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
of champagne, she smiled warmly. "Aunt Keera, Uncle Lewis, I know I've been a little out of
took a sip from
with a slight nod, she raised her glass and took a small sip in acknowledgment. It was more
finished. "I know 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 take it the wrong way."
didn't know whawt
would she bring that
raised an eyebrow.
clear the air. I know there's been some misunderstandings between us, and since
harmless, but they
and even though both of them had moved on, the complexities of their
by not moving back home, mainly to
to suggest that Jake was the one who listened to Keira the
was clearly playing a dangerous game, indicating that
eyes narrowed. Was Selena trying to provoke her? If so, she was doing a damn good job. Keira placed her glass on the table with a
can that be?" Selena feigned surprise. "Weren't you both
every word. If anyone could convince him, it would be you. You want
is this
short laugh. "What are you talking about? I grew up in
opened her mouth to say something more, but Lewis cut her off, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Selena, if you're not enjoying dinner, you can
guard
about Keira and Jake's history, but they could
her just desserts. She was stirring the pot, and it seemed like Keira and Lewis were done
He was completely in the
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!