While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Dr. Harrison cleared his throat.

"If I may," he said. He stepped forward, his small frame somehow taking up space. "There is a way to determine whether the medication is commercially manufactured or homemade."

Eleanor’s head snapped toward him. "What do you mean?"

"Commercial medications have certain markers. Preservatives. Stabilizers. Specific pH levels that are standardized across batches. A homemade formulation would lack those markers. It would have a different chemical signature."

Eleanor’s smile returned. "So we can test it."

"Yes," Dr. Harrison said. "I can take a sample to my lab. I should have results by tomorrow morning."

Veyra felt something cold settle in her stomach. She had nothing to hide. She knew that. But the way Eleanor was looking at her—like a cat looking at a mouse—made her feel like she had already lost.

"Fine," Veyra said. "Test it."

Eleanor’s eyes narrowed. "You’re eager."

"Because I have nothing to hide."

"We’ll see about that." Eleanor turned to Dr. Harrison. "Is there a visible difference? Between a commercial vial and a homemade one?"

Dr. Harrison hesitated. "Sometimes. Commercial vials have printed labels. Batch numbers. Expiration dates. Homemade vials are usually unmarked or hand-labeled."

Eleanor’s smile widened.

She walked toward Veyra. Her hand shot out and grabbed Veyra’s bag before Veyra could react. The strap broke. The bag fell and contents spilled across the marble floor.

Veyra’s notebook. Her pens. A small pouch of dried herbs. Her wallet. A few loose coins. And—

A sanitary pad.

It landed at Dorian’s feet.

Veyra’s face went hot. The room went quiet and she saw Marcus cover his mouth. She saw Celeste’s frozen face crack into something that might have been a smirk. She saw Eleanor’s smile grow even wider.

"Well," Eleanor said. "How embarrassing."

Veyra dropped to her knees. She scrambled to gather her things. Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely pick them up. The notebook. The herbs. The—

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