Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)

The group continued to eat, drink, and jest. About half an hour later, Susanna returned from her jog, panting heavily, her hair a mess, holding her sneakers in one hand, looking utterly disheveled. Magdalen asked again, "Is Ms. Murphy still up for the game?"

"Of course!" Susanna scoffed. "I refuse to believe I'll keep losing!"

"Wow!" Magdalen turned to the others. "I've never seen anyone as persistent as Ms. Murphy!"

Emily and Marina struggled to contain their laughter; they knew Magdalen too well, so her statement clearly meant, "I've never seen anyone as foolish as Ms. Murphy!"

Magdalen said to Amiee, "Let's keep the game going, deal the cards!"

"Hold on!" Susanna suddenly intervened, her gaze challenging as she looked at Amiee, "This time, I'll shuffle and deal the cards!"

Amiee nodded without a word, and handed the cards over.

Whether it was bad luck or something else, Susanna lost again.

The winner was Marina.

Marina asked, "Does Ms. Murphy choose truth or dare?"

After a moment's hesitation, Susanna chose dare.

Marina said, "Since you just ran, how about push-ups this time? Given your fitness, thirty should be no problem, right?"

Susanna was genuinely annoyed this time, "Are you all ganging up on me?"

Her voice was sharp, attracting the attention of the men nearby. Andrew looked over and felt compelled to ask, "What's going on?"

Magdalen replied calmly, "Andrew, your girlfriend wanted to play truth or dare with us. Now that she's lost, she's accusing us of ganging up on her. Maybe you should come over and judge for yourself if we're treating her unfairly?"

Andrew, with a stern face, scolded Susanna, "If you can't handle the game, don't play!"

Publicly embarrassed and now chastised by Andrew, Susanna's pride was deeply wounded, and she stormed off, her face a mix of shame and anger.

Andrew apologized with a chuckle, "Sorry about that, she can be immature. I apologize on her behalf to Ms. Sampson."

"As long as you're not upset I didn't

u

Magdalen replied with ant

take better care of your fiancée,"

raising her juice glass, "No hard feelings, Mr. Andrew!"

Andrew immediately laughed, "Of course not, it must have been Susanna's fault."

He then drained his glass of beer.

Morrison raised his glass to join Andrew in a toast.

After this small episode, Magdalen had the servant clear away the cards, and the group continued their conversation, now more harmonious without Susanna.

The dinner party went on until eleven before dispersing, leaving everyone looking forward to more relaxing and enjoyable days ahead.

Back at the villa, Marina and Carson headed to the bar, Carson casually asking, "Care for another drink?"

Marina, already halfway up the stairs, turned back, "Sure, I'm not sleepy anyway!"

Carson poured the drinks into two glasses, a smirk on his lips, "Poor Susanna really had it rough today!"

Sipping her drink, Marina rested her cheek on her hand, "Feeling sorry for her?"

Carson chuckled, "If I did, I'd have been the one to slap her myself!"

Marina, remembering the satisfying slap, praised, "Ms. Sampson really showed her!" Casually, Carson mentioned, "Ms. Sampson was standing up for you, wasn't she?"

Raising an eyebrow, Marina scoffed, "So you knew!"

She snorted, "Could you be any less discerning?"

Carson frowned, "What are you talking about? There's nothing between her and me. Besides, she's Andrew's fiancée. I wouldn't go after a friend's woman even if I were desperate."

Marina clinked her glass against his, "Guess I overthought it. My apologies!"

"Apology accepted!" Carson smirked lightly.