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."
Selena walked over to where Keira and Lewis were sitting.
I know I've been a little out of line in the past. I just want to apologize and ask
sip from her
a slight nod, she raised her glass and took a small sip in acknowledgment. It
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
didn't know whawt
would she bring
raised an
to talk to him and clear the air. I know there's been some misunderstandings between us, and
harmless,
and even though both of them had moved on, the complexities of their past were something everyone in the family
moving back home,
suggest that Jake was the one who listened
playing a dangerous game,
trying to provoke her? If so, she was doing a damn good job. Keira placed her glass on the table with a sharp
feigned surprise. "Weren't you both in
word. If anyone could convince him, it would be you. You want our family to get along, don't
"What is this woman
"What are you talking about? I grew up in Clance. How could I have gone to
opened her mouth to say something more, but Lewis cut her off, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Selena, if you're not enjoying
froze, caught off guard
and Ellie shared a glance. They didn't know about Keira and Jake's history, but they
was stirring the pot, and it seemed like Keira
He was
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!