Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 311

Chapter 311 Truth In A Bottle

Lydia lay sprawled across the bed, pale as death, each breath so light it barely seemed to move her chest. At the foot of the bed, Nina crouched by the bedposts, cheeks wet with tears, her small body shaking with silent sobs.

Alistair glanced at Nina, something like pity in his eyes. Then he turned to Hugh, his voice nearly begging.

“Doctor Dray, please. Lydia’s always been weak. And lately, with all the trouble in the family…. she collapsed the other day and still hasn’t woken up. We brought in several doctors, but they all said it was nerves or grief, and that medicine wouldn’t do anything…”

Hugh stayed cool. He said nothing, only stepped to the bedside and pressed fingers lightly to Lydia’s wrist.

A moment later, he let go, his expression unchanged.

“Well?” Alistair asked, barely hiding his nerves.

“She’s been poisoned,” Hugh said.

“Poisoned?” Alistair stared at him. “That’s impossible.”

Hugh’s voice stayed flat. “If you didn’t trust me, why call me?”

Alistair flushed and lowered his head. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just… Lydia’s never had enemies. She’s quiet. Why would anyone poison her?”

But even as he said it, a thought crept into his mind.

Could it be Elspeth? Did jealousy push her to poison Lydia and get rid of her for good?

“This isn’t a common poison,” Hugh said. He looked at Nina, and his tone softened slightly. “Miss, has your mother met anyone new lately? Or eaten anything unusual?”

Nina recognized him at once. He was the kind doctor from Duskmoor Manor, the one who had treated her so gently last time. She remembered how careful he’d been. He was a good man.

She wiped her face and answered, “Mom… didn’t really see anyone. She just ate a piece of candy by herself.”

“What kind of candy?” Hugh asked.

Nina’s voice dropped. “Mom said it was her special treat. When I asked for some, she wouldn’t give me any.”

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19:58 Tue, May 12

Bydd Greghla & Boole

“Is there any left?” Hugh said.

Nina nodded. She got up, walked over, and pulled a bottle from Lydia’s arms. “This one. Mom always kept it with her.”

Something shifted in Hugh’s face when he saw it.

Alistair noticed at once. “You know it, Doctor Dray?”

Hugh nodded. He took the bottle and ran his fingertips over it. For the first time, a trace of warmth entered his gaze.

Alistair seized on that. “If you know what it is, then you have to save Lydia.”

Hugh looked at him, his voice cold again. “I can save her. But you should understand something. From what the girl said, Lydia kept this bottle herself. No one poisoned her. She took it on purpose to fake an illness.”

Alistair went still, shock plain on his face. Lydia had poisoned herself? Pretended to be deathly ill–for what?

Then the answer hit him.

If Lydia doesn’t get this sick, I never agree to sign the divorce papers. So this is her plan all along.

Alistair stared at her in disbelief.

Hugh said nothing more. He turned his attention to preparing the antidote. There was no doubt about it–this was a poison only he knew how to treat.

When he finished, he gave his instructions. “She’ll wake up in an hour or two. As long as she rests, she’ll recover completely.”

Alistair thanked him and personally saw him out. Then he returned to Lydia’s bedside and waited for her to wake.

The moment Lydia’s eyes fluttered open, she tried to look toward the window–but Alistair was already standing in front of her.

“Alistair…” Her voice shook.

He looked at her, cold and steady. “Lydia, why did you poison yourself?”

Her heart slammed in her chest. She bit her lip, panic rising. “I..”

Didn’t that doctor say this poison can’t be traced by anyone?Did I use too much?

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