Chapter 4 - The Poisoned Bottle
|
Ruth didn't hesitate. She grabbed the house phone and dialed the private doctor’s emergency line, relaying the command before rushing back to Norah’s side.
She used her nursing training to tilt Norah’s head back, opening her airway, and began administering steady, measured rescue breaths while checking her pulse.
Celeste tried to move toward Wesley, her arms outstretched, her face twisting into a mask of tearful distress.
“Wesley, darling, thank God you’re here!” Celeste cried. “Something happened to Norah! I came in to give her her medicine and she suddenly started choking! I think the maid gave her the wrong dose earlier!”
Wesley remained completely motionless. He looked down at the woman who had shared his bed, his meals, and his secrets for two years.
“Don't touch me,” Wesley said softly. The quietness of his tone was far more terrifying than a scream.
He walked past her to the nightstand and picked up the pill bottle. He turned it in his fingers, examining the label, then looked at Ruth.
“She turned the label,” Ruth said, not breaking her rhythm as she worked to keep Norah breathing. “I always leave the label facing the lamp so I can double-check the dosage in the dark. Miss Celeste turned it around because she swapped the pills inside.”
“You lying bitch!” Celeste shrieked, dropping her gentle act completely. She lunged at Ruth, but Wesley’s hand shot out, clamping around Celeste’s wrist like a steel visor.
He squeezed until the bone groaned beneath her skin. Celeste screamed in pain, dropping to her knees on the carpet.
“Wesley! You’re hurting me!” she wailed.
May you like
“You have five seconds to tell me what you put in that bottle,” Wesley said, leaning down until his dark eyes were inches from hers. “If my sister dies tonight, Celeste, there isn't a place on this earth where you can hide from me.”
The front doors banged open downstairs as Dr. Sterling sprinted up the stairs, carrying his emergency medical kit.
