"Then… What is going on?" Maria was perplexed."It's nothing serious. People die and disappear every day in this world. We are here to talk about the vaccine development project. Uncle Cameron, you shouldn't stray so far from the subject," Rhea stated without concern.When she said this, Fabian, who was starting to get suspicious, suddenly returned to his senses. "Yes, Ron, she's right. That missing man's affairs have nothing to do with us. We're here to talk about the vaccine development project. It doesn't matter if someone is missing or dead. If I don't get this project, my whole family will die!""So, you're saying that the life and death of others aren't important?" Cameron raised his eyebrows and asked lightly."Why would it have anything to do with us? The only connection that the miracle doctor has with us is that he treated Tasia. Even if he disappeared, we have nothing to do with it. Aren't the police looking for him? The most we could do is help look out for him, right?"
“That’s right.” Cameron fervently nodded while Maria smiled from ear to ear. “Hence, I didn’t think my brother-in-law’s daughter would harm my daughter. She’s so young, yet vicious.” Cameron directed his cold and stern gaze at Rhea. If looks could kill, Rhea would be in pieces by now.Both Fabian and Maria were stunned upon hearing that. Only Rhea’s expression remained unchanged. She merely moved her brows and said, “Uncle Cameron, what do you mean by that? Why don’t I understand you?”She had an innocent look like she had no idea what Cameron was talking about. Upon hearing that, Maria quickly added in a displeased tone, “Yeah! There must be some misunderstanding here! Cameron, how could you say that about Ree?“You said so yourself that she’s your niece. It’s too harsh of you to call her vicious! If Ree did anything wrong, I’d allow you to punish her for that, but I don’t like how you’re attacking her with such harsh words!”“Why don’t you ask your baby daughter what she has do
“No way! Anastasia is suffering from chronic poisoning, which has been going on for many years! Ree was just a kid back then, so what would she know about poisons? Also, Ree and Tasia did not get along well since they were young and rarely hung out.“Why would she poison Anastasia? Don’t scare me! That is a serious crime!” Maria’s expression changed.‘What did he say? Ree poisoned his daughter? Oh please! I understand Ree well. Although she has a weird temper and doesn’t have a close relationship with me, she’s still a kind and smart lady. How could Cameron just frame her for such a thing for no reason? I’ll never believe it!’“My mom’s right. Uncle Cameron, are you mistaken about something? Or did you listen to someone’s slander?” Rhea nodded and asked seriously.Rhea sat properly with a calm smile hanging on her pretty face. She looked like an obedient student that everyone would want. No matter how one looked at it, she did not look like the vicious person Cameron said she was.
Maria was so shocked that she had no words because she did not expect Anastasia to say that. Her tears had even stopped falling.“Since you brought it up, let’s talk it out,” Cameron straightened his back and said sternly, “I trust that you two aren’t involved in this matter, although Maria, you were the one who sent those harmful herbal plants over. Still, I trust you knew nothing about it.”The mention of her name made her blood run cold. “What did you say? What harmful plants?”“Before this, you sent Tasia a lot of herbs frequently, and it has filled up the whole place.” Cameron motioned to remind her of them.Maria admitted that and nodded, but she was puzzled. “What does that have anything to do with Anastasia getting poisoned? Do you mean to say that… those herbs poisoned her? The miracle doctor didn’t mention that!”“You’re right. It’s those herbs precisely,” Anastasia nodded and said, “The miracle doctor has never brought it up, but that doesn’t mean others are clueless ab
Maria was startled upon learning that the cops would be involved in this. Although she did not believe Rhea would do such a thing, she became skeptical after witnessing Cameron's seriousness in the matter and his firmness in rebuking Rhea. “Cameron, we’re family. Why are you making such a big deal…” Maria started softly.“We’re family, so why is your daughter so evil? Tasia was only about 12 years old at the time, and Rhea was around her age! How could a teenage girl have such a vicious heart? I’m sure all of you know how much Tasia has suffered over the years!“I’m being kind enough not to throw her in prison already!” Cameron was infuriated beyond words. The only thing he wished he could do right now was to put Rhea behind bars and make her suffer the pain Anastasia had gone through. However, Anastasia convinced him not to do so.“Uncle Fabian and Aunt Maria would not be able to take it if Rhea goes to prison. They accompanied me most of the time when you weren’t home back the
‘Is this why Cameron has been acting strangely lately? Is this why I’ve been feeling that he was hostile toward Ree? I never would’ve thought that Ree would have anything to do with Anastasia getting poisoned. If what Cameron said was right, I won’t be able to imagine the consequences!’“Is that even important? Didn’t Uncle Cameron convict me for it already?” Rhea was still being nonchalant, as she usually was. She had been sitting in the same spot, and it appeared that she had no intention of admitting her mistakes and apologizing at all. From her words, one could tell that she was trying to say that Cameron had accused her of something she did not do.While Cameron was on the phone, Maria begged him on the floor, but it was useless. Then she turned to hug Anastasia’s calf instead. “Anastasia… We took care of you when you were younger, and you spent a lot of time with Ree back then as well. Even though the two of you aren’t close to each other, you’re still family. Help Ree convin
In comparison, Cameron was much calmer. Raising a brow, he asked, “You’re finally admitting to it?”“No! No, she was just blabbering nonsense. Cameron, don’t take her words seriously!” In a panic, Maria cried as she pulled on Rhea’s arm, explaining further, “You know how stubborn Ree can be. She’s just mad at her dad! How could she have poisoned Anastasia? There must be some misunderstanding here…”That was what Maria said, but truth be told, she was losing confidence. ‘Could it be those herbal plants? Is that why Anastasia moved all of them away and said she gifted them to someone else? It seems that she had been wary of us since then.”With that thought in mind, she looked at Anastasia. “Tasia, who told you that you were poisoned by the herbal plants? Was it Lily?”Maria assumed so, as Anastasia had been in frequent contact with Lily only recently. “I’ve told you that she’s not a good influence on you. How could you listen to the things she said? It might not have been the herbal
If Anastasia did not get poisoned, she would have been much happier. She would have been a beautiful and confident young lady with many friends instead of having low self-esteem and staying cooped up at home all the time.All these years, she had suffered physically and mentally. Cameron was well aware of that. Although he said nothing much about it, it hurt him to see how she was. However, Maria wanted to take credit for looking high and low for the miracle doctor. It was ridiculous.“Anastasia…” Maria knew what Cameron meant by that, and she finally understood that he would go by what was right or wrong even though they were his relatives. Therefore, she thought of begging Anastasia instead and wanted to hold the latter’s leg.Anastasia moved away and stared at the teary-eyed Fabian and Maria before she looked at Cameron. “Daddy…”“I told you I’ll handle this. You stay out of it!” Cameron raised one hand, signaling for Anastasia to stay silent. He knew his daughter was soft-heart