"What is someone like this doing in here?"
"She must've snuck in when the guards weren't looking."
"Whatever is happening to her must be because she got greedy."
"Help… please. She's going through an allergic reaction to egg. Please help!" the server screamed helplessly, her eyes darting around the room.
But the people only looked on, merely concerned and greatly displeased that someone dressed so shabbily was able to slip in without the bouncer's notice.
Dahlia writhed on the floor, clawing at her chest rapidly whilst her eyes rolled into her eyes.
"P-please…" the server pleaded again, her voice trembling now as Dahlia gradually stopped moving.
Only then did the people snap out of their thoughts and someone stepped out to call security.
In the midst of the commotion, a figure pushed past the crowd to the front.
Seeing the familiar face on floor, he removed his jacket, rolled up his shirt, and reached into his pocket for something.
Everyone watched wide-eyed as he approached her, felt her legs briefly, then injected her with something which seemed to spawn out of nowhere.
A second later, Dahlia wheezed; her pupils slowly returning to normal as she dragged in several deep breaths.
Contrary to the reaction he expected, Dahlia's face remained calm as she sat up.
She felt her throat for a moment, then turned to question the the server with stoicism.
"The banana milk smoothie had egg. Since when do banana milk smoothies have egg added to them?"
"Ma'am!" Overjoyed, the server embraced her tightly, sobbing again.
Unable to dodge the hug, Dahlia blinked, surprised.
Ever since collapsing in kindergarten after eating egg for the first time, she had avoided it like the plague.
And now, tasting the same flavor in the smoothie had sent her into the usual convulsions… yet this person was the one crying?
At a loss on how to react, she thinned her lips and raised her eyes, immediately narrowing them when they landed on a certain stranger with spiky hair.
Malachi furrowed his brows as well, squinting his eyes at her warily.
Her eyes remained empty, nothing like the panic he expected after such a near-death experience.
What kind of person would remain so calm and only complain about being poisoned instead of getting angry about them almost dying?
"Dahlia, is it really you?" A question came from the back and everyone looked toward it to see a brunette walking out.
Wynona and Maya Warren came to the front and sucked in their teeth at the sight.
The server holding Dahlia quickly released her, allowing her get up.
She got to her feet and hummed.
"It is."
Maya stepped forward, smiling faintly as she said, "You can't just show up where you weren't invited because you heard I'm back in the country, Dahlia."
To this, the woman scratched the back of her neck, slowly shaking her head in sincere disagreement, "I didn't."
But Maya clicked her tongue, a still smile dancing on her lips as she chuckled.
"You didn't? Come on. The last time we met, you were barely making enough to get by. It's obvious you got in here using my name."
Maya was smiling and her words sounded really harmless, so Dahlia deemed them to be compliments and flashed her a warm smile.
"You don't have to worry about how I got in here."
After saying that, she began to strut toward them.
Wynona Warren, who hadn't said a word the entire time, saw this and hissed loudly. "Of course she has to worry. You were causing trouble just now! What would we have done if you'd gotten away with it?"
Malachi's eyes instantly dimmed.
Trouble?
Beside him, Maya quickly nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, you must've lost track of us and caused such a scene to get our attention. Now that you've found us, you probably intend to go to our table with us."
Dahlia paused.
She had just convulsed on the floor and needed to check if she had thrown up on herself.
So she couldn't exactly not go in their direction since the bathroom was that way.
"The invitation can only admit two people. You've already seen the interior. You should hurry before security realizes that you're in here." Maya bit her lower lip, her eyes pinned blankly on Dahlia.
Dahlia's pupils dilated again in confusion.
The woman on the phone hadn't mentioned this.
Had she known it was mandatory to bring an additional person, she would've brought Douglas Wright from work.
Batting her eyelids, she contemplated what to do for a moment before asking, "I see. Do you know if it's too late to do so?"
Maya hummed, "Of course it's too late, but we're giving you this grace before they arrive."
Thinking this was her chance, Dahlia took out her phone to call Richard. But as she turned it on, she noticed the top of the screen was cracked and blacked out.
Turning it over, she sighed tiredly.
It had been in her left pocket, so this must've happened when she fell. So what could she do now?
Watching her sluggishness, Malachi grew annoyed.
These two were clearly degrading her, yet she remained so calm. Most importantly…
"Excuse me, you two know her?"
Remembering the eyes of the wealthy crowd around were pinned on her, Wynona straightened.
Everyone here were all potential business partners. Even this young man who looked nothing short of a delinquent.
Was this another place, she wouldn't even bother looking his way, but if he was invited, then he was obviously worth his salt.
Meeting Malachi's gaze, she began to say, "We do, but it's worth noting that we never encouraged her to sneak in when no one was looking. In fact, our family outrightly condemns such actions."
Malachi tilted his head thoughtfully. "So why did you stand by and do nothing while she convulsed earlier?"
Maya snorted before Wynona could respond.
"Like the server said, it was just a wisp of egg white. She was clearly acting out to get everyone's attention and find where we were seated."