Chapter 2 - A Taste of Poison
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The dinner unfolded like a staged play where I had been assigned the role of an unwanted prop.
Before I could even open the leather-bound menu, Mariana raised her hand, gesturing to the sommelier.
"We will begin with the 2015 Gran Reserva," Mariana instructed without consulting anyone. "And bring the tasting menu for three. My son needs proper nourishment after a long week at the firm."
"Of course, Señora Delgado," the waiter replied, bowing slightly before sweeping away.
I looked across the table at Rafael. "I actually wanted to look at the menu, Rafael. I don't drink heavy red wines."
Rafael sighed loudly, leaning back in his velvet chair. "Elena, please. It’s my mother’s favorite vineyard. Don't start making things difficult over a glass of wine."
"It's not about the wine," I said softly, keeping my voice low so the surrounding tables wouldn't hear. "It's about being asked."
Mariana took a delicate sip of ice water, her dark eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction. "In proper families, Elena, a wife defers to her husband’s taste. It saves everyone from embarrassing public display. But I suppose nobody taught you those manners growing up."
"My parents taught me self-respect," I replied, meeting her gaze steadily. "Which seems to be a concept missing from this table."
Mariana’s smirk vanished, replaced by an icy glare. She looked at Rafael, her voice dropping into a dangerous whisper. "Are you going to let your wife speak to me like that in public, Rafael?"
Rafael’s jaw tightened. He glared at me across the flickering candle. "Shut your mouth, Elena. You're ruining the mood."
The appetizers arrived shortly after—exotic seafood dishes served on slate slabs, followed by rich cuts of meats doused in heavy sauces. I barely touched my plate. Every bite felt like ash in my mouth while Mariana and Rafael carried on a loud conversation about their family's estate, ignoring my presence entirely.
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Whenever the waiter returned, Mariana made sure to order the most expensive additions—imported caviar, extra bottles of the 2015 Gran Reserva, and desserts topped with edible gold leaf.
She wasn't eating to enjoy the food. She was ordering to build a monument to her power.
