Chapter 25
Ned turned to look at Tommy at the mention of Henrietta. Only then did he realize Angeline was here because she’d been threatened.
“Where’s the drug?” Her voice was so calm it was almost devoid of emotion. “You wanted me to come so you could lace my drink, right? I’ve already prepared my drink.”
Silence descended upon the room. The people who’d been watching the circus fell eerily silent.
Tommy thought Ned had told Angeline about their plan. He nudged the latter and said, “Don’t tell me you can’t bear to go through with it, Ned.”
Ned merely stared silently at Angeline. Tommy grabbed the small bottle before Ned and walked over to Angeline. He poured the powder inside the bottle into Angeline’s wine glass and stirred it. “This is a truth serum, Ms. Emmerson. Drink it so that Ned can ask you a few questions.”
Truth serum?
If not for Angeline overhearing Ned and Tommy’s conversation at the hospital, and if not for them pulling all sorts of tricks to get her to the hotel, she would’ve believed them.
She picked up the full wine glass and said to Ned, “Once I drink this, let Anne and Henrietta off the hook. Don’t bother them anymore.”
Ned said, “Deal.”
Angeline nodded. Then, she downed the liquor in one breath. It burned her throat on its way down; it burned her all the way to her heart.
On Ned’s 26th birthday, Angeline chose to give up on him. On this day, she chose to kill the side of her that had loved him deeply. She put down the wine glass and supported herself against the table. “Ask away.”
“Don’t be in such a rush, Ms. Emmerson. The truth serum will take ten minutes to take effect.” Tommy pulled out a chair for her and considerately poured her a glass of juice. “Here, have some juice to keep the liquor down.
“Once Ned’s done questioning you, Zachary should be here. He’ll be just in time to take you home.”
Having Zachary drop by was just part of their plan to make her and Zachary sleep together. Angeline sat down, looking calm. Soon, the drug started taking effect.
She glanced at the clock–time was up. She said hoarsely, “It’s time. Ask away.”
“Angeline.” Ned leaned against his seat, pretending to look leisurely, He looked right at her and asked, “Did I fuck you that night?”
“Do you want me to say it happened? Or do you want me to say nothing happened?” Angeline asked in return.
“Answer me!”
She looked him in the eye and said firmly, “Nothing happened. Can I go now?”
She was starting to burn up. A gaping emptiness surged in her; she felt her strength leave her. It was getting hard to sit still.
“Hold it. What’s the rush?” Tommy pulled out his phone and started recording.” Sorry, Ms. Emmerson. I didn’t record your confession earlier. This is for Ingrid, so I’ll have to ask you to repeat yourself.”
“On the night that Ned and I were drugged, nothing happened between us.” Angeline turned to look at Tommy’s camera. “Because Ned called out Ingrid’s name while holding me.”
Through the phone screen, Tommy could clearly see that Angeline’s clear eyes were shrouded in a veil of mistiness. Obviously, she was starting to lose her rationality to the drug.
He smirked and glanced at her slender figure. His gaze was determined. He would
Chapter 26
Angeline seemed to be fighting against something; she refused to beg for mercy. She tried to stop herself from trembling as she looked at Ned. “Now, can I leave on my own?”
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