Chapter 14: Fatal Drinking Competition

“Ooh, I needed that.”

Damian exclaimed with a reddened face after gulping down a mouthful of whisky. On the other side of the table, Hazel squeezed her face while trying to swallow. She was dressed in one of his baggy T-shirts with no bra on and just her red panties below. Watching her struggle was amusing and gave Damian the chance to see another side of his wife.

“Ooh. You can’t hold your liquor?” he teased.

Cough! Cough!

Hazel raised a hand, signaling him to wait while she coughed. Several seconds later, she raised her head to meet his gaze, her eyes burning with determination, signaling the beginning of another pointless argument.

“In the underworld, our wine is made from the finest grapes. Down there, we prioritize quality and taste.”

“Skill issue.”

Damian rolled his eyes and Hazel pouted. The next moment, she snapped her fingers and a black jug embedded with gold and rubies appeared in her hand, accompanied by two golden goblets.

’God, I can never get used to these things. When do I get my own powers?’

Bam!

While he was lamenting internally, Hazel was preparing to challenge him to a drink-off using a wine jar she had stored for five centuries. It wasn’t the best, but she was running out of stock. She had been away from the underworld for a long time, even before Damian was chosen. Watching her set the goblets between them with a determined look, Damian was taken aback.

“Hold on, are you challenging your husband for real?”

Damian panicked as Hazel began pouring the dark blood-red wine into his goblet, filling it to the brim before pouring the same amount for herself. During this time, his eyes darted between the documents he should be studying and the goblet. It wasn’t that he was afraid to take her on, but he had 20 Shots’ bond hearing tomorrow. He needed to prepare, not get drunk.

“Drink!” Hazel said in a serious tone, but Damian shook his head adamantly.

“Let’s do this tomorrow night. You know I have work tomorrow.”

Saying this, he carefully moved the goblet aside and continued studying, causing Hazel’s eyes to narrow briefly before her tense expression was replaced with a sly smile.

“Don’t tell me you are afraid of losing to your wife?”

Buzz!

Damian froze, his brows knitting as his face turned stern. Yet he did not respond. He could see through her intentions. He would not be easily manipulated. However, it was already too late. Hazel had seen a crack in his defense and had no plans of letting go.

“It’s alright if you can’t drink because you have to work. It’s not really your fault. It’s just a skill issue.”

BOOOM!

Damian slowly took off his glasses and raised his eyes to meet hers.

“I can understand the underworld is isolated from the rest of the world, because if you knew what people from Wisconsin are known for, you would know your earlier statement is akin to blasphemy.”

Hazel scoffed and slid the goblet over to him, responding with only two words.

“Prove it.”

Heh!

Damian chuckled as he began packing his files and neatly stacking them to the side. While he did this, the two never broke eye contact, the tension heavy. Once he was done, he grabbed the goblet and gulped down the entire contents in one go.

’What?!’

Though the goblet was normal, the wine came with its own chill that caused shivers to run down his entire body. The flavor was unmatched, with so much sweetness that Damian’s eyes dilated in shock. Each sip made him want more, and by the time the goblet was empty, he felt unsatisfied. He needed more.

Bam!

Slamming the goblet on the table with an exaggerated hearty sigh, Damian savored the taste, wearing a triumphant look on his face.

“You know, I truly underestimated you demons. Your wine is truly the best…” Damian’s lips curled as his eyes filled with mischievous intent. “That is, if we are making beverages for kindergarten students.”

However, as soon as those words left his lips, his vision blurred and his head suddenly felt foggy. Damian grabbed the table, attempting to rise to his feet, but he lost his balance and fell back onto the ground, his eyes widening with shock.

’Impossible!’

“Ooh. You can’t hold your liquor?”

Bang!

Hazel’s teasing words struck like lightning in his head, causing his grip on the table to tighten.

“Damn you, woman. You really look down on your husband!”

Damian raised his head to meet her mocking gaze. His vision had become clear, but everything was slightly shaky. Hazel had a triumphant smile pasted on her face as she gulped down the contents of her cup and wiped her lips with the back of her hand like it was nothing.

“Do you dare share another cup with me then?” she asked with a dubious smile.

Buzz!

A bead of sweat ran down Damian’s temple, but he maintained his smile while his mind raced. He could barely keep himself composed after just one cup. Could he really take another?

“This is not even the best I have. In fact, this is the least potent jar in my stash. I really didn’t think it would be too much for the legendary people of Wisconsin.”

Buzz!

With a darkened expression, Damian raised his goblet.

“Fill me up!” he declared with the determination of a general prepared for a last stand.

Forget 20 Shots and his job. His name and that of over five million indigenous people of Wisconsin were on the line here.

’Even if it costs me my life, I won’t let this slide!’

Hazel nodded in approval, a flicker of respect flashing through her eyes.

“Good… Good… As expected of my husband!”

She said with a mischievous smile as she lifted the jug over Damian’s cup and froze.

“However, courage does not win wars…”

She shot him a sharp glare while uttering those words. However, her attempt to break Damian’s spirit failed woefully. This man was willing to give his life for his pride and the pride of his home. How could such a defiant spirit be broken by a few words?

“You have a lot to say. Is that fear I perceive?” he lashed back, and Hazel’s face turned cold.

“Since you are eager to die, be my guest!”

With that, she tilted the jug and the liquor began pouring into the goblet, and he swallowed hard. Beads of sweat filled his face and his breathing grew heavy as Hazel kept pouring.

But then…

Ding! Ding!

Ding! Ding!

Damian and Hazel’s faces snapped toward his phone. It was a video call request from none other than Clara. His new assistant had actually saved his life at this crucial moment. Their eyes met once again, each other’s intent revealed with a glance.

“As much as I would love to put you in your place, this call is important. Let’s postpone this competition,” Damian said with a rare stern look to mask his smile.

Shameless!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep