Damon finished ordering the dishes and looked up at N. “Is there anything else. you’d like? Let’s order two more.”


    N took the menu and added two more dishes.


    When Damon heard the names, his eyes brightened with surprise. “I didn’t expect you to remember what I like..


    N’s expression remained neutral. “Mr. Sumner, l’also like these two dishes.”


    “I see,” Damon replied.


    N pretended not to notice the disappointment and loneliness in his eyes. She poured a ss of red wine for both of them and raised her ss.


    “Mr. Sumner, I’m very grateful for your help during my time at Prospectus Technology<i>, </i>and for saving me several times. I’d like to toast to you. I’ll finish my ss. You can drink as you please,” she said.


    Damon tried to stop her, but it was toote. He watched as she downed half a ss of wine in one go. His gaze grew somber as he lifted his ss and drank it in one gulp.


    .


    When N reached for the wine bottle again, he stopped her. “Drinking too much isn’t good for you. Let’s switch to juice.”


    N looked down at Damon’s hand covering hers. The warmth of his touch felt like fire spreading through her heart.


    She quickly pulled her hand away, trying to stay calm as she looked at him. “Mr. Sumner, just for tonight. We probably won’t have many opportunities to meet in the future. One ss of wine isn’t enough to express my gratitude.”


    Upon seeing her tearful eyes, Damon’s heart softened. She could drink if she wanted to. Even if she got drunk, he could protect her.


    “Alright,” he conceded.


    N didn’t pour any more wine for him but filled her ss again.


    “Mr. Sumner, this toast is for you too. Thank you for helping me when I was at my lowest and for pulling me out of my previous failed marriage. Although our ending wasn’t ideal, I don’t regret meeting you.”


    As N continued drinking, the bottle was nearly empty. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Damon frowned slightly as he took it from her hand. “Stop drinking. You’ll get <b>drunk</b>.”


    N raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “Give it to me. I’m not drunk.”


    Her cheeks were slightly flushed, a clear sign she was tipsy. Her usually cold eyes now sparkled with a mix of charm and innocence. She had no idea how alluring she appeared with that innocent, slightly drunk gaze.


    Damon’s grip on the wine bottle tightened, his knuckles whitening. He struggled to tear his eyes away.


    “Even if you’re not drunk, you shouldn’t drink more,” he said, his voice trembling slightly, though he didn’t notice.


    If N kept looking at him like that, he might lose control and pull her close.


    N gazed at him, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion before she smiled. “Alright, Mr. Sumner, I’ll listen to you.”


    Damon ced the wine bottle on the table and nced up to find N resting her chin in her hand, watching him. His expression darkened. “N, don’t look at me like


    that.”


    N had always been able to handle two or three bottles of low–alcohol red wine, but she hadn’t realized this wine was much stronger.


    Now, pleasantly tipsy, she smiled and nodded. “Okay, I won’t look.”


    She lowered her head, hiding her face behind her wavy hair, her expression obscured.


    It wasn’t until N remained in that position for several seconds that Damon sensed- something was wrong. “N?”


    “Hmm?” She responded instinctively but didn’t move.


    “Are you drunk?” Damon asked.


    “No…” she instinctively denied, but the hand supporting her chin slipped, and her chin began to fall toward the table.


    Just before it made contact, Damon’s strong hand caught her.