Chapter_68
Chapter 68
“Now you do.” The man smiled and extended a glass of wine toward her.
“Thank you.” Emmeline took the glass, her mind quickly assessing him. He must be someone from the Ryker family, she thought.
“You’re very pretty,” the man said, his smile widening. “You caught my attention the moment you entered the door. A toast to your charms.”
The man lifted his wine glass and took a sip. Emmeline had no choice but to follow suit, trying to remain polite.
“Your three children are remarkable. I’m quite envious,” he added, his eyes glimmering with admiration.
“Heheh, thanks!” Emmeline smiled, feeling pleased. She always appreciated compliments about her children.
“A toast to your three outstanding children,” he raised his glass again.
Emmeline didn’t refuse the toast. She took another sip, trying to keep her composure.
“The way you defended yourself and your children earlier was admirable,” the man said, his smile still in place. “That deserves another toast.”
Emmeline frowned slightly, sensing something off. Is he just trying to get me to drink more? But she couldn’t deny that his words had a certain truth to them. Another glass of wine wouldn’t hurt, right?
She downed another mouthful.
“Fantastic! I truly admire women like you, Ms. Louise,” the man said, his tone dripping with praise.
Emmeline set her glass down, her smile polite but firm. “I need to look after my children. You should go and admire someone else.”
“Of course,” he said smoothly, giving her a knowing smile. “We can chat later.”
With that, he took his wine glass and walked away, leaving behind a smirk that sent an unsettling chill down Emmeline’s spine.
“Mommy, you’re very beautiful today!” Sun said, giving Emmeline a thumbs-up.
“You’re the prettiest lady at the party!” Moon chimed in, his eyes filled with admiration for his mother.
“I’m sure this is what they mean by a face that could launch a thousand ships,” Star added, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her.
“Aww, you flatter me.” Emmeline felt her heart swell with happiness. There was nothing more blissful than spending time with her children.
However, just as she was basking in the warmth of their affection, she felt a sudden shift. The temperature in the room seemed to rise, and her face flushed. Her breathing became shallow and erratic.
“I’m going to the garden for some fresh air. I’ll be right back,” Emmeline said quickly to the children, trying to mask her unease. She lifted her gown and headed for the garden.
The cool evening air helped a little, but waves of heat continued to assault her from within.
Oh no! I must’ve fallen into that man’s trap! she thought, panic rising in her chest. The wine he gave me must have been drugged!
But why would he do that? What’s his goal?
Emmeline didn’t have the time to ponder the reasons. Her priority was to find an antidote. Without it, she would be at the mercy of whatever effects the drug was having on her, and she might end up making a humiliating mistake.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t brought any antidote with her—who would carry something like that to a party?
Desperately, she hurried toward the bushes, hoping to find something that could help. She spotted several flowering plants near the garden fence. Some grass could alleviate the symptoms, though it wouldn’t cure her completely.
With little time to think, Emmeline grabbed a handful of leaves and grass, stuffing them into her mouth.
Ugh! It tastes awful… but it’s better than giving in to whatever that drug wants me to do.
Meanwhile, Alana leaned close to Alondra, whispering into her ear. “Emmeline went to the garden. The drug must be taking effect.”
“Mr. X should be making his move soon!” Alondra cackled softly. “I’m sure Emmeline will enjoy the treatment. We’ll catch them in the act!”
“Absolutely,” Alana responded with a cold smile. She quickly sent another message to the young man. “Move out!”
The young man smiled when he saw the message on his phone. Turning, he headed straight toward the garden.
Back in the garden, Emmeline’s efforts to combat the drug were starting to show some effect. After eating several handfuls of leaves and grass, the waves of heat began to subside. She would need to rely on her willpower to fight off the remaining effects.
But her face was still flushed, and her vision was blurry, making it difficult to focus.
The man soon found her, his smile widening when he saw the state she was in. His eyes flicked to her collar, which had come undone in her frantic efforts.
“Ms. Louise, are you feeling warm? Why don’t you take off your clothes and let me take care of you? There’s no one else here…” His voice was smooth, his words like silk, but there was a dark edge to them.
Emmeline’s heart raced, and she struggled to stay composed. I can’t let this happen…
