Some hooted when she removed her sweaters without further ado. It died down quickly because she wore a white t-shirt underneath. Care nearly rolled on the floor with a good laugh.
Hooray, idiots!
Marigold drew out next.
Let it be not X-rated, Ivy prayed zealously.
"Lap dance!" Marigold shouted followed by hoots from her perverted male fans.
"I volunteer as a tribute!" Roux butted in.
He appeared behind the bar counter, two of his upper shirt buttons were unbuttoned.
Ivy heaved a big sigh, one arm on her hip. She felt demoralized the second a sultry music played while the immorals, her sister included, started their indecent display. Roux sat comfortably on a chair while Marigold atop his lap grinded like a famous pornstar!
The ten seconds performance actually finished fast yet for Ivy, it was painfully long. She wanted to scratch her sister's face so she won't at least resemble her 100%, one of the problems of being identical triplets.
"Iv, you're up!" Alder called her with a hint of excitement.
Carrying a heavy heart, she picked a block.
"Han... handcuffs? What for?" she asked.
An idea popped to her mind. She was conflicted whether to fret or rejoice.
"It means whoever you choose will be tied with you till dawn!" Alder explained, cuffing her right wrist in the process.
Caspian quickly came into view. His eyes were beaming. He might have just shouted to her to choose him. Well, everyone else assumed the same. Cheers and whistles filled the whole lounge as Ivy walked straight towards him. Teasing noises intensified when she tiptoed and whispered to him.
"Sorry not sorry!"
Then, she sprinted to the unwary Marigold.
As she saw Ivy fast approaching, Marigold felt her life flashing before her eyes. She realized late that Caspian was a mere diversion tactic. Before she evaded her surprise lunge, her sister grabbed her left wrist and cuffed it in a split-second. Her face lost color.
"No, no! Get away from me!" She protested.
"Aww, peace of mind at last! No more scandalous activities for you tonight." Ivy said, patting her head as though petting a dog.
It was Care's turn. Now she understood how pressured Penny was earlier. She took 'Hot Seat'.
"Only one question shall be entertained." Alder said.
Mandy raised her hand abruptly which Alder acknowledged, naturally. Care's stomach churned for a good reason. The girl was clearly bad news.
"Ramses Cooper... who is ---"
"Madelaine!" Lark cuts her step-sibling off.
Mandy wore a troubled expression but Care could see through the smile she barely tried to hide.
"What? Everybody is curious so as I was saying, who is Ramses Cooper in your life? That's cool to ask, aye? You won't mind, will you?" she asked without batting an eyelash as if challenging her.
Her tone laced with worry won't sell on Care. She bets Mandy is enjoying the show while rubbing salt on her emotional wounds... the ones that do not heal no matter how time passes by so when they hurt, they hurt so bad.
"Mad---" Lark tried to chastise his step-sister again, pushing her to finally speak for herself.
"It's fine, Lark!" She interjected, fully aware Mandy has no intentions of dropping the subject, "Ramses is my..."
As she searched for the right word to say, memories of Ramses resurfaced in her mind…