DON’T STOP (Lila and Darrell) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 47

Chapter 42

Ryder

The following day me too soon

Martha had already promised to help me prod

the new week ended. I would be getting a new surnaipe. I felt a strange relief hearing that. Like one heavy chain was Imally

the family register change. She said she’d handle the paperwork before loosening. I thanked her quietly before I left. She hugged me, quick and warm, the way she always did

Lila stood near the porch steps. She smiled at me

small, careful, and full of everything we couldn’t say out loud. I water. She waved back. I could see it in her eyes the way she wanted to run to me, wrap her arms wound my neck, bury her face in my chest. But she held herself back. Martha was right there. So she stayed still. Cotaposed. Perfeet.

I got into the car. Started the engine. Pulled out of the driveway without looking back.

The road stretched ahead, empty and quiet.

On the way, I messaged Delancy. Short. Simple.

“On my way home.”

I only sent it because I wanted her to clear everything out the guy, the evidence, whatever mess she’d made while I was gone. She is probably doing it right now. Scrubbing away traces. Pretending nothing happened.

Hours later, I pulled up to the house. The porch light was on. Delaney stepped out smiling – bright, warm, like everything was normal

“Welcome!” she said, voice light. “Hungry?”

She reached for my jacket, helping me shrug it off. I shook my head.

“No. I’ll just order something light.”

She smiled and nodded quietly. “But what if I made you your tea?”

I paused. Looked at her.

“Oh, that. Sure.”

She smiled wider and headed to the kitchen.

r

I went upstairs to shower. The bedroom felt too quiet. Too normal, I stood under the hot water for a long time, letting it pound against my back, trying to wash away the last few days. When I stepped out, towel around my waist, something hit

The tea.

I wanted it a little stronger tonight. More sugar. More of everything.

I pulled on sweatpants and a T-shirt. Walked back downstairs barefoot. The hallway light was dim. The kitchen door was cracked open just enough.

I pushed it slightly and quietly to tell her.

And froze.

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20 am

Chapter 42-

PPP

aney sud at the counter. Back to fur She was stirring my tea, slowly and carefully. Then she reached into her pocket. out a small plastic bottle Unscrewed the cap. Tipped a few drops into the cup. Stirred again. Like it was nothing

My stomach dropped.

I swallowed hard. Backed away slowly and quietly. Didn’t make a sound.

I retreated to the bedroom, closed the door, and locked it.

“What the fuck was that?” I whispered to myself. My hand shook as I bit down on my bottom lip.

I stared at the closed door. Heart pounding.

She was putting something in my fucking tea.

Something she didn’t want me to know about.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands clenched into fists.

I went to the shower and stood under the hot water for a long time. Steam filled the bathroom. I scrubbed hard, trying to wash away the shock, the anger, and the questions, but nothing helped. When I came out, I wrapped the towel around my waist and dressed quickly – jeans, a plain T-shirt, and boots. The tea was still waiting on the center table in the living room. It had cooled a little but still steamed faintly.

Delaney was sitting on the couch. She looked up when I walked in. “Do you want me to warm up the tea? It’s still quite hot though.”

“I’ll take it like that,” I said. I picked up the cup. My hand stayed steady even though my pulse raced.

“Have you done the food delivery yet?”

“Umm, not yet,” I replied.

“I’ll order instead,” she said and went into the other room.

The moment she was gone, I moved fast. I walked to the kitchen and opened a small bottle I kept in the drawer-plain water. I poured most of the tea into the sink, then filled the cup back up with the plain water. I stirred it once so it looked the same. Then I carried it back to the living room and set it on the table.

I thought she was planning to divorce me.

Now I wondered if she was trying to kill me instead.

And the fact that I had been drinking this tea for the longest time… What had she been putting in it? Why was she doing this?

I sighed deeply. My chest felt tight. I left the house quietly, took my truck, and drove to a nearby lab center. I wanted to be fast, as fast as possible, so Delaney wouldn’t notice my absence. Thankfully, one of the lab scientists there was my friend. I handed him the cup I’d poured the tea into earlier.

“Just look into the content of this drink,” I told him. “Quick as you can.”

He nodded. “Give me three to five days.”

“Thanks, man,” I said and left.

Four days passed.

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8:20 am

ppp

Chapter 42.

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