Sudden Tragedy

Sapphire's POV

I moved past the halls hurriedly, my heart threatening to tear right out my chest. Someone was planning to kill Lance. I couldn't tell who. I couldn't recognize their voices either but I couldn't sit back and do nothing.

Who could it possibly be? The thought of all of this was frightening me.

I could just let this happen though. If Lance died maybe I would be freed but then ...why ....why was I moving? He was a horrible person but I....I couldn't just sit back and let this happen.

I was rushing through the hotel lobby when I crashed into someone. I staggered and nearly fell but he held my hands. I gasped and looked up. It was Ronald. He gave a wide smile.

"Hello beautiful. I was wondering where you were" His voice came as he gripped my wrist gently.

"Mr.....Ronald...em... , I just went to use the bathroom earlier. Em, I didn't see you at the wedding earlier or the reception so I thought you wouldn't come." I forced a smile. Within me, I wished he would let me go.

"My apologies. I had to fly out for some urgent work. Honestly I didn't mean to miss my brother's wedding"

"It's okay. I understand. I should go....

"Ah. Where's the hurry? Your darling husband can wait, can't he? I haven't had a good chat with my sister in-law yet and we barely know each other. Shouldn't we try to......catch up? He said it with a gentle tone, his eyes looked really sexy as he gently caressed my wrist. It felt... What was he trying to do?

I pulled my hand back all of a sudden and he looked at me with another type of smile plastered on his face. One I couldn't read.

"No need to get on the defensive, I'm just teasing you. I really do want to talk to you"

"Some other time. I need to go"

"Wait ......

I hurried away before he could say another word. 

I got to the large dining hall where everyone sat. The sounds of laughter was echoing in the hall. The entire Clawson family graced the table including those who were just arriving. Elder Clawson, Lance's Parents Elisa and Greg Clawson, Aunty Kathy, her husband Steve and her two sons Michael and Martins, Pearl and her husband Devon, another stout looking man who I later got to know was called Fred and was part of the Clawson family as an old family friend. His wife and daughter were with him too. Then there was another stunning beauty who sat at the table with a little boy who would be about 10 years old but I couldn't guess who they were.

Then there was Lance seated closest to his grandfather as he was the star of the occasion. My chair was besides his. My heart nearly stopped when I saw a drink in his hands. That was it. I felt it in my gut. The cup was full so he hadn't taken anything yet. How do I tell him? I hurried to my seat whilst greeting everyone who had just came. I sat besides Lance who was engrossed in a discussion with some others. I tugged at his shirt beneath the table where no one could see me.

"Lance.....

I whispered but he ignored me.

"Lance...

I called again but he simply acted like I didn't exist. The bastard. I was trying to save him. Just then he lifted the glass up to take a sip and my heart pounded against my chest. 

"Wait Lance....."I stretched my hand all of a sudden, knocking the glass from his hands. The contents came crashing down on the table as well as the glass cup which broke to pieces. Some shards had spread out,one slicing across my cheek. I gasped in..... relief and terror as I held my injured cheek. I did it.

"Lauren, what was that? What's wrong with you? Lance's snapped and it felt like I was catapulted back to reality. Everyone was looking at me now. I looked up to see his cold eyes bearing down on me. Yes, some of the liquid had spread down, on his clothes and hands and on my face. Wait my face?

That's when I realized there was a sudden sour taste in my mouth. My mouth had been open. The drink had gone in. My legs froze.

"Can't you learn to control yourself woman? This is a family dinner, what the hell is wrong with you? What could be so important that you can't wait till later? Lance thundered at me in a whisper and I didn't know what to say. Ronald joined the table that instance and looked around confused at the silence. Mr Fred's daughter was giving out a mocking snicker by now.

"What happened? He asked.

"Lance's new wife is a clumsy oaf. That's what happened" Pearl gave a mocking laugh and her husband Devon shot her a soft side glance. She snorted and looked away.

