07

Kieran took a long breath, suppressing the guilt that was eating away at him, and lay down next Haley.

"With the company expanding so quickly, work has been hectic. I haven't spent much time here, have I?” He spoke in a soft, quiet voice that sounded almost practiced. "How about we make that right? Tell me what you want. A trip, a gift, anything. Allow me to put things right.”

Home. Car. Jewels. Bags. the items that they thought ladies desired.

None of them had ever been lacking in Haley. Her family had enough money to cover everything.

Those were not what she had desired. She had desired his affection.

However, Kieran had long since revealed that.

"Mm..." Haley hesitated and spoke softly. "I don't require anything. Nevertheless, on our fourth anniversary, I intended to move the business out of my name. Dealing with all the paperwork and legal liability has been draining.”

Kieran felt as though someone had punched him in the chest. "You're giving me the company?"

"Yes." She gave a nod.

Without hesitation, Haley had put everything in her name at the age of twenty four. She took on all the risk and liability, became the legal agent, and personally guaranteed loans totaling tens of millions of dollars. For Kieran.

All she wanted at twenty-seven was to get out. The business and the property under his name were no longer important.

She had never desired money.

She had more money than she could possibly use, after all.

She looked at him, and his eyes fluttered with discomfort. "Why would you want to do that all of a sudden? Do you not fear that I might—"

His phone rang at that moment.

She took a quick look at the screen. It was Lydia, as was to be anticipated.

Kieran moved aside to respond. "Don't panic," he said, causing him to instantly grab his coat. “I am aware that pregnancy-related stomach pain should not be disregarded. I'll take you to the hospital immediately."

When he got to the door, he thought about Haley. "Lydia claims to be in agony. I have to take her to the hospital."

As usual, Haley answered softly. "Go. The infant comes first.”

"She's a single mother, pregnant, with a child to take care of," Kieran said, hesitantly and almost defensively. “She finds it difficult to handle things on her own. I'm only assisting. I’m sure you’ll understand.”

Of course she’ll understand that she’s just a stand-in

Haley asked as he turned to go, "Kieran, she's pregnant again? But why haven't we met her boyfriend yet or even husband?”

Kieran became motionless.

"Haley, that's her personal business," he said, turning back with a flash of panic in his eyes. “I wouldn't be the right person to ask."

Haley gave a slight smile. Her voice did not waver. "Calm down. I simply wanted to know. Your right hand is Lydia. Go. It's normal to be worried."

He hurried out, feeling a wave of relief.

She watched from the window as Lydia and his black Porsche drove off.

Her phone rang after that.

Jude spoke in an agitated tone. "The lab findings are back, ma’am. The circumstances don't appear favorable.”

Haley felt her heart sink a little. "Jude," she said, "what do you mean?"

On the call, Jude’s voice was thick. "Chronic arsenic poisoning is indicated by the lab results. Dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal distress are among the initial symptoms.”

Haley’s blood seemed to stop flowing. "What?"

Jude said again with urgency, "You're in danger. If you agree, I can come pick you up right now and bring you home."

Haley briefly closed her eyes before opening them again with a steadiness that even she was taken aback by. "Not yet. Get me an antidote immediately," she said, clenching her hands at her sides until her knuckles turned white. “There's no hurry to rush home."

After a few moments of silence, Jude’s next words were a controlled sigh. "Understood."

Haley’s face went ghastly pale once she hung up.

She made herself look back, carefully following the chronology. Almost instantly, it clicked into place. After Lydia gave her those pills, she began experiencing the nausea and lightheadedness she had attributed to anemia.

It happened immediately following Riley’s birth. Lydia had maintained that the iron supplements would alleviate her anemia. Haley had yet to conceive again, so she had encouraged her to take them.

She had been under constant pressure from Kieran’s parents. Haley had followed the directions like a person hanging to a lifeline, swallowing the capsules the day she received them out of anxiety and desperation.

After that, Lydia kept occasionally giving her additional bottles, and Haley took them intermittently for almost four years.

Haley gave Jude the bottle when he subsequently brought the antidote.

Her worst worries were confirmed when the results were returned two days later.

There were traces of arsenic in the capsules.

It had been well covered up by the iron's metallic taste. The symptoms she had been experiencing—fainting, lightheadedness, and persistent nausea—would be brought on by prolonged use.

She would most likely be dead by now if she hadn't detested taking medicines and frequently skipped doses.

It wasn't Lydia’s intention to make her ill. Her desire was to murder her.

Delayed terror made Haley’s hands chilly and sent a shiver up her spine.

She was fortunate to have found it in time.

Jude’s antidote was effective right away. Haley felt lighter than she had in years as the toxin left her system and the nausea and vertigo subsided.

There were few days left.

The majority of the household has already been taken care of. Things that needed to be rid of were removed, items that were to be shipped were packed, and items that ought to have been destroyed were chopped and thrown away.

Haley stared at the bottle on her vanity.

This was the most recent bottle that Lydia had brought after becoming pregnant for the second time, saying it would "help with conception" and that she wanted to share it.

Without hesitation, she approached, twisted the chilled bottle in her palm, and put it in her bag.

It was time to deal with the individuals who wished to get rid of her.