Chapter 98

ALISHA POV.

Richard was everything a father-in-law could hope for…handsome, successful, and attentive.

Yet, sitting here in this opulent room, surrounded by the grandeur of the Johnson mansion, I felt a knot of unease tightening in my chest.

I could feel Mrs. Daniella Johnson’s gaze on me. It wasn’t a warm, welcoming look; it was probing, calculating.

Her eyes shifted on the bandage on my arm, and I instinctively pulled my hand closer to my side, hoping to shield it from her scrutiny.

Does she suspect something? Or is she simply curious about who I am?

I kept my face neutral, trying not to betray any of the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. Beside me, Richard seemed completely at ease, his charming smile never faltering as he listened to Mr. Kenneth’s praises.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Nadia. She was sitting on the opposite side of the room, her expression unreadable to most, but I knew her too well.

There was a funny look of impatience in her eyes, a tension in the way she tapped her fingers lightly against the armrest of the chair as if he couldn't wait to question Richard immediately.

She wants to talk to me.

The realization sent a jolt of unease through me. Nadia had a way of demanding things without saying a word, and right now, her piercing gaze was like a silent command.

I quickly looked away, pretending not to notice her.

Not now, Nadia. Not here.

I tried to focus on the others in the room. My eyes landed on Tammie, who was seated elegantly, her posture perfect, her dress immaculate.

She was beautiful, effortlessly so, with an air of sophistication that made her seem untouchable.

No wonder Richard is marrying her.

The thought came unbidden, and I clenched my fists slightly. Tammie was everything I wasn’t…graceful, poised, and seemingly perfect.

It wasn’t hard to see why Nadia wanted to use me to disrupt the wedding. She hated Tammie, though I still didn’t fully understand why.

Is it jealousy? Or something deeper?

I sighed softly, forcing myself to stay composed. Whatever Nadia’s reasons, I was just a pawn in her game, a tool to help her achieve her goals.

But how far am I willing to go for her?

The question lingered in my mind, heavy and unsettling. Before I could dwell on it further, the sound of Mr. Jacob clearing his throat snapped me back to reality.

The room grew quieter as everyone turned their attention to him. I stole a quick glance at Nadia, who was now sitting rigidly, her eyes flicking briefly toward Max before returning to Mr. Jacob.

There was a calm look of something in her expression…fear? Anxiety?

I couldn’t be sure, but it made my heart race.

What’s going on? What is Mr Jacob about to say? I was told this man is a bad man.

The air in the room felt charged, as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the next move in this intricate game of secrets and lies.

And I, caught in the middle of it all, could only sit there and watch as the pieces began to shift.

MR JACOB POV.

“Brother Kenneth,” I said, clearing my throat and adjusting my position on the couch. Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward me, curiosity painted on their faces.

The weight of their stares bore down on me, and for a moment, I felt an inexplicable pressure to say something significant.

“Yes, Jacob?” Kenneth responded, his tone neutral but slightly curious.

I hesitated, looking down at my hands as if they held the answers I sought. Should I tell him what I had witnessed just an hour ago?

The image of Max in the supermarket parking lot, holding that syringe and injecting it into the fruit bouquet, flashed vividly in my mind. My stomach churned at the thought.

"Well..." I started, my voice trailing off as I glanced around the room. Max sat stiffly in his chair, his face an unreadable mask, though his eyes darted to me with a look of something…nervousness, perhaps?

Nadia, sitting beside him, shifted slightly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Then there was Richard, seated close to a injured lady, his arm casually resting on the back of the couch.

His bride-to-be, Tammie, sat almost nearby, her posture rigid. Even Daniella, Kenneth’s wife, had an air of expectancy about her.

“Speak up, Jacob,” Kenneth said, his voice cutting through the silence.

I swallowed hard. If I exposed Max and Nadia, it would save my brother from whatever poison they had planned. But then again, if Kenneth died, his wealth and company could eventually fall into my hands.

The thought of finally stepping into his shoes, of holding the power and influence I had always envied, was intoxicating. Yet, there was something gnawing at me…a small voice of reason, of morality, perhaps…that made me question whether I could let this happen.

I thought to myself, Would it really be worth it? Letting my brother die just so I could gain what he has?

I glanced at the fruit bouquet sitting on the coffee table, its vibrant colors almost mocking me. I remembered the syringe Max had used.

It wasn’t just a harmless injection…it was something sinister. The way Max had handled it, with that smirk on his face as Nadia watched him, told me all I needed to know.

This wasn’t just a prank or a harmless ploy; it was a calculated move to harm Kenneth.

And yet, I thought again about my own desires. If Kenneth were out of the picture, it wouldn’t take long for the family empire to crumble under the weight of grief and confusion.

And I, the elder brother, could step in as the savior, the rightful heir.

But then, as I looked at Kenneth, sitting there with his usual confidence, unaware of the danger looming over him, I felt a pang of guilt.

He had always been the golden boy of the family, the one everyone looked up to, but he had also been kind to me in his own way. Did I really want his death on my conscience?

I sighed deeply, making my decision.