Chapter 101

MAX POV

I glanced at Nadia, whose face was pale, her breathing shallow. She wouldn’t dare speak now, not with all eyes on me.

I could feel her panic radiating across the room, but I kept my expression neutral, even offering her a faint smile.

Time was running out.

I stylishly glanced at my wristwatch, noting the minutes ticking by. The poison I had injected into the apple was timed to act slowly, and all of a sudden.

It wouldn’t kill instantly but would start with mild symptoms before escalating. I could already feel the faintest twinge in my stomach…a warning sign.

“Excuse me,” I said, stepping away from the center of attention. “Mr. Kenneth, if you don’t mind, I’d like to use the restroom.”

Kenneth looked up, his expression softening. “Of course, Max. You’ve earned a moment to yourself after all this nonsense.”

He turned to the servant who had brought in the fruit earlier. “Show Max to the restroom, please.”

The servant nodded and gestured for me to follow. I cast one last glance at the room, taking in their faces.

Jacob was seething, his fists clenched tightly in his lap. Nadia was trembling, her fingers twitching slightly as if she wanted to stop me but didn’t know how.

Kenneth and his wife looked calm, unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface.

And then there was the young lady who is Nadia's accomplice, Alisha, seated quietly in the corner, her eyes narrowed as she observed everything. She was too quiet for my liking, but I couldn’t focus on her now.

I followed the servant out of the room, the faint hum of conversation resuming behind me. As I walked down the hall, my mind raced. I had to act fast, to find a way to counteract the poison before it was too late.

But for now, I had bought myself some time. And in this game, time was everything.

What have I done? The thought struck me like a hammer as I walked into the restroom and closed the door behind me. My mind was racing, every second that passed felt like a lifetime. The apple. The bite. The poison.

I leaned against the sink, gripping its edges tightly as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

My face was pale, beads of sweat forming on my forehead. I had been so confident in the moment, so sure that I could outwit Jacob, but now... now I wasn’t so sure.

It was all supposed to be part of the plan. I had injected the poison into the fruit to ensure that Kenneth would be incapacitated, leaving the company vulnerable and easy for me to manipulate.

I knew Jacob had been watching me at the supermarket, knew he would use that moment to try to expose me. So, I ate the apple, fully prepared to prove him wrong knowing fully well that I have the antidote to the poison.

Because I had the antidote.

At least, I thought I did.

I patted my pockets frantically, searching for the small bottle I always carried with me. My fingers fumbled through the fabric, but all I found were loose coins, a pen, and my car keys. No bottle.

“No,” I muttered under my breath, my voice trembling. I checked the other pocket, turning it inside out, but it was empty.

Panic began to set in, my breathing quickening as I realized the antidote wasn’t there.

How could I have been so careless? How could I have taken that bite without first making sure I had the antidote with me? I closed my eyes, replaying the moment in my head.

The confidence, the smirk, the bite…it all seemed so foolish now.

“This can’t be happening,” I whispered to myself, my voice shaking.

I patted my pockets again, hoping that I had somehow missed it, but the vial was nowhere to be found.

My heart was beating so fast in my chest, the sound echoing in my ears. I leaned against the sink, gripping it tightly as my legs threatened to give out beneath me.

A sharp pain shot through my stomach, and I doubled over, clutching my abdomen. The poison was starting to take effect. I coughed, the sound harsh and grating, and I felt a metallic taste in my mouth.

“What have I done?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes wide with fear. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I had been so careful, so meticulous in my planning. But now, I was the one who was vulnerable.

I tried to steady my breathing, to think clearly, but the pain was growing worse. My hands were shaking as I reached into my pocket again, this time pulling out my phone. If I couldn’t find the antidote, I needed to act quickly.

But who could I call? Who could I trust?

My mind raced as I scrolled through my contacts, my vision blurring slightly. The room felt like it was spinning, the walls closing in around me. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to focus.

I couldn’t let this be the end. Not here. Not like this.

MR JACOB POV.

Something wasn’t adding up. I sat there in the Kenneth’s lavish sitting room, surrounded by the idle chatter of my brother Kenneth, his wife Daniella, and the rest of the group.

Kenneth was still talking and going on about Richard and Tammie, gushing over the gifts Richard had brought for his precious daughter.

His voice was a steady hum in the background, but I wasn’t listening. I couldn’t focus on anything except Max.

I shifted in my seat, my eyes darting toward the direction Max had gone. The man had eaten that apple, the very one I’d seen him inject with poison at the supermarket.

I had watched him and Nadia like a hawk as they tampered with the fruit. There was no doubt in my mind about what I had witnessed. So how was Max still alive?

I leaned back in my chair, feigning casual interest in the conversation around me. My fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, my mind racing.

Was it possible that I’d misjudged what I’d seen? No, that couldn’t be it. I knew what I saw.