Chapter 4

Gia lay on the floor for a long time before slowly getting up. She endured the pain and carefully dabbed medicine on her swollen forehead.

The wound had started to swell, but she forced herself not to let the tears fall.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from downstairs.

"Gia!" Lucas yelled. His voice was meaner than she had ever heard before.

He rushed to grab her wrist as soon as she stepped out of her room.

His eyes were bloodshot, the veins bulged on his forehead, and his breath came fast and heavy.

"Did you prepare the ingredients in the fridge?!" he snapped. He glared at Gia like she was his worst enemy.

Pain shot through her wrist, but she could not break free. She yelled, "Let go of me! What are you talking about?!"

He raised his voice, "Don't play dumb! Cecelia almost died! She got food poisoning! The nitrite levels in those dishes were ten times over the limit! That could only have been deliberate!"

Gia was shocked.

Lucas never cooked before last night, so of course she was the one who had prepared the ingredients. However, what he said made no sense to her.

"When did you become so vicious? You wanted to hurt Cecelia just because I cared about her? Do you realize you almost killed two lives?" he yelled. His gaze was cold and unfamiliar.

His sudden accusations made her head spin. She staggered and hoarsely replied, "Calm down. Why would I poison anyone? I prepared the ingredients for myself…"

"For yourself?" asked Lucas. He clearly did not believe her. He gave a harsh laugh, yanked her by the arm, and dragged her downstairs. He yelled, "Fine, then eat it right now!"

He dragged her into the living room. The breakfast was still sitting on the table, and he picked it up.

"Eat it if it isn't poisoned!" he yelled.

Her heart turned cold, disbelief washed over her. She thought it was ridiculous that he would think she had poisoned Cecelia.

She desperately struggled and said, "You're insane… Do you seriously think I'd kill someone, Lucas Isles?!"

"Who else could it be?" he asked. He grabbed her chin, and looked at her with a terrifying dark expression. He said, "The dosage was clearly intentional. There are only three of us in the house. Are you suggesting Cecelia poisoned herself if it wasn't you?"

He forced her mouth open and shoved a spoonful of food in her mouth.

She fought with tears streaming down her face.

However, he acted like a man possessed and stuffed another spoonful of food. "Didn't you say it wasn't poisoned? Then eat!"

He was like an animal who lost his mind, his red eyes flashed with cruelty. "Prove your innocence!" he yelled.

Gia was forced to swallow spoonfuls of food because she was pressed against the table. Spoonful after spoonful, until all the food was gone. The nausea rose violently, and she bent over and gagged, but nothing came out.

Then, a burning pain flared in her stomach. She stumbled, was unable to steady herself, and collapsed to the floor.

Her breathing grew rapid, her vision blurred, and a shrill ringing filled her ears. She whimpered in agony.

'It hurts so much,' thought Gia.

"Lucas…" she gasped, instinctively reaching toward him for help.

However, he only stood there, watching as she writhed in pain. Her breath grew shallow, foam gathered at her lips, and her struggling slowed.

He finally crouched down, his voice distant and chilling, "Hurts, doesn't it? That's what Cecelia went through."

Gia could barely hear him anymore. She curled up and wept in silence as her consciousness faded.

'Am I going to die like this? Am I going to die earlier and more tragic than in my past life?' she thought.

That was the first time she tasted a meal made by Lucas across two lifetimes. She could not believe that it was under those circumstances.

That was worse than death to her.

She saw him call the ambulance through hazy vision.

He said, "Don't worry, I only wanted to teach you a lesson. I won't let you die… You did something wrong, so you deserve punishment, don't you think?"

Gia coughed up blood, and a bitter laugh rose in her chest.

'Yes, I was wrong. My mistake was falling in love with a human scum. Wrong enough that I had to pay for it in two lifetimes,' she thought.

The wails of sirens drew closer as darkness closed in on her.