Chapter 3

3

At the hospital, the doctor's initial diagnosis for Melody was gastritis caused by excessive drinking.

But after a detailed exam, they found not a single drop of alcohol in her system.

Melody was doubled over in pain. She reached out to grab the hem of my skirt.

"You bitch! What did you do? Why am I the one hurting when you're the one who drank?"

I laughed coldly in front of everyone.

"Melody, are you still acting? You haven't had a drop of booze, yet you're here making up crazy lies to frame me."

"If you keep this up, I'll fire you from Sterling Heights and make sure you're blacklisted in this city!"

Melody had no evidence to back up her claims, so she had to grit her teeth and endure the pain.

I coldly ordered my assistant to deduct the lost investment from Desmond's private account. Then, I hurried upstairs for my own full-body scan.

Desmond stood behind me in silence. His eyes were dark with a murderous resentment.

Since I used the VIP channel, my results came back quickly.

The doctor told me it was early-stage stomach cancer. If we managed it well and did the surgery soon, I would be fine.

I let out a sigh of relief, but then a terrifying thought hit me.

Sure enough, when we got home that night, Desmond brought Melody back under the excuse that it was past her curfew. He put her in the guest room.

Then, his attitude did a total 18edegree turn. He warmed up a glass of milk for me, saying it was to help my stomach.

I didn't refuse. I just claimed I was thirsty and chugged some leftover liquor first.

Melody's face turned pale instantly. she clutched her stomach and rolled on the floor in agony.

Desmond rushed out to comfort her, just as I expected.

I took the chance to pour the milk out, leaving only a tiny bit at the bottom. Then I lay in bed and faked sleep.

After a while, I heard Desmond quietly open the door. Melody slipped inside.

Thinking I was out cold, Melody started cursing at me. She pinched and twisted my skin and even spat at me.

"That damn old woman. I don't know what trick she played. My stomach is killing me."

"By the way, did you give her the full dose of that medication? Hmph, she's so arrogant. She'll die soon enough. She deserves it!"

Desmond whispered some sweet nothings to her. Then they went to the next room to hook up.

I snapped my eyes open and messaged my most trusted contact.

"Investigate every move Desmond and Melody make. Also, take this milk to the best lab in the city. I need a chemical analysis. Now!"

As expected, the report arrived the next morning.

The milk was definitely spiked!

For years, to seize control of the company, Desmond had been feeding me a slow-acting toxin.

The early symptoms were almost identical to alcohol poisoning. That's why he always encouraged me to drink―it was a cover for the poison.