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.

patting her belly. "Mr. Wolf, didn't you say you had something to

laying them before Vivienne. "Take a

the invites, glancing over them with a smile. "The director wants to see me? He could have just said

family hosted the party and extended the invitation to Vivienne and Percival, they were not

a pretext

asked, already anticipating her answer

we're going. We can't miss out on

and Percival arrived in their finest attire at

guests at the door. Upon seeing

been trying to call with no luck," Melissa said warmly as she reached out and took

Melissa's spirits; her smile was even brighter than

for a while, had my phone off," Vivienne

girl and had not followed up, confident

"Yes,

happened to Carl?"

over Carl's condition. If only she had not been so stubborn and thrown away her helmet,

life, we managed to save him, but the doctors say he suffered brain damage. He might be in a vegetative state from

to be recovering; she had performed the surgery

have gone

me? Where is Carl now?" Vivienne asked,

troubled her deeply. And why had the Brooks family not contacted her sooner? With timely notice, Carl would not be in this condition. Melissa

we? How can that be a

After all, her relationship

family felt the same; there was a mutual sense of guilt and

us to keep coming to you," Melissa said, wiping away

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