejected him on the first day of school, the one he hadn’t been able to get off his mind, was Mia Grant!

Tsk.

’What an absurd coincidence.’

’The entire dorm nearly fell for her.’

"Weren’t you the one encouraging me to steal someone’s girl before?"

"..." Dixon was at a loss for words. "That was then, this is now! Poaching a stranger’s girlfriend is one thing, but don’t go after your own brother’s! It’ll just cause bad blood."

"You can try to steal anyone’s girl, so why does it have to be your brother’s?"

"Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear them say they’re not together?" Ian sneered. "It’s not even clear who’s stealing from whom. What makes you think I’m the immoral one?"

He hadn’t planned on admitting anything, but hearing that really rubbed him the wrong way.

’Why is everyone so sure that I’m the one trying to steal her away?’

’Just because Felix looks so prim and proper, like the hero of the story? Come on, we have the same damn face!’

"Tsk." Dixon jabbed a finger at him. "I might not know Felix, but I know you, right?"

"Besides, your brother only said they weren’t together to be considerate, to save the girl from embarrassment."

"Did you see how sweet they were together just now? Does that look like they’re just friends?"

"They’re just one final step away!"

"Sweet? I didn’t see it," the puppy said, turning his head away.

Dixon felt his vision go dark. "Get a grip! I was sitting right next to you, and the stench of your jealousy nearly knocked me out!"

"I’m begging you. You can be anything in the world, why be the other man?"

The puppy was cold, coolly and arrogantly tossing a line back at him: "The one who isn’t loved is the third wheel."

"..."

Dixon was speechless. ’Why does that line sound so familiar?’

Back in the private room, Dixon still hadn’t processed the complicated love triangle.

As he sat back down, his gaze drifted between the three of them.

He tried to sort out their relationship in his head.

’He loves her, he also loves her, and she loves... oh, for crying out loud.’

’My head hurts.’

When the dinner party ended, Sutton called a taxi.

"Did Felix drive here? We should call a designated driver for him since he was drinking."

Mia nodded, signaling for them to go on ahead. "I’ll call for a driver in a minute."

"Why call a driver? I’ll drive," Ian, who hadn’t moved until now, volunteered.

Mia glanced at him, her brow furrowing.

The puppy met her gaze and shot her a smile, one eyebrow raised.

"You don’t have to trouble yourself..."

’She had a feeling he was up to no good.’

The puppy said, "As the younger brother, isn’t it my duty to be of service to my sister-in-law and big brother?"

"..."

’Service.’

’What a loaded word.’

"Alright, alright, we’ll leave Felix in your hands, then. We’re taking off."

The others quickly dispersed.

Dixon looked a little worried, but Ian tossed him his jacket and shooed him away. "Hurry up and go, the dorms are closing soon."

Dixon shot him a meaningful look. "You... keep a cool head, alright?"

"Go on, get out of here," Ian said, giving him a playful kick.

Turning back, he looked at the pair and curled his lip into a smile. "Big brother, Sister-in-law, it’s getting late. Time to head home and rest. Shall we go?"

Mia swallowed hard and looked at Felix. "Are you alright? Let me help you up."

Felix shook his head gently and pushed himself up using the armrest of the chair.

He was clearly drunk. Even if he wouldn’t admit it, a flush spread from his cheeks to his ears and down his neck.

His eyes had lost their usual clarity, appearing slightly clouded like a clear spring whose silty depths had been disturbed.

Afraid he might fall, Mia reached out. "Let me help..."

But a hand shot out from the side, faster than hers. It steadied Felix while its owner squeezed between them.

Right in front of Felix, the puppy leaned in and bit her earlobe, warning in a vicious whisper, "Don’t you touch him!"