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
a little out of line
a sip
look with Lewis, and with a slight nod, she raised her glass and took a small sip in acknowledgment. It was
earlier, Aunt Keera. That wasn't my intention. I just feel like the house is so empty these days. It got me thinking.
know whawt to
would she bring that up
raised an
him and clear the air. I know there's been some misunderstandings between us, and since Jake listens to
harmless, but they carried
had moved on, the complexities
not moving back home, mainly to avoid
suggest that Jake was
was clearly playing a dangerous game, indicating that "Keera" was actually
doing a damn good job. Keira placed her glass on the table with a
be?" Selena feigned surprise. "Weren't you both
convince him, it would be you.
is this woman
a short laugh. "What are you talking about? I grew up in Clance. How could I have gone to college with
opened her mouth to say something more, but Lewis cut her off, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Selena, if you're not enjoying dinner,
off guard by Lewis' sudden
about Keira and Jake's history, but they could sense the tension
this as her just desserts. She was stirring the
He was completely
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