Percival reached out and swiped a finger through the frosting, popping it directly into his mouth.

The next instant, his face contorted in agony, an expression of pain so intense it had never before graced his features.

"Is it poisoned?" Vivienne yelled out, alarm knitting her brow.

Percival waved her off, steadying himself on her knee. "It's just... incredibly bitter."

Vivienne was speechless.

"Bitter? Really?" She dared a taste herself, almost letting her lifelong love affair with strawberry shortcake plummet to rock bottom.

It was supposed to be frosting - sweet, indulgent frosting.

Why on earth was it so bitter?

A thought struck Vivienne. "Tastes like something my mom made."

Her words hung in the air, and she and Percival paused, a sudden realization dawning on them.

Slowly, they lifted their eyes to meet, and their gazes converged with silent understanding.

The cake before them indeed bore the mark of Karen's handiwork.

The pair sat in stunned silence, neither willing to voice the conclusion forming in their minds. Yet, all the strange occurrences of recent days seemed to be pointing inexorably in one direction. After a while, Vivienne shook her head. "I've never had such a terrible strawberry shortcake."

Percival unveiled a slice of strawberry shortcake he had brought and fed it to Vivienne. "Try this one; it's sweet."

A chuckle escaped Vivienne's lips, her eyes inadvertently flickering to the bitter disappointment that was the other cake.

couch, patting her belly. "Mr. Wolf, didn't you say

presented two invitations, laying them before Vivienne. "Take a

wants to

Brooks family hosted the party and extended the invitation to Vivienne

a pretext for him to see

anticipating her answer from the look on her

replied, "Of course, we're going.

and Percival arrived in their finest

were greeting guests at the door. Upon seeing Vivienne,

you so much. I've been trying to call with no luck," Melissa said

had clearly lifted Melissa's spirits; her smile was even

phone off," Vivienne responded with a light laugh, then turned to

had saved the girl and had not followed up, confident

"Yes,

happened to

had not been so stubborn and thrown away her helmet, Carl might not have ended

intense fight for his life, we managed to save him, but the doctors say he suffered brain damage. He

be recovering; she had

have

is Carl now?" Vivienne asked, her voice

her deeply. And why had the Brooks family not contacted her sooner? With timely notice, Carl would not be in this condition. Melissa tried to soothe Vivienne, "We wanted to tell you, but... we can't keep bothering

How can

her relationship with the Brooks family would never be as open and

felt the same; there was a

keep coming to you," Melissa said, wiping away tears, the

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