Chapter 4

"Of course," I replied, my voice respectful.

But inside, I sneered. Three million? More like funeral money. They wouldn't even live long enough to spend it.

With her goal accomplished, Bertha had no interest in staying. "Alright. I'm tired. Charlotte, help me back to my room to rest," she said, sweeping out of the room with Charlotte and their spoils in tow.

Edward stayed behind, his gaze full of affection. "Isabel, I'm sorry you had to put through this."

"For you, Edward, this is nothing." I forced a smile, swallowing my disgust. "As long as you have me in your heart, that's enough for me."

"Of course, you're the only one I care about," Edward swore earnestly. "Once we return, I'll ask the king for your official title."

Drawing up empty promises was easy. I laughed silently inside. By the time that decree came through, it'd probably have Charlotte's name on it.

"Then I'll be waiting for the good news," I said.

Once Edward left, the smile on my face instantly vanished.

"Edith," I called.

"Yes, my lady?" Edith hurried over.

"Find out who sent that tonic. If there's nothing wrong with it, add something extra for Bertha," I said.

If she liked it so much, let her have her fill.

"Understood." Edith's eyes gleamed with excitement. "I'll take care of it right away."

I watched Edith leave, lost in thought.

The Grant family, Charlotte, since you wouldn't show mercy, don't expect any from me.

This time, I'd make sure their lives a living hell.

*****

The night was deep and quiet. The bells of St. Serenity Abbey rang out, their sound distant and lingering.

I lay in bed, wide awake.

Everything that had happened during the day replayed in my mind like a series of fleeting images.

Charlotte's hickeys, Edward's hypocrisy, Bertha's greed. I gritted my teeth in hatred at every single one of them.

Suddenly, I heard a faint sound from outside the window. Then, a sickly sweet fragrance drifted in. It was a sedative.

A chill ran through me. I quickly held my breath and pulled a detox pill from under my pillow, placing it in my mouth.

I had specially asked a famous doctor to prepare it; it could neutralize all poisons. I hadn't expected to need it so soon.

A moment later, the door creaked open. Two shadowy figures slipped in, moving stealthily.

By the moonlight, I could make out their faces.

It was Tommy, Edward's personal servant. And the other one was Maggie, Charlotte's maid.

What were these two doing sneaking into my room at this hour?

I narrowed my eyes, pretending to be asleep.

"Is she sound asleep?" Maggie whispered.

"With all that sedative, even a stubborn mule would have fallen asleep by now," Tommy scoffed. "Hurry up and do it. Mr. Grant and Ms. Wynn are waiting for the news."

Do what? What were they up to? A warning bell went off in my mind.

Tommy pulled a vial from his coat. He uncorked it, and a pungent odor quickly filled the air.

"What's that?" Maggie asked, pinching her nose.

"Conception-stopping tonic," Tommy said with a sinister grin. "Mr. Grant said if she can't bear a child, then let's make sure she never can. That way, no bastard child will fight for the inheritance."

"That's a clever plan," Maggie agreed. "Once she can't have children, Ms. Wynn can take her rightful place. Then, all of the Shaw family fortune will belong to Mr. Grant and Ms. Wynn."

Conception-stopping tonic. My blood turned cold in an instant.

So, my inability to bear a child wasn't due to that cursed charm after all. They had poisoned me with this tonic long ago.

What a merciless heart. What a poisoned design.

I bit down hard on my lip so I wouldn't make a sound. My nails sank into my palm, blood starting to seep out.

"Quick, pour it in. We don't want any complications later," Maggie urged.

Tommy pinched my chin, about to pour the potion into my mouth.

Just then, a faint sound of footsteps came from outside the door.

"Who's there?" Tommy's hand shook, spilling half the potion onto the pillow.

"It's me," an elderly voice rang out.

It was Edith. A wave of relief washed over me.

"At this hour, Edith, you're still awake?" Tommy eyed the door warily.

"I heard some noise, so I came to check," Edith said as she pushed the door open. She held a lantern in her hand.

The dim light illuminated the room, and with it, Tommy and Maggie's panicked expressions.

"What are you... What are you doing?" Edith's gaze shifted from the vial in Tommy's hand to me, lying there seemingly unconscious. In an instant, she understood everything.

She fumed inwardly. 'Damn it. These two bastards actually gave my lady the conception-stopping tonic.

'In the last life, it was this very tonic that ruined my lady's health.

'I'll make you pay for this!

With a fury shout, Edith hurled the lantern in her hand straight at Tommy.

"Ouch!" Tommy was struck squarely, and the vial slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor.

The remaining liquid spilled out, sizzling as it spread across the ground, emitting a corrosive sound.

"You old hag, you must have a death wish!" Tommy, enraged, drew a dagger from his waist and lunged at Edith.

"Edith, watch out!" I shouted, unable to keep up the act any longer.

I sprang out of bed, grabbing the dagger from under my pillow and thrusting it into Tommy's wrist with all my strength.

Tommy screamed in pain, the dagger slipping from his hand. He clutched his wrist and rolled on the floor.

Maggie screamed in terror and tried to bolt.

"Where do you think you're going?" Edith grabbed her by the hair and slapped her twice. "You bitch. How dare you try to harm my lady?"

The situation exploded into chaos in an instant.

I stood by the bed, holding the bloodstained dagger. My chest heaved with rapid breaths.

Looking at Tommy writhing on the floor and Maggie being pinned down and beaten by Edith, I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

So this was what it felt like to fight back. It was incredible.

But this wasn't enough. These two were just pawns. The real masterminds were still out there.

"Speak. Who sent you?" I pressed my foot onto Tommy's chest, the dagger at his throat, my gaze as cold as ice.

"It... it was Mr. Grant. He told us to do this." Tommy trembled, spilling everything. "Mr. Grant said if you can't have children, he would have a reason to divorce you and marry Ms. Wynn.

"He also said... said..."

"Say it." I pressed harder, the dagger cutting into his skin.

"He also said... it was him who planned Mr. and Mrs. Shaw's deaths," he stammered.