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."
over to where Keira and Lewis were
little out of
sip from
glass and took a small
earlier, Aunt Keera. That wasn't my intention. I just feel like the house is so empty these days. It got me thinking. I hope you don't take it the
didn't know whawt to
bring
raised an
sometime. I'd like to talk to him and clear the air. I know there's been some misunderstandings between us, and since Jake listens to you more
words were harmless, but they carried a hidden
them had moved on, the complexities of their past were something everyone in the family was
moving back home, mainly
for Selena to suggest that Jake was the
a dangerous game, indicating that "Keera" was
her? If so, she was doing a damn good job. Keira placed her glass on the table
feigned surprise. "Weren't you both in the same
convince him, it would
"What is this woman trying to
talking about? I grew
her off, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Selena, if you're not enjoying dinner, you can
caught off guard by Lewis'
a glance. They didn't know about Keira and Jake's history, but they could
who already didn't like Selena, saw this as her just desserts. She was stirring the pot, and it seemed
Gavin? He was
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