The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the far end of the table, where Selena was holding her hand over her mouth, looking nauseous.
Gavin leaned in, worried. "What's wrong?"
Selena shook her head, unsure herself.
Maybe it was the knowledge that the soup had been tampered with. After all, she knew what had been added.
One shouldn't have felt anything—unless one had colon cancer.
Confused, she glanced at Gavin. He'd had some of the soup, too. Shouldn't he be feeling it by now?
Maybe the effects just hadn't kicked in yet.
"I'm fine," she said with a forced smile. "You should have some more soup."
Gavin seemed reassured and went back to his meal.
Selena's condition had worsened, though the doctors had told her that cancer patients who remained unaware of their condition often lived longer—months, even years.
It was psychological, they'd said, but in the end, it was just a temporary comfort.
Gavin continued drinking his soup, his mind elsewhere, before absentmindedly reaching for some vegetables slathered in peanut sauce.
Meanwhile, Selena set her utensils down and turned to Gavin. "I'm going to propose a toast to my aunt and uncle."
walked over to where Keira and Lewis
I've been a little out of line in the past. I just want to
a sip
a look with Lewis, and with a slight nod, she raised her glass and took a small sip in acknowledgment. It was more for Gavin's sake
That wasn't my intention. I just feel like the house is so empty these days.
know whawt to
bring that
an
talk to him and clear the air. I know there's been some misunderstandings between us, and since Jake
surface, Selena's words were harmless, but they carried a hidden
on, the complexities of their past were something everyone in the
moving
Selena to suggest that Jake was the one who listened to Keira
was clearly playing a dangerous game, indicating
eyes narrowed. Was Selena trying to provoke her? If so, she was doing a damn good job. Keira placed
feigned surprise. "Weren't you both in the
could convince him, it would be you. You want our family
"What is this woman
gave a short laugh. "What are you talking about? I grew up in Clance. How could I have gone
something more, but Lewis cut her off, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Selena, if
off guard by Lewis' sudden
Ellie shared a glance. They didn't know about Keira and Jake's history, but
as her just desserts. She was stirring the pot, and it seemed like Keira and Lewis were done playing
Gavin? He was completely
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!