Bianca suddenly turned her head. If Riley's mention of Alessia and Dylan's good relationship was unintentional the first time, this was already the second time.
A while back, there were rumors online about Alessia and Dylan being high school sweethearts, causing quite a stir. Riley couldn't possibly be unaware of this.
Bringing it up now seemed like deliberate mischief.
Bianca glared at Riley, but he just smiled gently and continued, "Ladies first, or should Mr. Frost go first?"
Bianca's eyes almost popped out of her head. She and Jessie were playing this game with the purpose of setting her brother up with her sister-in-law.
With Riley's attitude, it seemed like he wanted to pair her sister-in-law with Dylan. How could that be allowed!
Bianca was angry, but she had to abide by the rules of the game.
Dylan, who outwardly appeared cool and handsome, was surprisingly innocent when it came to his first love. A blush crept across his face as he stole a glance at Alessia before taking a sip of water and saying, "It was in ninth grade. Strictly speaking, it wasn't really a first love, just a crush. But it didn't go anywhere in the end."
"Why not?" Riley asked, taking a sip of his juice.
Dylan looked at Alessia. "Because she was too outstanding. I felt like I wasn't good enough for her."
He would never forget the time when he was covered in blood and in a sorry state, and a girl with a high ponytail stood in front of him, fending off those troublemakers for him. Her hands, clean and beautiful, were extended generously towards him.
Some people were naturally dazzling like a rainbow, while others could only be an ordinary cloud. So, encountering them was already heaven's favor.
Dylan didn't mention a name, not even a time or place. But everyone present knew that the person he was talking about was Alessia.
Alessia frowned and took a sip of water. She had lost her memories from before, and she hadn't expected Dylan to have such feelings for her.
But fortunately, Dylan didn't dwell on that relationship. Fortunately, they could still be friends after meeting again.
Jessie stared at Dylan and smiled. "Little brother, you're indeed innocent. Is your first kiss still intact?"
Jessie's teasing words instantly lightened the slightly heavy atmosphere.
Dylan took a deep breath and retorted, "Auntie, is your first love so ancient that you can't answer because you don't remember?"
Jessie smiled and replied, "Little brother, you'll be disappointed. My first love was with a senior in college. Unfortunately, he turned out to be a scumbag who cheated on me with three other girls. When I found out he was cheating, I kicked him to the curb."
They didn't expect Jessie's first love to be so tragic, but the ending sounded satisfying.
Dylan was momentarily stunned but didn't pursue it further.
The game continued.
This time, Alessia and Dominic drew cards of the same suit.
Bianca grinned triumphantly and, before anyone else could speak, she quickly posed her question.
"Could you please tell us about your first time? When and where did it happen?"
Playing it big?
Is it this explosive?
Dylan quickly took a sip of wine to calm his nerves.
Jessie flashed a meaningful smile.
Dominic coldly glared at Bianca.
Bianca instinctively moved closer to Riley, gathering her courage as she negotiated, "Brother, this is just a game, you can't take personal revenge."
Dominic pursed his lips and snorted.
Jessie also boldly suggested, "Mr. Carter, Bianca is right. Or... you could choose to take a dare as well."
Actually, Jessie was also feeling a bit hesitant. She originally wanted to suggest that Mr. Carter share his romantic experiences, but in the end, she changed her mind. She was afraid she wouldn't make it out of X Villa alive.
"Yeah, yeah." Bianca also nodded vigorously, looking at Alessia for help. "Sister-in-law, what do you think?"
Alessia turned her head, and her gaze coincidentally met Dominic's.
Both of them were suddenly reminded of that night five years ago at the Ritz Hotel.
Their breaths became hot, and almost simultaneously, they looked away.
If they were to mention the time and place, Dominic wouldn't know how to face her.
Dominic's thoughts at the moment were similar to Alessia's. How could he let Alessia know that it was his first time!
A man's dignity wouldn't allow him to reveal the time and place.
