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
"Aunt Keera, Uncle Lewis, I know I've been a little out of line
took a sip from her
nod, she raised her glass and took a small
I've said 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
know
she bring that
raised an eyebrow.
smiled innocently. "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
the surface, Selena's words were harmless,
on, the complexities of their past were
moving back home, mainly
that Jake was the
game, indicating that "Keera"
a damn good job. Keira placed her
that be?" Selena feigned surprise. "Weren't you both in the
could convince him, it would be you. You want our family
this woman trying
grew up in Clance. How could I have gone
mouth to say something more, but Lewis cut her off, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Selena, if you're not enjoying
guard by Lewis' sudden
Ellie shared a glance. They didn't know about Keira and Jake's
already didn't like Selena, saw this as her just desserts. She was stirring the pot, and it seemed like Keira and Lewis were done playing
was completely in the
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