Vera gasped for breathe as the weight of the situation crashed down on her, she stared at the faces before her gloomily.
The silent, piercing stares of her family members boring into her, their expressions and their faces scrunched at varying degrees ranging from shock to disgust - judging her actions, naivety, shame and disgrace they might think she had brought on them.
It’s not a secret, the sort of scheme that goes on in this family but then —being caught in the act is way more embarrassing and humiliating yet she had been caught—trapped in her own scheme, exposed in the most humiliating way possible.
This dinner had been her undoing and it was Jessica... A girl from the countryside. She isn’t reconciled with this result.
As if on cue, the drug reactions kicked in with force, her hands trembled violently, her struggle to stand up ended up in humiliation as her legs buckled again as a sharp pang of pain shot through her stomach, as though she is stabbed with several swords at the same time.
Beads of sweat formed on her already damp forehead as dizziness clouded her vision. Her lips parted as if to say something, but no words came—just a soft, strangled gasp of pain.
With a thud, Vera collapsed onto the cold tiled floor before anybody could react. She has passed out. The atmosphere became chaotic and tense.
"Vera!" Aaron sprinted forward with speed , crouching beside her and gripping her shoulders. He shook her lightly, but her eyes fluttered, barely able to focus.
"What’s wrong with her?" Pamela asked in alarm, stepping back in fear. Though, she isn’t in good terms with Vera she didn’t want her dead.
"A failed scheme," Davis answered, his voice devoid of concern.
His words sent a shiver through the room.
"What?" Aaron snapped his head toward him, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
"Didn’t you hear her admit she drugged Jessica’s drink?" Davis continued, eyes locked on Vera’s trembling form, his face expressionless as though he has not known her before.
He might have felt pity for anyone else but for the woman who couldn’t take a glance back at him before she moved on, he has no reason to feel pity.
"Or aren’t you aware, Jessica exchanged her drink with hers at the table? Giving her the orange she prepared for her while toaking the lemonade from her? Davis queried with a cold tone. He couldn’t help wondering if they are blind or just pretending to be blind.
A tense silence followed, everyone had witnessed the exchange but nobody had expected the toast to be a ploy.
Desmond’s jaw tightened as the scene of Jessica playing him over a bottle of gin surfaced in his memory.
He was in doubt about the incidence but it seems this girl isn’t naïve as he thought. She is an opponent that can’t be underestimated.
He looked at Vera’s weak body which had suffered greatly from the effects of the drug, a sigh escaped his lips. How happy I would have been if she is the one suffering from this pain" he mused casting a cold glance at Jessica.
Aaron’s complicated gaze rested on Vera as several thoughts crossed his mind on the possible reasons she took that step.
"Why did she do it? Is it because of Davis?" He mused while casting a subtle glance at the man on the wheelchair.
He would have loved to teach this country girl a lesson in a bid to prove to Davis that he is a failure but Vera had no reason to except ....
Aaron didn’t want to believe this reason—He didn’t expect that after Davis wakes up even the bride he has taken from him will humiliate him over and over again.
He sighed deeply to gather his composure. His voice coming out almost in a whisper, "She—she needs a doctor."
Elder Allen instructed the butler to invite the family doctor over and instructed everyone to go over to the living room to wait for the doctor’s arrival.
Leaving the parties involved behind, Jessica stood beside Davis and Aaron crouched on the floor beside Vera glaring coldly at Jessica "Are you satisfied now?" he drawled.
Jessica sighed deeply "Who wouldn’t be satisfied to see one fall into their own scheme?" she smirked.
She is not a saint and wouldn’t feel sorry for anyone that brought pains on himself in the course of plotting against a person.
"Jessica, you should be happy but be careful it is only for a while" Aaron sneered.
"Aaron, I thought you said they are catching up on memories or is it beyond your expectations?", Davis queried.
Aaron stared at him for a while, a cold smile tugging his lips. "It might have been but then you remain the loser" he sneered.
Slowly, he lifted Vera from the floor and walked toward the sitting room, he laid her on the couch and the maid brought a bowl of water for as he cleaned her face and hands.
Vera lay motionless her face pale, her brow furrowing occasionally and her hand twitching lightly at intervals.
Back at the hallway, Davis stared at Jessica’s face, his expression unreadable with various emotions— anger, pain, relief swirled in his eyes.
Under his gaze, Jessica felt uncomfortable "Can we leave?" She asked skeptically since she couldn’t make out the reason of his coldness. But he kept mute rather —
His fingers drummed lightly against the armrest of his wheelchair, a subtle but clear sign of his irritation. Jessica glanced at him from the side, her brows slightly furrowing.
She is too lazy to bother about his anger. She needs to find out the reason of Elder Allen’s symptoms during the dinner, the various people involved in the plot and the motive but then —
If Vera had the audacity to try this tonight in this gathering, what else is she capable of?
And more importantly...Who else in this house was willing to go this far?
With no answer coming forth, she placed her hand on the wheelchair and slowly she moved him forward toward the living room in silence.
She had expected some reaction—perhaps why she hurt his sweetheart or question on how she found out. But this? This brooding silence? She didn’t get it and wouldn’t force herself to find out.