The Unshackled Queen: Never Say Never by Gilbert Soysal

In the bathroom, Hannah hurried into a stall and retched, expelling the wine she’d hastily swallowed.

Staring at her reflection, she saw that her face had drained of color, her eyes reddened.

Tears welled up and trickled down her cheeks.

After washing her hands, Hannah dabbed at her cheeks, her throat raw from the alcohol’s burn.

Though it wasn’t healthy, it was the only way to outsmart Melina.

When Hannah returned from the bathroom, Bryson immediately tell what she had done.

Without a word, he produced a blue silk handkerchief from his pocket, stepping forward to shield her with his tall frame.

Hannah met Bryson’s gaze as he approached with the handkerchief.

Its touch against her skin felt cool and smooth, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Seems like there was something in that wine,” Bryson remarked, more statement than question.

Accepting his gesture, Hannah allowed him to dab at her face with the cloth.

“Possibly.

I can’t say for sure what was in it,” she replied honestly.

Bryson’s demeanor didn’t fault Hannah for her impulsive actions; instead, his expression grew colder as he pocketed the handkerchief.

His gaze bore into Hannah, growing increasingly frosty.

“I don’t see the point in partnering with the Glyn family.

”

unspoken concern, Hannah shook her head with a

“I’ll handle it.

to mistake me for an

”

Lydia approached, her

kept

he discreetly signaled a

and

on Tyshawn while Brayden

told me that after talking to Tyshawn, the waitress took the

”

worry grew more evident with every

there’s something

Did you drink it?”

at Bryson,

wine was definitely

Lydia, Hannah gave

“Yes, I drank it”

need to

widened as she

you to the hospital to pump your

into your drink? It might

”

slow down,” Hannah said,

“It can’t be poison.

Melina drank it too.