Aurora shot Paris a death glare, almost surprised at her daughter's choice of words.
"Truth or dare? Really? What do we look like to you? Teenagers?" Mrs. Jade hissed. Her accent thickened in displeasure.
"You can stand up and get out if you are not interested. Okay?" Paris snapped back, blinking vigorously.
"Paris, what on earth is this? Child's play? Listen, I don't know what trick you've got up your sleeves, but I will most certainly not participate in this nonsense." Orion said, calmly yet angrily.
"When you called for dinner and made me sign that blank paper, you should have thought twice. When you kidnapped me, you should have thought twice." Paris shouted, leaving everyone gasping. Paul and Madam Halsey, especially.
"Kidnapped you? What?" Madam Halsey turned to Paris, confused and concerned.
"Don't bother about the details, ma'am." She took a deep breath and said, "Let's just play the game."
In fear of more secrets getting out, Orion and the others kept mute. Whatever Paris has on them is working.
"Okay, we will spin this fork to know who's daring or questioning who, okay? If the fork's head stops while facing you, then you have to question or dare the person the fork's tail is facing. Also, if you lie on your truth questions and I find out, you have to pay me exactly five million dollars. And if you cannot do the dare you are asked to do, you owe Paris Zander exactly eleven million dollars. Are we clear on the rules?"
"Sure." Ivan nodded.
Staring hard at the rest, everyone gave in and nodded at Paris.
Satisfied with her mischief, Paris smiled, then turned to place a fork at the center of the dining table. After glancing at everyone, Paris spinned the fork and then sat down.
A few seconds later, the fork chose its victims. Orion and Paul. Paris smiled to herself.
"We'll go ahead, Paul; ask my father the truth or dare thing." Paris said, nudging him by the elbow.
Paul, looking frightened, cleared his throat and steadied himself. Paul and Orion locked eyes, and the atmosphere suddenly changed. Aurora, for one, already feels like the victim. Scared, uncomfortable, edgy, and itchy, she watched the men stare at each other, expecting the absolute worst from the game.
"Orion," Paul finally breathed out, "be honest, why do you hate me?"
All eyes moved from Paul to Orion in a flash.
"I don't hate you; I hate the fact that you are Aurora's ex, and I know the things you guys did together, and it just irritates me. Plus, you are just dumb and annoying." Orion replied without lifting a muscle.
Paul nodded grievously. Paris stared at everyone again before standing up to spin the fork. The fork picked its next victims very carefully: Aurora and Paris.
"Alright, mom, what's it going to be?" Paris asked, gazing at her mother.
"Very simple truth question here: why the hell did you organize this dinner? We've barely eaten any food, and here we are playing truth or dare with actual guests."
"I organized this dinner because I could, and I invited these people because I wanted to. Any other questions? No! I thought so." She stood up again and spun the fork. Ivan and Madam Halsey.
"So, Halsey, you used to date Mr. Orion? What kind of things did you guys do, and why did you break up with him? In fact, how did you guys meet?" Ivan asked too comfortably.
"Well, we dated for almost five years. I was nineteen when I met Orion. He asked me out on my twentieth birthday, and we dated till I turned twenty-five. We broke up because he thought I was pregnant, and he had been cheating on me with Aurora for about eight months before I found out. So that's it." Halsey responded, glancing at everyone.
The ambiance became stiff.
"You were a side chick?" Ivan gasped.
Their children know almost nothing about them.
"You cheated, dad?" Paris asked, her mouth wide open.
"You said you weren't dating anyone at the time, and more importantly, why would she think she was pregnant? You guys had sex? Did you lie to me, Orion?" Aurora's voice deepened as she faced her husband aggressively.
"Let's move on!" Paris shouted, avoiding early chaos. She turned the fork to pick its next victim. Mrs. Jade and Paul. Mrs. Jade cleared her throat, ready for whatever.
"So, Paul, why did you accept Paris's invite?" Mrs. Jade asked, pursing her lips.
"Do I need a reason to accept an invitation? Especially from Paris? Common."
"From your ex's child?" Ivan added, shaking his head.
"Next!" Paris interrupted, standing up to spin the fork.
Aurora and Halsey.
"Alright, Halsey, please give it to me straight. How did you find out my husband was cheating?" Aurora was desperate and angry.
"Well, first off, he moaned your name—probably your middle name—one day while we were making out."
"Wait a minute, he said, Aurora?"
"No, no, uhm... Alexia. That's the name, but I chose not to ask because I wanted to find out more. I didn't want him to raise his defense and that."
Aurora froze, confused and bitter, with her mouth agape.
"Alexia? Mom, is that…"
"My middle name is not Alexia." Aurora whispered, already shaking.
"Dad? Okay, what the hell?"
"You... you are not Alexia?" Halsey gasped.
"Okay, okay, this was years ago, so how do we even know Halsey is telling the truth?" Orion managed to say, hiding from the burning stares.
"Let's just move on." Paris sighed, turning the fork. James and Paris.
"Okay, Mr. James, don't Ivan have girls already dying for him? If not for anything, for his money. Why do I have to marry him?"
"Your parents and I promised each other." James replied softly.
"Who cares? Anyways, next!" The fork landed on Orion and Halsey.
"Halsey, why the fuck are you lying?" Orion's tone changed to something beastly.
"Lying? I'm even confused! Who is Alexia? You were triple dating? Your scummy ass broke up with me after I pranked you. I faked a pregnancy after we had multiple sexes to test your loyalty, and you broke up with me even after cheating on me for eight months. Now, I'm the liar? Don't even play that stupid game with me, Orion." Halsey snapped back.
Quietly, in steel silence, Paris stood up and spinned the fork. This game is getting deeper than she thought. The fork picked its victims once again: Paul and Aurora. The heaviness increased.
Paris couldn't even smile anymore. She sat there, scared and anxious. Her parents' marriage may be on the line with this game, but they really deserve it.
"Aurora, you really don't love me anymore?" Paul's voice escaped his throat.
"I had bills to pay." Aurora replied, unfazed.
Paris knew this hell gate she just opened wasn't closing soon. Everyone sat back coldly, watching Paris spin the fork.
Once again, it landed on Paul and Orion.
Paul pierced his gaze into Orion's soul.
"Orion, I dare you."
"Oof finally, a dare!" Paris interrupted excitedly.
Everyone sat up keenly, waiting on Paul.
"I dare you to divorce Aurora."
Silence fell.