Chapter 58: Who was the woman you had a blind date with last time?
Caroline Whitman glanced over and sat down.
She compared her state of mind from earlier in the day to how she felt now.
’How strange. Earlier today, I felt like I was on pins and needles.’
But now, surrounded by so many people, she didn’t feel that same awkwardness.
Yvonne Grant had enthusiastically pulled Lily Young to sit beside her, with Yvonne herself sitting in the middle.
"Oh, right, you must know my cousin, right? I’m his younger cousin, Yvonne Grant."
Yvonne Grant introduced herself, her gaze shifting between Caroline Whitman and Adrian Grant.
She had heard a little rumor from the elders.
A while ago, Adrian Grant had actually agreed to go on a blind date. As for who the date was, rumor had it she was the heiress of the Whitman Group.
Caroline Whitman smiled. "I know him. Our companies have worked together."
Adrian Grant nodded. This time, unlike during the business trip, he wasn’t cold. He proactively began introducing his friends around him.
"This is my cousin, Yvonne Grant."
"Cuz, you’re not even trying. I already introduced myself."
Adrian Grant moved on to the next person. "Milo Morgan, my childhood friend."
At that, Milo Morgan jumped in, pulling Chloe Carson, who was beside him, closer with a smile. "And this is my wife."
Chloe Carson also smiled slightly. "Hello."
Caroline Whitman nodded. "Hello."
With Milo Morgan and Chloe Carson taking the lead, Zane Carson and Evan Shaw also spared Adrian Grant the trouble of speaking, introducing themselves and the friends and sisters they had brought along.
"Evan Shaw. I’m also his childhood friend. This is my younger sister, Yara Shaw."
"Zane Carson. Milo, Adrian, and I are all childhood friends. This is a junior from my university, Nina King."
Caroline Whitman calmly committed each person to memory.
’What a surprise. Not a single person here is from Vincent Fuller’s circle.’
They were also all individuals she had no recollection of.
After the introductions, everyone went back to drinking and chatting.
Lily Young was a natural extrovert and quickly blended in with the group.
Someone suggested they play a game of quick-fire questions—a simplified version of Truth or Dare.
The rules were simple.
The person who drew the King card would call out a number. The person with that number had to answer a question immediately. No dodging. If you didn’t want to answer, you had to drink a glass of alcohol as a penalty.
This was a game they only played on the rare occasions they all got together after a long time apart.
Yvonne Grant asked Caroline Whitman and Lily Young if they wanted to play.
A chance to hear gossip? Lily Young loved that kind of thing, so she agreed with an enthusiastic nod.
Caroline Whitman readily agreed. She was also quite curious about what sort of questions these people would ask each other in private.
’Besides,’ she thought, ’my luck can’t be so bad that I get picked every single time.’
"Hey, Adrian, you in?" Milo Morgan suddenly asked Adrian Grant.
Caroline Whitman turned her head, suddenly curious. "You’ve never played this before?"
Adrian Grant: "Never."
Caroline Whitman raised an eyebrow. It was unexpected, yet it also made perfect sense.
’This really doesn’t seem like a game a villain would participate in.’
At that moment, Evan Shaw chuckled. "This guy used to only come back once a year. Every time we got together and played this, he’d just listen from the side, soaking up all our gossip."
Zane Carson rubbed his hands together. "If you’re joining, don’t blame us for not holding back."
Adrian Grant: "That will depend on your luck."
Round one.
Adrian Grant drew the King card. He tossed it onto the table and said in a low voice, "Number 7."
Zane Carson threw down his number 7 card, saying casually, "Go ahead, ask."
"What is your company’s most profitable project?"
Zane Carson: "???"
It wasn’t just them who were silent; even Caroline Whitman was struggling to keep a straight face.
’You can ask that?’
Zane Carson: "Seriously? Is that how you play this game?"
Adrian Grant: "The rules don’t forbid it."
Evan Shaw leaned back, roaring with laughter. "Answer up! If you won’t say, then drink."
Zane Carson grabbed a glass and chugged it down, saying scornfully, "Trying to fish for business secrets like this? Dream on."
"Just you wait. Don’t let me catch you."
In light of Adrian Grant’s first question, a new rule was added: no asking questions related to work.
Round two. Adrian Grant drew the King card again.
"Number 10."
It was Caroline Whitman.
"..."
’I was just thinking my luck couldn’t be that bad. How did it get to me so quickly?’
After Caroline Whitman revealed her card, Adrian Grant paused. He pondered for a few seconds before asking, "The person you hate the most."
"..."
Caroline Whitman thought for only two seconds. She ran through everyone in her mind, and the face she finally landed on was Matthew Grant’s.
But this was Adrian Grant’s circle, and two members of the Grant Family were present. If she said it out loud, she would be giving them leverage against her.
So, without a word, Caroline Whitman simply picked up her glass and took a sip.
’This drink is surprisingly smooth. It’s sweet and actually pretty good.’
Just then, Finn Kaye said in surprise, "Wow, our sis-in-law is a real character."
Evan Shaw rubbed his nose. "Speaking of which, the person our sis-in-law hates... couldn’t be one of us, could it?"
Caroline Whitman’s reaction made it hard for people not to overthink things.
Caroline Whitman smiled. "No, you’re overthinking it."
At this point, Chloe Carson stepped in to smooth things over with a laugh. "Maybe our sis-in-law was just thirsty and wanted a drink to wet her throat."
Caroline Whitman nodded. "This drink really is good."
With everyone’s attention diverted, Yvonne Grant laughed and said, "Of course it is! This is good stuff. But even though it’s low in alcohol, it has a strong kick if you drink too much. Don’t overdo it, sis-in-law."
Lily Young had started it by calling her "sis," so soon everyone else followed her lead, referring to Caroline as "sis-in-law" as a friendly, familiar gesture.
Round three. The tables finally turned, and Adrian Grant didn’t get the lucky draw.
The King card landed in Caroline Whitman’s hands.
"Number 6."
As she said it, Adrian Grant looked at the number 6 card in his hand and tossed it out.
Just then, Yvonne Grant excitedly grabbed Caroline Whitman’s hand and showed her a phone. The screen displayed several classic questions used for Truth or Dare.
"Sis, sis, ask this one."
Caroline Whitman looked at the question she was pointing to: *Do you have a secret crush on someone?*
’This question...’ In fact, when they first started negotiating about the child, she and Adrian Grant had already had a similar round of confessions.
But seeing the gossipy, drama-hungry looks in everyone’s eyes, she didn’t mind helping them out.
"Do you have a secret crush on someone?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Adrian Grant, without a hint of hesitation, picked up the clear glass with his long fingers. He tilted his head back for a light sip, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.
The whole room was speechless. "..."
’Why did I never realize how crafty this guy was?’
Next round.
Caroline Whitman got the King card again.
She casually called out a number. "Number 9."
Adrian Grant silently glanced at the number 9 card in his hand and threw it out again.
Yvonne Grant once again excitedly tapped a question on her screen.
Conveniently, Caroline Whitman couldn’t be bothered to think of a question. "How many relationships have you been in?"
After asking, she found herself inexplicably looking forward to Adrian Grant’s answer.
However, Adrian Grant refused to play by the rules. Repeating his previous move, he unhesitatingly raised his glass and downed it in one go.
"..."
The fourth round, Yvonne Grant drew the King card.
"Number 10."
Adrian Grant lowered his gaze to the card in his hand and threw out his number 10.
Yvonne Grant refused to believe her cousin wouldn’t answer a single question tonight.
"Who was the woman from your last blind date?"