?<strong>Chapter 137:</strong>


    Shouting in front of everyone that he was a coward?


    No one would ever swallow their pride like that—most would prefer the whiskey over that kind of public humiliation.


    Ryan, his jaw tightening with the pressure of his pride, gave a strained smile and said, “Mrs. rk, you’re overthinking this. I am willing to drink this.”


    “A bet is a bet, and I’ll stick to it.”


    With that, he grabbed the bottle and started to drink the whiskey, ready to face the consequences of his own wager.


    The sound of Ryan’s steady gulping echoed through the room, each swallow adding to the growing tension.


    The others couldn’t help but swallow nervously themselves, silently hoping Ryan would make it through this challenge.


    After just a few gulps, Ryan set the bottle down.


    A wave of difort spread through his body, the fiery burn of the whiskey hitting his stomach.


    His face flushed a deep crimson, but he said nothing, determined to keep going.


    Verena’s eyes were filled with concern, her gaze flickering to Lucas, silently pleading for him to step in and help Ryan.


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    “Lucas…” she began.


    But before she could finish speaking, Lucas silenced her, saying, “Shh! Don’t distract him.”


    Verena’s face went pale, her heart sinking.


    Was Lucas really just going to watch Ryan suffer like this?


    She clenched her teeth, feeling the weight of her helplessness.


    Time passed in tense silence, each second stretching painfully.


    Ryan continued drinking in short,bored gulps until the bottle was empty.


    With a final, shaky swallow, he turned the bottle upside down, showing it waspletely empty.


    Belinda’s sharp, enthusiastic apuse cut through the tension. “Bravo!” she cheered, her smile wide as she pped her hands. “Well done, Mr. Adams! Truly impressive! You’re a man of your word!”


    Ryan didn’t respond, his face now a deeper shade of red.


    The people around him gently helped him to the sofa.


    As he copsed onto the cushions, the world spun around him, his vision swaying as if everything were in motion.


    His stomach burned, his throat scorched, and each breath he took felt like fire burning its way through him.


    “Ryan, are you alright?” Verena’s voice trembled with concern, her eyes wide with worry.


    Ryan nodded weakly, struggling to speak. “I’m fine—” But before he could finish the sentence, his body betrayed him.


    A violent spasm twisted in his stomach, and before he could do anything to stop it, he began vomiting.


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