Reborn to Dodge the Bad Marriage novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36 Blocking the Stairs

room went quiet in a hurry, and nobody said anything else out loud.

Mandy came forward anyway. “Madam Weston, is Julian really all right?”

Constance gave her one cold look.

Finn hen

Mandy swallowed whatever she’d been about to add. “I’m worried about him, that’s all. I was thinking somebody should bring Nora down for the family toast. That’s what makes her a Weston for/real, isn’t it?

She was certain Julian was finished, and she still wanted to watch Nora go through the rest of it with a framed photograph propped up beside her. That was the only reason she’d raised the toast at all.

Constance’s smile had nothing behind it. “The ceremony is finished, Miss Sinclair, so you can stop worrying about it. And nobody asked you.”

The color left Mandy’s face. Throw your weight around while you still can, you old bat. Once Julian’s gone, you’ll be the one crying.

For a second, nobody in the ballroom moved.

A voice broke it from the entrance. “Grandma Weston, I… I came to help Julian.”

Olivia hurried in with a small medical case on her shoulder, out of breath.

Constance stared at her. “What are you doing here?”

I thought she was too angry to come.

Olivia’s cheeks were flushed from running and there was sweat along her hairline, but she smiled through it. “I lost my temper yesterday, that’s all. I didn’t mean any of it. Julian is actually in trouble, and you could say worse than that to me, you could hit me, and I’d still come for him.”

Constance felt small in front of that much grace.

“I’m sorry,” Constance said. “I was too hard on you yesterday.”

Olivia wiped her forehead and shook her head, smiling. “It’s all right. I understand.

“Where is he? Gideon says it’s critical right now. Everything else can wait.”

Constance opened her mouth to answer and then remembered what Nora had told her.

Nobody was to go up and disturb her, and that included Cordelia and Olivia.

The silence only made Olivia more frantic, “Grandma Weston, just take me to him. Any longer and it’ll be too late.”

Constance hesitated. “You can save him?”

Mandy studied her. The face was familiar, something about a famous young doctor. She can actually save him?

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Chapter 36 Blocking the Stairs

Finishest

Olivia nodded. “Yes. You didn’t believe me yesterday, but I’d already prepared the antidote. One dose and

be awake inside an hour.”

Mandy wasn’t having that.

Julian couldn’t wake up. He had to go to a hospital, and he had to die.

She raised her voice on purpose. “Who are you? What antidote? Are you telling us Julian’s been poisoned?”

Olivia turned to her. “My name is Olivia Blithe. I’m a doctor, and I grew up with Julian.

“He has been poisoned, yes. Who are you?”

Mandy scoffed. “Who I am doesn’t matter. Grew up with him. What you really mean is you’re the childhood sweetheart, right?

“He’s married to my sister now, and you’re still laying the sweetener on that thick. What is this, are you applying to be the other woman?”

Olivia had a long fuse, but getting called a mistress in front of a hundred people burned straight through it.

“You…” She wanted to swear at her. She pulled in a breath instead. “I’m here to save a life. I don’t have time for this.”

Mandy lifted her chin. “Neither do I. You walked in two minutes ago. You haven’t laid eyes on him and you’re already calling it poison. For all any of us know, you’re the one who put it in him.”

Olivia laughed, furious. “He was poisoned because of Nora. You’re her sister, and here you are running your mouth so I can’t get to him.

“Which one of you should this room be worried about, exactly?”

That landed close enough to turn Mandy’s stomach. She stiffened her neck and shouted back. “You’re full of it. My sister is up there with him. Julian’s going to be fine.”

She planted herself at the foot of the stairs and spread her arms. “Bottom line, I’m not letting you go up and ruin things for Nora and Julian.”

Olivia gave up on her and turned to Constance. “Grandma Weston, tell her to move. I really can save him.”

Constance had been turning it over the whole time they fought, and by now she’d made up her mind.

She looked at Olivia with real regret. “Olivia, I’m sorry you came all this way. We won’t be needing you.”

Something jumped in Mandy’s chest. Hold on. Is he dying faster than he did the first time?

The guests read it the same way. A few of them couldn’t keep the pleasure off their faces, and a few looked honestly worried.

Olivia went white and swayed where she stood. “Is he…”

Constance’s face hardened. “No. He’s fine. We just don’t need you for this one. Nora has him.”

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Chapter 36 Blocking the Stairs

Olivia stared at her, and the hurt was all over her face. “So you don’t trust me as a doctor.”

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