Chapter 103

MR JACOB POV.

My mind drifted back to the supermarket, to the moment I had seen him with the syringe. He hadn’t flinched when I confronted him. Instead, he had acted as though I was the fool, as though my suspicions were baseless.

But what if Max had pretended to have injected the fruits without poison being in the syringe.

And now, here we were. Max had turned the tables on me, using my own accusations to solidify his position in Kenneth’s eyes.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. It wasn’t just about Max’s cleverness; it was about Kenneth’s naivety.

My brother had always been too trusting, too quick to believe in people’s goodness. And Max had exploited that trust perfectly.

“Jacob, are you alright?” Daniella’s voice pulled me momentarily out of my thoughts.

I forced a smile, nodding slightly. “I’m fine, just a bit tired.”

She gave me a polite smile and returned her attention to Kenneth, who was still talking about Richard and Tammie.

But I couldn’t care less about their wedding plans or the gifts Richard had brought. My focus was entirely on Max.

Kenneth’s words echoed in my mind again, each repetition like a needle pricking at my pride. Loyal. Trustworthy. Dependable. Those were the words Kenneth had used to describe Max.

I gritted my teeth, my jaw tightening. How could Kenneth be so blind? Couldn’t he see what was right in front of him? Max was playing him, just as he had played everyone else.

And yet, I couldn’t deny the bitter truth that gnawed at me. Max had outsmarted me. He had taken the situation I thought I controlled and turned it into his own victory. He had made me look like the fool.

I leaned forward slightly, my elbows resting on my knees. Was it possible that Kenneth’s trust in Max wasn’t entirely misplaced? No, I shook my head.

That was absurd. Max wasn’t loyal to anyone but himself. He was a master manipulator, someone who thrived on deceit and betrayal.

But then, why couldn’t I expose him? Why couldn’t I prove to Kenneth what kind of man Max really was?

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. The truth was, Max had covered his tracks too well. He had expected every move, every suspicion, and had countered them with precision. And now, Kenneth trusted him even more.

The thought made my stomach burn. Max had woven a web of lies so intricate that even I couldn’t untangle it.

I glanced at Kenneth, who was smiling warmly as he spoke about the company, about Richard’s future, and about Tammie’s happiness.

My brother’s face was filled with pride and contentment, completely unaware of the storm brewing around him.

And that’s exactly what Max wanted.

I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing with possibilities. What was Max’s endgame? Was it just about money? Power? Or was there something deeper, something I hadn’t yet uncovered?

I thought about the years Max had spent working for Kenneth, earning his trust, climbing the ranks.

He had played the long game, biding his time until he could strike. And now, it seemed, he was closer than ever to achieving whatever twisted goal he had in mind.

But I couldn’t let him win.

I clenched my fists again, determination hardening in my chest. Max might be clever, but he wasn’t invincible. Everyone had a weakness, and I was going to find his.

Kenneth’s voice broke through my thoughts once more, this time accompanied by laughter from Daniella and Tammie. They were completely so unaware of the danger lurking in their midst.

I forced another smile, nodding along as if I was part of the conversation. But my mind was elsewhere, piecing together a plan to expose Max for what he truly was.

Max might think he had won this round, but the game wasn’t over yet.

The faint vibration of my phone vibrated through my purse, interrupting the murmur of voices in the sitting room. I ignored it at first, willing it to stop.

But it didn’t. The vibration continued, persistent and unrelenting, as if whoever was calling me wouldn’t take silence for an answer.

I shifted uncomfortably on the couch, hoping no one would notice. But I wasn’t that lucky. Mr. Jacob’s sharp eyes turned toward me from across the room. His gaze immediately landed, curious and probing, and I felt the weight of his scrutiny pressing down on me.

“Excuse me,” I said, forcing a polite smile as I stood up. I could feel Mr. Jacob’s eyes following me as I made my way out of the sitting room and into the hallway.

Once I was far enough from the others, I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone. My heart sank when I saw the name flashing on the screen: Max.

My mind immediately went to him excusing himself earlier to use the restroom. Why was he calling me now? A sudden unease crept over me as I hesitated, staring at the phone as it kept ringing in my hand.

Reluctantly, I answered. “Hello?”

At first, there was no response…just the sound of heavy breathing. Then, coughing. Deep, gut-wrenching coughing that sent a chill down my spine and I needed no to tell me that Max was in trouble.

“Max?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He didn’t respond. All I could hear was his struggle to breathe, the sound of gagging, as if he was choking on something. My eyes widened in shock as the realization hit me like a heavy blow to the stomach.

It was happening.

I clutched the phone tighter, my pulse racing. This was exactly what I had feared when I saw him bite into that apple. I had tried to warn him with my eyes, to signal him not to eat it.

But he hadn’t listened. He had been so confident, so arrogant, thinking he could outsmart everyone. And now, here we were.

My mind raced with conflicting thoughts. Should I leave him? Should I let him die in that restroom?

The idea wasn’t entirely unappealing. If Max were gone, I wouldn’t have to live under his thumb anymore.