If the two of them were really going to get divorced, there had to be another way.
Poppy took out a small packet of powder and slipped it into the second glass of wine on the table beside her. She had gone through a lot of trouble to get her hands on this drug–if Soren drank it tonight, then the two of them would… Well, the issue of having a child would resolve itself, nice and neat.
Just thinking about what might happen later that night made Poppy’s cheeks flush, her breath coming a little quicker.
“Poppy, what are you doing?”
Lost in her swirling thoughts, she was startled by Flora’s voice suddenly sounding
behind her.
Poppy hadn’t expected Flora to sneak up like that. She quickly crumpled the empty packet in her hand, her nerves on edge. “How did you get in here?”
Flora, seeing how jumpy she was, just assumed she’d startled her by coming in unannounced. “Your door wasn’t locked, so I came in,” she explained simply.
“Next time, knock before you come in.” Poppy tried to sound stern, though her heart
was pounding.
“Okay,” Flora replied obediently.
Normally, Flora was perfectly polite, but with people she knew well, she rarely bothered with such formalities. Back at the house, she was used to barging into Evangeline’s room, asking for help with fruit or whatever else, and Evangeline had never complained. Flora just assumed Poppy wouldn’t mind either, so she was surprised by the reaction. Still, she quickly reasoned that Poppy must’ve just been startled, nothing more.
“Poppy, are you drinking alone?” Flora’s gaze landed on the two glasses of wine in front of her. “Let me join you.”
“No, it’s fine,” Poppy said in a rush.
“Oh, don’t be so formal!” Flora smiled. “I’m heading back to my parents‘ place tonight, and you’ve taken such good care of me these past few days–let me keep
you company, call it my way of saying thanks.”
Before Poppy could react, Flora picked up the other glass.
Poppy tried to stop her, but it was too late.
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Flora downed the wine in one go, savoring it. “Not bad,” she remarked, reaching for the bottle to pour herself another.
Poppy shot to her feet, panic building. “Maybe you shouldn’t drink any more. Don’t you have a piano rehearsal tomorrow? I’ll drive you home.”
Her words came out shaky, barely holding it together. She knew what that drug. did–it would leave someone dizzy and disoriented. If Flora started feeling the effects… Poppy didn’t even want to imagine what could happen. She just had to get Flora out of here, make up some excuse, and get her to the hospital if needed.
Flora was reluctant, but allowed herself to be ushered out.
They had barely reached the front door when Poppy saw the Fawkes family driver pulling up to the curb.
“My mom’s here!” Flora spotted her mother, Helena, through the car window and waved happily.
Helena stepped out with her usual poise. Seeing how reluctant Flora was to leave, she looked at Poppy with a touch of newfound warmth. “Thank you for looking after Flora these days,” Helena said politely.
Poppy’s nerves were frayed, but she managed to keep her composure and exchanged a few words.
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Helena, however, noticed Poppy’s eyes darting anxiously toward Flora. “Is something wrong with Flora? Why do you keep looking at her?”
“It’s nothing,” Poppy replied quickly. “She’s just been staying here for a while, and now that she’s leaving, I suppose I’ve gotten used to her company.”
Helena seemed satisfied with that and didn’t press further.
She and Flora got in the car and drove away.
Poppy watched the car disappear down the street, her teeth digging into her lip. Things had gone too far. She’d just have to leave it to fate now.
But after Helena’s brief moment of kindness, one thing was clear: whatever happened next, Poppy had to make sure this had nothing to do with her.
She stared at the crumpled packet in her hand. She’d planned to throw it away here at the house, but now… there was no way she could let it be found.
Meanwhile, in a small apartment across town, Evangeline was in a good mood, her
nwhile, in a
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mind whirring with ideas as she worked through a tricky bit of code. She’d finally started to drift off when her phone rang–it was Flora.
Chapter 138
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