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
I've been a little out of line in the past. I just
a sip
raised her glass and took a small sip
upset you earlier, Aunt Keera. That wasn't my intention. I just feel like the house is so empty
know whawt
would she bring that up
an eyebrow.
him and clear the air. I know there's been some misunderstandings between us,
were harmless, but they carried a
had history with Jake, and even though both of them had moved on, the complexities of their past were something everyone in the family
by not moving back home, mainly to avoid
Jake was the one who listened to Keira the
playing a dangerous game, indicating that
she was doing a damn good job. Keira placed her glass
that be?" Selena feigned surprise. "Weren't you both in the
to hang on your every word. If anyone could convince him, it would be you. You
this
"What are you talking about? I grew up in Clance. How could I have gone to college
Lewis cut her off, his patience clearly wearing thin.
guard
didn't know about Keira and Jake's history, but they could sense the
like Selena, saw this as her just desserts. She was stirring the pot, and it
Gavin? He was completely
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!