Chapter 196: Poison me!
Theresa.
The triplets’ countless, exhausting back-and-forth arguments finally ceased, the heavy tension in the room settling down into a rare, blissful quiet—and in that very instant, a sudden wave of intense hunger hit me. I was completely famished.
As if on cue, my stomach let out a loud, undisguised growl that echoed through the quiet room. Within a matter of just a few minutes, a luxurious tray heaped with a mouthwatering array of hot dishes and fresh, vibrant fruits appeared right in front of me, set down with careful precision.
My mouth immediately watered at the tempting aroma, and I swallowed my saliva hard, my eyes fixated entirely on the feast before me.
"My queen, if any of these dishes is not entirely to your personal taste, please just let me know right away!" Lurgard said immediately, stepping up close and staring down at me with eager eyes, anxiously waiting for my reaction.
I chose not to waste my breath on words and simply nodded my head, diving straight into my food without another second’s delay.
I completely zoned out from the rest of the world, completely consumed by the simple joy of eating. The persistent, rhythmic beeping sound of the heart monitor echoing in the ward melted away into background noise until I could no longer hear it at all.
I had barely finished clearing my plate, wiping my lips clean, when the heavy door suddenly swung open without warning, and Bella stepped boldly into the room.
"Theresa!" she called out softly, her voice dripping with an exaggerated, melodramatic sweetness as she immediately opened her arms and rushed forward, intending to throw herself into a tight hug.
I rolled my eyes instantly, a surge of annoyance rising back up in my chest.
Hadn’t I made it abundantly clear and explicitly warned her never to come anywhere near my personal space ever again?
What on absolute earth was she doing here, barging into my hospital room like this?
"Why do you always seem to be so fragile?" she asked, taking another quick step closer to my bed while shaking her head in fake pity.
Instead of answering her with words, I turned my head and fixed her with a deadly, bone-chilling glare—a look so sharp and brimming with hostility that I was entirely certain it made her think twice, forcing her to hesitate and reconsider bothering to hug me altogether. She froze mid-step, her outstretched arms dropping awkwardly to her sides.
"And what exactly do you mean by calling me fragile?" I asked her, my voice dropping into a low, dangerous tone that demanded an immediate explanation.
A thick, suffocating silence instantly fell over the entire room, heavy and tense, as all three of the triplets stood by in watchful silence, their sharp gazes locked onto the two of us to see how she would dare to respond.
I narrowed my eyes as I watched the fleeting expression on Bella’s face, and suddenly, like a sharp broadcast piercing straight through my consciousness, I heard her thoughts loud and clear.
’Why didn’t you just die already, you bitch!’ she was screaming violently inside her own head, her mind dripping with unadulterated venom. ’That slow poison should have long killed you by now! I honestly wonder how on earth you survived all the way until today!’
My pupils dilated instantly, widening in sheer shock and horror as the sudden realization slammed into me with a force that left my mind completely blank for a fleeting moment.
What?
The revelation struck me like a physical blow, so sudden and overwhelming that I could barely process what I had just realized. My heart seemed to jolt violently inside my chest as disbelief and horror surged through me all at once.
Without taking another breath or sparing even a single thought for the mess I was about to create, I instinctively raised my hand and violently shoved the tray containing the remaining food straight off the bed.
The tray toppled over immediately, sending the leftover food crashing noisily onto the floor.
"Bella!" I called out her name firmly, my voice cutting through the sudden clatter like a honed blade. "Why on earth did you poison me?" I asked out loud without a single second of hesitation, staring straight into her treacherous eyes.
"W—what on earth do you mean by that?" Bella stammered out, thoroughly shocked, as she scrambled backward and stood up straight immediately, her face draining of color.
Panic seizing her, she immediately glanced over toward the triplets, who were all standing there with utterly confused, baffled expressions painted across their features.
"What are you talking about, Theresa?" Lawrence questioned immediately, stepping forward as his eyes darted back and forth between my pale face and Bella’s trembling form.
I remained completely silent, refusing to offer a quick explanation as I simply stared at Bella, letting every single atom of burning rage residing deep within my soul bore into her cowardly figure.
"Baby, please tell me!" Lurgard started, his voice thick with rising urgency. "How are you so absolutely sure that she was the one who poisoned you?" he asked, his tone shifting as he cast a dark, lethal glare directly toward Bella.
"What on earth are you saying, Lurgard?" Bella asked with absolute, feigned seriousness, trying desperately to play the innocent victim as her voice wavered. "How could you possibly just stand there and blindly believe every single insane word that comes out of her mouth?" she demanded, appealing to him.
Lurgard let out a harsh, mocking scoff that echoed off the cold walls. "Tell me, Bella," he began, his voice dropping into a dangerous, icy register. "Whose word should I possibly believe in this room?" He paused, stepping in front of her to tower over her trembling frame. "The words of some random, insignificant person... or the words of my very own mate?"
"What?!" Bella gasped out, her eyes widening in absolute horror as the breath was completely knocked out of her chest; she was clearly not expecting Lurgard’s cold, unwavering declaration to hit her like a hammer.