Chapter 48 The Last Straw
Finished
Olive had been steadily increasing the dosage these days. Norman’s body had started breaking out in red blotches, his mind lost in confusion, slipping deeper and deeper into unconsciousness.
“Grandpa, don’t blame me, alright? Blame yourself for being so damn biased toward that little b*tch Quinn. If you’ve got a problem, go find your precious granddaughter and settle it with her in the afterlife.
Smiling brightly, Olive opened the vial. Inside was a concentrated silverleaf solution. For someone with an allergy, even the tiniest amount was enough to land them in the ICU. With this much? It’d be a miracle if he survived.
She mixed it into a cup of water and handed it to Sam.
“Hold him up.”
Sam, pale–faced, lifted Norman as Olive brought the cup to his lips.
These past few days, Quinn had felt increasingly uneasy. She suddenly had the urge to check on her grandfather. Through one of her contacts, she found out the Fairchild family wasn’t home. Without hesitation, she set out.
Ever since the trip to the old town, Zayden had quietly arranged for someone to keep watch over her.
The moment he was informed, he gave a grim order. “Call the police. Head to the Fairchild estate.
With his arm still in a cast, he climbed into the car and sped off.
The Fairchild estate’s gates were locked tight.
Quinn vaulted the wall. The courtyard was empty. Without pause, she rushed straight for her grandfather’s
room.
The house was silent–eerily so. It felt more like a haunted mansion than a home. Quinn muttered, confused, “Even Olive’s not here?”
That was strange. Olive never went anywhere. If she wasn’t out shopping or partying, she was home lounging.
As Quinn neared the room, a heavy, dizzying fragrance hit her like a wall. Her heart sank.
Bang!
She kicked the door open and caught Olive in the act–forcing something into Norman’s mouth, her face twisted with malice.
“Olive! What the hell are you doing?!”
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Chapter 48 The Last Straw
She scrambled back against the wall, eyes darting toward Sam.
K66%
Finished
Sam lunged forward to block Quinn–but she was too fast, slipping past him like a fish through water.
The room immediately filled with the thick, pungent scent of silverleaf. Quinn recognized it instantly.
Norman started gasping, his skin turning a frightening shade of purple.
Quinn launched herself forward and grabbed Olive by the throat. Her voice dropped to a deadly growl.
“Olive. You really want to die, don’t you?”
Olive choked, her hands clawing at Quinn’s wrists as she wheezed, “Please… help… me…”
“Miss!” Sam rushed over and shoved Quinn off. Her back slammed hard against the metal bed frame.
With a stifled groan, Quinn crawled to her feet, yanked the Tranquil Pill from her pocket, and–with trembling hands–slipped it into Norman’s mouth.
Immediately, his breathing began to ease. Some color returned to his face.
But now that the Tranquil Pill was gone, Quinn herself was exposed. The scent in the room hit her like a tidal wave.
The walls swayed. People split into two, then three. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay upright. Like a wounded little wolf, she clung to her grandfather’s bedside, daring Olive and Sam to come any closer.
“Come at me if you want to die.”
Olive, watching her closely, saw the tremble in her steps, the white–knuckled grip on the sheets.
“You’re allergic too,” Olive whispered, massaging her aching throat. She pulled another vial from her pocket and held it high. Her voice was hoarse but gleeful.
“Didn’t think you’d walk right into this. But hey–don’t blame me. You showed up on your own.”
With a laugh, she threw the bottle at Quinn’s feet. It shattered. The overpowering scent filled the room like
smoke.
Quinn’s eyes glazed over. Her mind slipped, her limbs buckled–but she clung to the bed with everything
she had.
Then, like lightning, a police siren pierced the air.
“What the hell is that?!” Olive’s face twisted in panic.
Sam ran to the window. “Miss! It’s bad–cops are here!”
Dozens of officers flooded through the gates.
Olive went pale.
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Chapter 48 The Last Straw
She stormed over, grabbed Quinn by the collar, and snarled at Sam, “Get me a knife!”
*Finished
Barely conscious, Quinn’s voice was raw but sharp. “Even if I die here, I’ll take you with me. You ruin this face–let’s see who you seduce then.”
But no knife came.
Olive looked up–Sam was gone.
“That bastard!”
She raised her hand, about to slap Quinn again.
“Argh!”
QK