Chapter 2
Panic rippled through the immediate vicinity of the bridal table before the rest of the crowded reception hall even noticed the commotion. Maya stood up abruptly, knocking her chair backward against the hardwood floor with a sharp clatter. Her hands hovered over Clara, whose breathing had turned into a terrifying, shallow wheeze.
“Julian, do something! She’s choking or having an allergic reaction!” Maya cried out, her face pale with genuine concern.
Julian remained seated, his expression a mask of chilling composure. He reached over and deliberately pulled the poisoned glass closer to himself, away from the chaos, ensuring no one else could inspect the residue lining the rim.
“She’ll be fine, Maya. Just sit down,” Julian said softly, his voice lacking any warmth.
Maya stared at him, her eyes wide with shock at his cold reaction. “Fine? Julian, look at her! She can’t breathe! We need an ambulance right now!”
Clara managed to prop herself up on one elbow, her face contorted in agony as a thin line of foam appeared at the corner of her lips. She pointed a trembling, manicured finger directly at Julian, her voice a cracked, desperate hiss that only he could fully comprehend.
“You… you knew,” Clara gasped, coughing up a drop of dark liquid. “You swapped… you monster.”
Maya blinked, looking back and forth between her new husband and her oldest friend. “What is she talking about, Julian? What did you swap?”
Before Julian could construct a lie, a heavy crash echoed from the banquet hall doors as the venue manager rushed in, alerted by the commotion at the head table. Julian didn't flinch. He picked up his napkin, wiped his mouth methodically, and looked Maya dead in the eyes.
May you like
“She brought that on herself, Maya. Some poisons are meant for enemies, but they always find the person who pours them,” Julian said, standing up to block Maya from inspecting the glass.
Suddenly, Clara seized violently, her body arching off the chair before collapsing forward, her head striking the wooden table with a sickening thud as the room plunged into dead silence.
