Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Moreover, upon close observation, the part of the straw moistened with juice exceeds its normal static position.

But I remember, from the moment the juice was poured into the glass until now, I haven’t touched it, nor have I taken a sip.

How could the straw appear this way?

Unless someone tampered with my juice, perhaps stirring it with a straw—why stir it though?

A bold idea suddenly popped into my head!

Could it be that Amanda Gordon drugged my juice?!

This thought sent a jolt through my heart!

I can’t believe she would have the audacity to do such a thing in broad daylight.

If she truly dared, then what would her motive be?

Could it be to poison me and avenge her brother?

But murder would mean repercussions for her too.

So it certainly isn’t...

I couldn’t help but speculate on her intentions with the darkest of malice—

Perhaps she wanted to drug me, then fabricate a rape case or something, destroy my life to avenge her brother.

This seems to be the most reasonable explanation I can think of.

The shock lingered in my heart for a long time, although I’m not sure if my suspicions are correct, but since there’s doubt, I definitely won’t touch that juice.

Amanda Gordon saw me silent, glancing at me hesitantly asking: "What’s wrong? What are you looking at?"

I looked at her, smiling ambiguously: "I’m wondering why you insisted on inviting me to dinner today—it’s quite unusual, feels like you’re out to harm me."

I deliberately probed.

She, whether out of guilt or something else, visibly dodged, "What nonsense! I kindly invite you to dinner, and you slander me ?"

"Just joking." I immediately laughed, picked up the knife and fork, and leisurely cut the steak, then sighed to appease her, pretending regretfully, "Actually, after all these years, I’ve long regarded you as my little sister, it’s a shame I have no fate with your brother."

Upon hearing this, Amanda Gordon snorted, becoming haughty: "It’s all your own doing, my brother is such a good man."

I smiled without saying more, took a bite of the steak then put down the knife and fork, picking up my phone pretending to be busy.

Actually, I’m messaging Adrian Gordon on WeChat.

[Your sister invited me out tonight, insists I’m cheating and putting a green hat on you. Adrian Gordon, you can’t agree to divorce and yet have your family trouble me, right?]

I bet once this message is sent, Adrian Gordon will surely call his sister immediately.

After sending the message, I put down my phone and continued eating.

But I dared not eat much of the steak, only taking a cherry tomato from the salad.

Sure enough, less than three minutes later, Amanda Gordon’s phone rang.

She glanced at it, frowned, then looked at me unpleasantly, asking: "Did you tell my brother?"

I feigned ignorance, "Tell what?"

Amanda Gordon didn’t reply, took the phone, and walked away, "Brother, what’s up?"

While she left, I looked around the restaurant carefully.

There were only two other tables, no one paying attention to us, but there’s a camera at the top corner facing our area.

I picked up the straw and stirred the drink, making sure all the powder adhered to the straw was gone, then switched my drink with Amanda Gordon’s.

However, I didn’t drink her cup either, instead poured it into the nearby plant, leaving half a cup, making it look like I drank half.

After I did all this, Amanda Gordon hadn’t returned.

After waiting another five or six minutes, she finally came back, but her complexion didn’t look happy, surely the siblings quarreled.

"Lily, you’re lying, my brother said you complained to him." Amanda Gordon accused as she sat down.

I smiled, no longer denying, "Yes, but I thought your brother knew you came to find me, who knew you didn’t tell him."

As I responded, I picked up the juice bottle and poured some into the glass in front of me.

"This juice is very fresh, you can have the rest." After pouring myself more than half a glass, I poured the remaining bit into the cup in front of her.

The glass ended up quite full.

She casually took the straw and drank two sips.

I watched quietly, my heart beating a little fast.

I hadn’t touched that cup of drink, her drinking it doesn’t involve hygiene issues.

But the issue is—if she did drug it, then the drink she just ingested will produce some adverse effects.

I don’t know what will happen, naturally, I feel uneasy.

But then again, she brought this upon herself.

While she went to take the call, I sent a WeChat message to Cherry after switching drinks.

Asked her to call me in ten minutes, saying there’s an urgent matter at the company requiring my immediate return.

Now only five or six minutes remained.

Amanda Gordon still immersed in her displeasure, swallowed the drink, then stared at me continuing to humiliate, "Lily, don’t you live a failed life? Angering your half-sister, then throwing your biological father in prison, heard you forced your stepmother into a corner, now divorcing your devoted husband—you’re living a life so alienated from others, what’s there to boast about?"

I listened earnestly to her rebuke, nodding, "If you didn’t mention it, I wouldn’t have realized how remarkable I am, accomplishing so much singlehandedly."

"..." Amanda Gordon was speechless with anger.

My phone rang at the right moment.

"Hello, Cherry... I’m off work, not in the studio, what’s up? What? President Yance can’t handle it? On a business trip? Okay, I got it, I’ll rush back."

Ending the call, I looked at Amanda Gordon, standing up, "There’s an urgent matter at the company, I must go, thank you for the dinner tonight."

Amanda Gordon looked up, tone somewhat anxious, "You’re leaving now? You hardly ate!"

"No need, you take your time eating."

I got up and left, heard Amanda Gordon hurriedly calling a waiter to settle the bill.

Just as I stepped outside the restaurant, she caught up with me: "Lily, wait a moment! My brother is coming to pick you up, let him drive you back to the company."

I was puzzled, "Why does your brother need to come pick me up?"

"Of course, talk with my brother again, he loves you deeply, you two can’t just separate !" Amanda Gordon said firmly.

I stared at her, suddenly a heavy realization hit me!

Amanda Gordon’s plan tonight must be—I drink the problematic beverage, then Adrian Gordon comes to pick me up, and something would surely happen between us!

The Gordon Family is too cunning!

Unexpectedly using such underhanded means to prevent my divorce from Adrian Gordon.

Suppressing my anger, I coldly said, "No need, even if the King of Heaven himself talks, it’s useless."

Before I could finish speaking, Amanda Gordon suddenly frowned deeply, pressing a hand against her chest.

I stared at her with a serious scrutiny.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Amanda Gordon ignored me, still clutching her chest, her face looking very off, muttering to herself, "How can it be... it was clearly her..."

"What are you saying?"

Amanda Gordon suddenly glared at me, eyes full of resentment, "Lily, did you—you—"

I already understood what’s happening, but needed to pretend ignorance, leading her to reveal the truth, "Am I what?"

Looking at my baffled expression, Amanda Gordon grew increasingly angry, gritted teeth, "So your purpose of reporting to my brother was this! You deliberately sent me away..."

"Purpose? What are you talking about, I don’t understand?" I feigned innocence, blinking curiously.

Yet Amanda Gordon had no time for verbal sparring with me.

She seemed to itch all over, looking bewildered, anxiously looking around, then ran off in panic. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel-fire.net

I was now sure that drink had issues!

Though she brought it upon herself, given it involves personal safety, my moral compass couldn’t allow me to ignore it.

Thus, without hesitation, I turned and followed, "Amanda Gordon! Where are you going?"

She ignored me, found her car, got in, and quickly drove away.

Turning, I quickly headed to my parking spot, when suddenly someone shouted: "Lily!"