Chapter 107

NADIA'S POV.

I hesitated, my mind scrambling for an excuse. But nothing came. His gaze was unwavering, and I knew I couldn’t afford to raise more suspicion. Reluctantly, I nodded.

“Of course,” I said, my voice tight.

I walked back toward the sitting room, my legs feeling like lead. As I approached the couch, my eyes fell on something…a small glint of light reflecting off the fabric.

The sound of Kenneth’s voice filled the room as he continued his long-winded stories about Richard’s accomplishments.

I sat there, half-listening, my thoughts swirling with frustration. My patience was wearing thin, and the nagging feeling in my gut wouldn’t go away. Something was wrong.

I cleared my throat, cutting through Kenneth’s voice. “What’s keeping Max in the restroom for this long?”

MR JACOB POV.

The room went quiet. Everyone’s attention shifted toward me, their expressions a mix of curiosity and confusion. My eyes, however, were fixed on Nadia. She was seated across the room, her posture composed, her face calm.

“Nadia,” I said, my voice steady but deliberate. “You were the last person to leave the room. Did you happen to see Max on your way back?”

Her head tilted slightly, her expression unchanging. “No, I didn’t,” she replied smoothly.

I leaned forward, my gaze locking onto hers. Her eyes didn’t flinch, didn’t waver. She held my stare with an almost unnerving ease.

“Strange,” I said, my tone carrying an edge, pretending not to know that something was going on.

“It’s been quite some time now. Max isn’t one to disappear without a word.”

She shrugged lightly, her composure unshaken. “Perhaps he needed a moment to himself. Everyone has their reasons.”

I didn’t respond immediately, instead continuing to study her. If she was hiding something, she was doing an exceptional job of it.

There was no hint of nervousness in her demeanor, no telltale sign of guilt.

But I wasn’t convinced.

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms as my thoughts churned. What is really going on between Max and Nadia?

I couldn’t shake the memory of seeing them together at the supermarket, their heads bent close as if conspiring.

And now, here we were…Max had excused himself, and Nadia had been acting oddly ever since.

She’d left the room, returned with a feigned sense of normalcy, and now sat there as if nothing was amiss.

What are they up to?

Kenneth’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Jacob, are you all right? You’ve been quiet.”

I glanced at him, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Just thinking.”

He nodded, satisfied, and returned to his story. But my mind was far from fine. I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I was being played, that something significant was unfolding right under my nose.

I glanced back at Nadia. She was now focused on her phone, her fingers scrolling idly across the screen. To anyone else, she might have seemed relaxed, but I wasn’t buying it.

She’s hiding something. I know it.

I tapped my fingers against the armrest, my frustration growing. If Max didn’t emerge soon, I’d have to take matters into my own hands.

NADIA'S POV.

The low hum of conversation filled Johnson's sitting room, but my focus was elsewhere. My heart kept beating fast in my chest as my eyes scanned the floor, searching for something…anything…that might help Max.

My frustration from earlier was bubbling under the surface, threatening to spill over, but I forced myself to stay calm.

Then, something caught my eye. A faint glimmer of light reflected off an object near the edge of the couch. At first, I thought it was just a stray piece of jewelry or perhaps a coin, but as I looked closer, I realized it wasn’t.

It was a tiny bottle.

My breath hitched as I squinted to get a better look without drawing attention to myself. The bottle was small, almost inconspicuous, with a dark liquid inside that shimmered faintly in the light.

Could it be?

My mind raced as I tried to piece it together. That was exactly where Max had been sitting before he excused himself to the restroom. It had to be the antidote.

I felt a surge of relief, but I couldn’t let it show. Everyone was still seated around me, and the last thing I needed was to draw attention to what I had just seen.

I shifted in my seat, feigning interest in the conversation, all while planning my next move. My hands trembled slightly, but I clasped them tightly to steady myself. I couldn’t afford any mistakes now.

With a casual movement, I slid back slightly in my seat, aligning myself with the tiny bottle. Slowly, carefully, I adjusted my position until I was sitting directly on it. My heart raced as I felt the hard surface of the bottle press against me.

No one seemed to notice.

I waited for a few moments, pretending to smooth out my gown, and then, with as much subtlety as I could muster, I reached under my dress. My fingers brushed against the cool glass of the bottle, and I wrapped my hand around it.

I exhaled quietly, relief washing over me as I pulled the bottle into my grasp.

Finally.

Now came the tricky part. I couldn’t just stand up and walk out without a reason…it would draw too much attention. I needed an excuse, something plausible.

Clearing my throat softly, I stood up and offered a polite smile to everyone in the room.

“Excuse me,” I said, keeping my tone light. “I think I need to use the bathroom again. Too much water earlier.”

Kenneth gave a brief nod, barely looking up from his conversation. Mr. Jacob, however, turned his gaze toward me, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.

I forced myself to maintain my composure, returning his gaze with a calm expression. “Is everything all right?” he asked, his tone casual but probing.

“Of course,” I replied smoothly. “Just a quick trip, that’s all.”

He didn’t respond immediately, but after a moment, he nodded and turned his attention back to Kenneth.

I let out a silent sigh of relief and made my way toward the hallway.