Seeing Vera move toward the dinning room, the family members gradually dispersed and made their way toward the dining room.
Jessica walked over to Davis, noticing the faint smile playing on his lips. "What’s so funny?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Davis didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he reached out, pulling her lightly toward him. The sudden movement caught Jessica off guard, and she nearly lost her balance. Before she could stumble, his firm grip steadied her, his arm wrapping securely around her waist.
Jessica tried to pry his hand away from her waist but he didn’t budge. Their posture was ambiguous—intimate, almost teasing.
"Allen Davis," she called sternly, her tone carrying a warning, but all it did was elicit a deep chuckle from him.
His gaze flickered to her hand—the one Vera had smacked earlier. His eyes darkening "Are you hurt?"
"No. I retracted my hand early, and she punched the air instead." Jessica smirked her voice was low, meant only for him to hear.
Davis nodded in amusement, his grip loosening just enough for her to step out of his hold.
"Let’s go to the table," she muttered before she slowly pushed him toward the dining hall.
Elder Allen had already taken his seat at the head of the long mahogany table. The second branch of the Allen family sat to his left, and the first branch occupied his right—just as it had always been the custom.
Maids bustled around, carefully setting out the lavishly prepared dishes according to everyone’s preference.
The table was a masterpiece—exquisite utensils and cutleries, fine crystal glasses, outstanding furnishings and a luxurious spread of delicacies. But beneath the grandeur, the people seated at the table were a tangled mess of schemes and ambitions, their hearts a complex spiral vortex waiting to drown each other.
Desmond sat beside Elder Allen, followed by Aaron, then Vera. Davis was next, positioned between Vera and Jessica, with Ethan on Jessica’s other side. This arrangement left Davis sandwiched between two women.
The meal began in near silence. Jessica focused on preparing Davis’s plate with attention to its quality and suitability to his condition. Before she began eating her own meal while Davis accepts everything based on her arrangements. The effortless exchange between them deepened the bitterness in Vera’s heart.
As if to provoke further, Davis casually reached for a napkin and gently wiped a tiny smudge of oil from Jessica’s lips—his movement so natural, making it clear it wasn’t the first time.
Vera tightened her grip on her cutlery, Aaron glared at her but she pretended to be oblivious of that. This left Aaron seething with rage.
Just then, several maids entered carrying trays of freshly prepared juices, each tailored to the individual preferences of the family members.
Vera cleared her throat lightly. "Sister-in-law, since this is your first time officially dining with the family, I thought it would be fitting to give you a toast of welcome."
A faint murmur passed around the table as each family member picked a glass of their choice drink in readiness for the proposed toast.
Vera, wearing a warm smile, picked up a glass of orange juice and handed it to Jessica. She accepted it silently, her expression unreadable and calm—except for the brief, subtle glance she cast toward Davis’s drink.
"I hope you don’t mind if the drink isn’t your favourite," Vera continued sweetly. "I wasn’t sure of your exact taste, perhaps next time, I’ll make a more informed choice." Her tone light and her eyes beaming with affection.
Jessica’s lips curled into a soft smile. "I don’t mind, sister-in-law. After all, a toast from you is an honor."
Then, just as she was about to lift the glass to her lips, she paused. Her gaze flickered toward Vera, sharp and knowing.
"Sister-in-law," Jessica said slowly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement, "If you don’t mind, let’s exchange glasses. I’m not in a situation to drink orange juice right now but I can make do with your lemonade."
She extended her hand toward Vera, offering her the orange juice while reaching for Vera’s own glass in return.
For a split second, a flicker of hesitation passed through Vera’s eyes.She was reluctant. To cut off any eventualities she has prepared only a glass for each person.
But Jessica’s timing was impeccable.
Several family members especially those from the second branch already had their glasses in hand waiting for her and their gazes on them.
If Vera refused outright, it would raise suspicion. But if she accepted, she would be drinking from the very glass she had prepared for Jessica.
Vera’s grip tightened around the glass, she felt conflicted. She had only prepared one tampered drink. There was no backup plan.
Reluctantly, she accepted the switch, her fingers stiff as she handed Jessica the lemon juice in exchange.
Jessica’s smile widened. "Thank you." She muttered not missing the conflict in her eyes.
"To a better future and a united home", Pamela toasted.
"Cheers!" Everyone downed the drink while Vera was lost in thought as she stared at the glass in her hand.
"Sister-in-law", Jessica called tentatively making Vera drop the cup but Jessica quickly stretched her hand and caught the drink before it touched the table.
"Are you okay? You almost broke your glass while lost in thought." Jessica smirked, her lips curled up.
"Am sorry", Vera muttered.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before bringing the orange juice to her lips. Under the watchful eyes of the family, she had no choice but to drink.
The meal proceeded with light chatter emanating after the toast which seems to have appeased the raging storm on the dinning table.
But Jessica wasn’t fooled. Her gaze rested on Vera, she didn’t want to miss any sign of discomfort on her face.
Then, her gaze shifted—her eyes landing on Elder Allen at the head of the table.
His hand trembled as he reached for his cup, his fingers twitching slightly.
Jessica’s mind raced with suspicion. Looking at Elder Allen’s signs of ageing it doesn’t look like a natural occurrence but seems to be induced.
"Grandpa," she spoke suddenly, her voice light. "Earlier, you called me Nora. Do you know my mother?"
She needed to confirm her suspicion and this is the only way of testing him.
At her words, a flicker of confusion crossed Elder Allen’s face. He hesitated in contemplation, his brows knitting together as he struggled to recall.
"Did I?" he asked slowly.
Jessica nodded. "Yes, you did. Do you not remember?" She asked casting a glance at the faces on the table with the intention of finding a suspicious person but everybody seems to be oblivious of the question with only Desmond ears perked up.
Elder Allen sighed, his tone laced with regret. "I’m old now. I forget things easily. Perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me."
He had been noticing some changes on his body lately and the various test he carried out didn’t show thing wrong. May be old age is drowning him in.
"Grandpa, it’s okay. You don’t have to think about it." She reassured. Davis had not explicitly shown it but Jessica noticed he has a soft spot for his grandfather.
"Excuse me," Vera suddenly said, pushing back her chair to leave the table.
Aaron grabbed her wrist before she could leave. His grip was firm, his gaze questioning. "What’s wrong?"
Vera stiffened, her anger barely restrained. She wanted nothing more than to slap him away.
Placing down her cutlery "Sister-in-law, the meal isn’t over. Why the rush?" Jessica sneered.
Vera forced a smile, though her fingers twitched around her napkin. "Oh! I just need to use the restroom," she responded her tone resolute.