"Young lady, manners are really essential at the table. If there was anything you wanted to say to Lance, you ought to have waited for a later time. Weren't you taught how to behave? Elisa fired and I felt like tears would tear their way out my eyes plus I felt a sudden violet thudding in my heart. I squeezed at my chest. The poison.....

"Oh, now Elisa, it was an accident. I'm sure she didn't mean it. I mean they're newly weds she would have wanted to tell him something important" Kathy spoke in my defense and her brother Greg gave a scoff.

"Or maybe she's just unsophisticated. Lance never did make the right choices now, did he?

"Greg! Kathy fired and Greg raised his hand in defeat.

What was happening? What were they saying? I could barely hear. The world was spinning.

"Don't you have anything to say for yourself? A voice came.

"How rude"

"Is this how she always is Lance? How could you bring such an uncultured girl home?

"Enough! I had heard Elder Clawson's firm shout and everyone had suddenly snapped their mouth shut.

Elder Clawson looked to Lance.

"Your wife is bleeding Lance. Why don't you tend to that before you all start screaming at her to set her straight?

Lance bit his lips.

"My apologies grandfather"

"Lauren! Lance's thunderous voice came and he narrowed his eyes down on me. I could barely breathe.

"The drink.....it...it entered my mouth...I swallowed some of it....

I muttered and he looked at me in confusion, his tone now moderate.

"What the hell are you saying?

I was already gasping for breathe.

"The drink....I heard....i heard...outside.....room...the drink......it...it....was.....poi....

My heart ceased before I could say another word and the next thing I knew my world had gone blank. The last thing I felt was my body crashing against the ground.

Lance's POV

I sat outside the hospital ward, my hands clasped in front of me as they anchored on my knees. It had been a few minutes since we arrived now and we hadn't heard anything from the doctors yet. I bit my lips in annoyance.

The drink had been poisoned. That for sure was what I knew. She said she had swallowed a bit of the drink and before we knew it, she was gasping for breathe. Before I could react, she had fainted coughing out blood like a virus infected patient.

Someone had tried to kill me. What was absurd was how she knew?

I could guess she must have stumbled upon a strange discussion one way or another when she had left to use the restroom, that's why she had been in such a hurry when she came back. That's why she had tried to get my attention.

What bothered me most was why. Why.....why did she do it? What did she hope to gain? If she wanted, she could have just let it happen. After all I knew she hated me, why had she desperately tried to save me then? Was she seeking my gratitude? A reward or what? What ran through her mind at that moment?

"Are you okay Lance? You seem a little lost"

Pearl's voice came at my ears. I looked up to see her and her hand bag of a husband behind her back as usual.

"Someone tried to kill me. you don't expect me to look found, do you?

"Oh and here I thought you were worried about your dear wife. Forgive me. Who knows since she knew about the poison maybe she's the one who tried to kill you"

"If she was, why would she try to save me"

"Hmm, I don't know, maybe to be a heroine or win a good face before grandfather"

"Doesn't that sound like something 'you' would do?

I fired at her and she gave a half hearted gasp. Was she here to tempt me?

"Don't think too lowly of me brother. It's not nice" She pouted and I hissed.

I couldn't stop thinking about this. Why did that bitch....why did Sapphire help me? Why the hell woman?

"You should be careful of that wife of yours by the way Lance. You're my brother and I care about you. You never can tell what she might be up to. She could plan to cripple you and wrap you around her fingers to get your fortune"

"You mean like you wrapped yours around your finger? I fired and she shut her mouth.

"I thought women supported women? I snorted as I got up and walked away.

I needed to cool down my unease and when Sapphire woke up, I would ask her a few questions. In the meantime. I brought out my phone from my pocket and punched some numbers.

"Hey dude.... a voice came from the other side of the phone.

"Is it up and running?

"As promised"

"Good"

"How is that you're calling me right now?

"I'll feed you in on the situation later. I have to go for now"

I cut the call.