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
a little out
took a sip from
nod, she raised her glass and took a small sip in acknowledgment. It was more
some things that upset you 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 wrong way."
know whawt to
bring that up
raised an eyebrow.
"I was just hoping you could ask Jake to stop by sometime. I'd like to talk to him and clear the air. I know there's been some misunderstandings between us,
the surface, Selena's words were harmless, but they carried a
with Jake, and even though both of them had moved on, the complexities of their past were something everyone in
had distanced himself by not moving
was
was clearly playing a dangerous game, indicating
a damn good job. Keira placed her glass on the table with a sharp thud. "I'm sorry, but I don't know Jake
Selena feigned surprise. "Weren't you both
on your every word. If anyone could convince him, it would be you. You want our family
is this woman
grew up in Clance. How could I have gone
her off, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Selena, if you're
off guard
table, Ryan and Ellie shared a glance. They didn't know about Keira and Jake's history,
Selena, saw this as her just desserts. She was stirring the pot,
Gavin? He was completely in the
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!