"I choose dare!"
"I choose dare!"
Alessia and Dominic spoke in unison.
"Brother, sister-in-law, you two have such great chemistry," Bianca praised.
Alessia and Dominic looked at Bianca with a knowing look, making her cough nervously.
Bianca felt frustrated, but now that the arrow was on the string, she had to pluck the hair from the tiger's mouth.
She announced loudly, "For this dare, the two of you who have been chosen must kiss in front of everyone!"
Bianca had barely finished speaking when she immediately got up and exchanged seats with Jessie.
Being farther away from her brother, she finally felt like she had saved her own skin.
Meanwhile, Alessia and Dominic were both taken aback, understanding that Bianca had been planning this dare for a while. This dare couldn't be simple, but they hadn't expected her to have such audacity.
Just the thought of kissing Dominic made Alessia feel repulsed.
Presumably, no one would want to kiss someone they didn't like.
Dominic probably wasn't an exception, especially considering his cleanliness.
Alessia spoke up, "Let's change it!"
"Sister-in-law, you're chickening out? You can't handle it?" Bianca wasn't buying Alessia's excuse.
It wasn't that she couldn't handle it, but it had already crossed her line.
Alessia frowned. She was about to turn to Dominic to persuade Bianca to change her mind when she noticed Dominic's gaze on her lips.
The next second, he lifted her chin and unexpectedly pressed his lips against hers.
Alessia's pupils dilated suddenly as Dominic withdrew just as abruptly.
His thumb brushed over her lips, and in a low, magnetic voice, he said, "It's just a game. Don't take it seriously!"
Damn it!
For the first time, the usually composed Alessia wanted to curse.
She looked up to see everyone at the table staring at her, even the three little ones who had somehow joined them, gleaming with curiosity.
The scene was terrifying, to say the least, scarier than social death.
Alessia took a deep breath, drank some water calmly under everyone's gaze, and repeated Dominic's words coldly.
"Yeah, it's just a game. Don't take it seriously!"
"Yeah, Mommy, we won't take it seriously!" Chatterbox Christian raised his hand eagerly. However, his excited tone made it clear that he did take it seriously, that he had fallen for the bait.
Alessia could only take another deep breath and glare at Dominic.
Dominic looked at Alessia's angry expression, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, unbeknownst even to himself.
The atmosphere at the moment was the best of the evening.
Just as everyone was immersed in the sweetness, Riley had reshuffled the cards and asked, "Do you want to continue the game?"
"Of course," Dylan chimed in, unable to join in the sweet atmosphere.
Riley pushed the cards forward, and everyone drew new ones.
This time, Dylan and Bianca were paired up, followed by Jessie and Bianca, and finally, it was Alessia and Dominic's turn again.
Bianca was about to pull the same stunt again when Riley, prepared this time, spoke up first.
"Since I drew the highest card this time, I'll ask the question. Truth or dare: When and where did each of you have your first love?"
Bianca glared at Riley fiercely for meddling once again.
Riley was already used to being glared at, so it didn't faze him. Instead, he eagerly fixed his gaze on Dominic.
Alessia had to admit, she was curious about this question too.
Dominic's feelings towards Sisca were different, as it was for repaying a favor. So, who was the person he liked?
For someone with a narcissistic and domineering personality like him, what would the person he liked be like?
Perhaps it's true that the onlookers see more than the players themselves.
At this moment, Alessia completely failed to realize how abnormal it was for her cold and aloof personality to be curious about someone.
Having formed an idea in her mind, Alessia calmly answered Riley's question before anyone else could speak.
"I can't tell you who my first love was, when and where it happened, because I've lost all my memories from before. But I'll take the punishment of drinking three cups."
Alessia finished speaking and promptly picked up her glass, downing three cups in quick succession.
After Alessia finished, everyone's gaze turned to Dominic.
Since Alessia had chosen truth, Dominic had no choice but to accept the dare.
***