Veronica sta

fast, clutching her st

e!" she cried,

er side, his face

it? What'

oisoned," Veronica gasped

nstantly at h

ve you done?" Eleanor's v

teady despite the outrage. I stood up to asse

!" Eleanor shrieked.

eyes filled with suspici

ot, Ethan! W

ked out. "Jealous of me and E

medical kit near Veronica's chair. It was something I'd used to help a ranch hand with a severe nosebleed a

ntly. "Her strange medicines!

packet, then at me

you did something, you need to fi

no antidote," I said calmly. "S

ed me. "You will no

ear, if anything happens to Veroni

ed. A despera

something that could help 'counteract' what she might

, but they w

d the divorce papers from my pocket. I'd been c

n at Veronica, who was now writ

now*?" he hissed. "Ve

, my voice cold. "Or find

she was about to exp

Fear was etched on his face. He w

e papers and a

m. He scribbled his nam

rusting them back at

rs, my heart po

eronica. "Let me

a good actress, I'll give her that. Her pulse was slightl

rgic reaction," I improvised

out a simple antihistamine tablet

reat show of reluc

began to "recover,"

wever, was

t you tried to harm her, Elara!"

or years, suddenly spoke up. I had always been kind t

I... I saw Mrs. Hayes near Miss Veronica's juice th

yal. Eleanor must have gotten to

d, a cold, tr

en the staff witnes

mixture of anger and disgust.

t do it,

needs to be punished. For attempti

red insane. But perhaps even she kne

"From sunrise to sunset. To reflect on her wickednes

yes. "Consider this my protection, Elara. Mother

iation. Forced penance for a crime I didn't

stones of the Caldwell estate co

ispered as

me to my room. I was e

water and a smal

"Dr. Peterson said it will help you... with your nerves. P

to soun

zer. It was a powerful hormonal agent, sometimes used off-label, know

o doubt. Delivered

ying any chance of me bearing

loved was truly gone. Replaced

mile touch

id, my voice devoid of e

vial from

– relief? – in his eyes. He probably

was. I knew w

moment, I

r victory. Let the

ran

uid was

empty vial

he cramping started.

ever imagined. It felt like m

my bed, sweati

station of their cr

n later, saw

larmed. Perhaps he didn't know the full exte

ut to touch

nched

red, seeing my pain.

s superficial

im anymore. Just a v

ger. A cruel,