PART 2 – The Poison He Meant for Me

The first ten minutes after the toast felt like slow motion.

Victor was still smiling, working the room like the king he believed he was. Ethan kissed my cheek and whispered how happy he was. Guests kept coming up to congratulate us.

But I was counting in my head.

I had seen the pill dissolve. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it wasn’t vitamins.

Victor started swaying slightly around the fifteen-minute mark.

At twenty minutes, sweat beaded on his forehead even though the ballroom was cool.

At twenty-five minutes, his left hand began trembling so badly he had to set his drink down.

I stayed close, playing the perfect, doting daughter-in-law.

“Victor, are you feeling alright?” I asked sweetly, touching his arm.

He looked at me, and for the first time, real fear flickered in his eyes.

“You…” he whispered, voice hoarse. “What did you do?”

I leaned in closer so only he could hear.

“The same thing you tried to do to me.”

His face went pale.

The music was still playing. People were still laughing. No one had noticed yet.

But Victor’s legs started to buckle.

He grabbed my wrist, squeezing hard.

“You stupid little girl,” he hissed. “Do you have any idea who I am?”

I didn’t pull away. I just smiled wider for the cameras still flashing around us.

“I know exactly who you are,” I whispered back. “And now everyone else is about to find out too.”

That’s when Victor collapsed.

Right in the middle of the dance floor.