Chapter 5 Poison For Love

When Grace stepped into the charity gala, Brenden was nowhere in sight. Instead, she saw Leonard with Sylvia seated at his side, looking fragile and tearful.

"Sylvia refused to stay in the hospital alone, so I brought her with me," Leonard explained.

"Oh," Grace murmured, her tone flat.

In truth, none of this mattered to her anymore.

She had already taken two pills, and the drug's effect was beginning to stir in her veins.

A restless part of her longed to swallow the third one right away.

The gala eventually reached its final stage-the auction.

Grace remembered how, in the past, whenever she had accompanied Leonard to events like this, he would always lean close and ask what she wanted, then buy everything for her without hesitation, no matter the price.

Now, however, he stroked Sylvia's hair and whispered, "That ruby necklace suits your skin tone perfectly. Let me bid on it for you."

Moments later, he added, "And that jade ring looks beautiful too."

Sylvia blushed, ducking her head.

"Come on, Leonard, if you buy everything, what's left for the others?"

Sylvia tilted her chin toward Grace. "Grace has been sitting with us all this time. Shouldn't you at least ask what she wants?"

Leonard turned to Grace. "What about you? This ceramic piece isn't bad-made by a well-known artist. Sylvia probably won't like something like this, so why don't I bid for it and give it to you, as a thank-you?"

Grace felt as though a sharp needle had pierced her chest.

His words weighed on her like twin mountains pressing down.

She was about to refuse when Sylvia chimed in, "Oh, but I think that ceramic piece looks wonderful too... Grace, you wouldn't fight me over it, would you?"

Grace lowered her gaze and nodded.

"Yes."

Leonard rose to his feet again with a smile.

"I'll take it!"

Grace caught the low murmur of voices around her.

"Looks like Mr. Stone really dotes on that woman-he's bought her so many treasures. All priceless, every single one."

"I heard after Mr. Stone's accident, it was that young lady who nursed him back to health, stayed by his side the whole time..."

"No, no, not her. It was someone else. They've already broken up."

Grace felt as though pins and needles pierced her from every direction.

And as Sylvia threw her arms around Leonard and kissed him in delight, Grace slipped away alone.

The Leonard who once had only eyes for her was gone.

Now she was only worthy of the things Sylvia didn't care for.

If both she and Sylvia fancied the same item, Leonard would snatch it from her hands and present it to Sylvia without hesitation.

The line between love and indifference had never been clearer.

Grace slipped into the little café tucked in the corner of the ballroom and waited for the gala to wind down.

After a while, guests began to drift out one by one.

Spotting the coffee nook where she sat, Sylvia murmured something to Leonard and then crossed the room toward Grace.

"You didn't know, did you? I arranged for Leonard to call you here tonight. I just wanted you to see for yourself how much he loves me. No matter how hard you cling, all it takes is a crook of my finger or a little pout, and Leonard will drop you in a heartbeat."

Sylvia ordered two coffees, then leaned close with a self-satisfied whisper, "He's always loved me. Always. And you? You'll always be nothing but a shameless bitch who took advantage when he was down. I told you-I'll make you all regret it. Now all you can do is watch me and Leonard being lovey-dovey. Tell me, how does that feel?"

Grace drew a steady breath.

"Do as you like," she said.

As Sylvia turned to leave, she couldn't resist one last barb, eyes flicking to the two cups in Grace's hands. "Don't forget-Leonard is allergic to caffeine. He can't drink that."

Sylvia rolled her eyes, sneering, "Believe me, even if what I handed him was poison, he'd down it without batting an eye. So mind your own business."

Grace watched Sylvia stride away, then saw her hand the coffee to Leonard.

Leonard frowned slightly-then took a sip.

Grace remembered what his allergies did to him-stomach pain, nausea, dizziness.

She had never dared offer him anything with caffeine.

And yet now he willingly drank what Sylvia handed him-what might as well have been poison.

He really did love her desperately.