Chapter 3 Who Is The Culprit

• After a sleepless night, I woke up feeling exhausted. I weakly leaned against the headboard, knowing it was time for my medication. Tania would arrive any minute now. After all, I had to take my medicine 'on time.'
• The moment she opened the door, she was visibly startled. Then, she broke into a gentle smile, saying, "You seem to be feeling better today, Mrs. Diaz! You look great. I'm a bit surprised, actually."
• I mustered a smile while watching her closely. As she spoke, she drew back the curtains and thoughtfully draped a coat around my shoulders, saying, "Let's open the window to let in some fresh air."
• Leaning weakly against the headboard, I deliberately replied, "I'm kind of hungry."
• "Oh, that's great news! I'll get breakfast for you right away! It's been a while since you've had an appetite!" She quickly trotted out the door while beaming with delight. "Just give me a minute. I'll be right back!"
• As she paced past my bedside, the air around her seemed to faintly smell of perfume. I had always had a keen sense of smell, so even the slightest hint of fragrance never escaped me. She was wearing my favorite, Chanel Chance Eau Tendre, which I loved because Kevin liked its subtlety. He said it was evocative.
• I clenched my fists for a moment while feeling short of breath. Subconsciously, I recalled those news stories where husbands and their mistresses had conspired to kill their wives. But then, I dismissed the idea as too far-fetched.
• A moment later, the door opened. I instinctively looked up, only to see Kevin coming in with my medicine in hand. He looked genuinely concerned with a warm smile and gentle eyes. Bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window, he seemed cheerful and loving as he approached me. For some reason, however, the memory of him asking, 'Has she taken it?' last night came into my mind, and my heart sank.
• "You're looking good today, honey! Tania said you're hungry." He put the medicine down on the bedside table before reaching for my hand, the warmth of his palm being as familiar as ever. Gazing at me lovingly, he asked tenderly, "What would you like, honey? I'll make it for you, hmm?"
• "There's no need to. I can't eat much, anyway, so don't worry about it," I replied, making an effort to calm myself. Then, I asked with feigned concern, "What time did you come home last night? I didn't even notice. Is work keeping you busy?"
• "Yeah, I've been busy with the trade fair these days. Lots of clients are asking for quotes. When I returned, Tania said she had just finished serving you medicine, so I asked her about it. Then, I went to the study, where I worked late into the night. I ended up sleeping there," he replied, yawning unconsciously.
• Seeing how tired he looked, I was suddenly overwhelmed with guilt. He was not lying to me but telling the truth. It had always been like this every year during the trade fair, with a whole bunch of quotes to deal with. How could I suspect him when he was working so hard for our family?
• It's probably Tania.
• Just then, he picked up the bowl of medicine and even tasted it, saying, "It's not boiling anymore. The temperature's just right. Come on. Take your medicine first, and then you'll have breakfast."
• I frowned, pretending to be impatient. Speaking with the usual coquettishness with which I had always interacted with him, I retorted, "What's the point of it? I've had so much of this, but it never seemed to work. It's making me nauseous. Darling, can't I skip this?"
• "Sweetie, you have to take your medicine on time. Look, you're clearly getting better today. When was the last time you said you were hungry? Dr. Larson modified the prescription of this medicine the day before yesterday, and it seems to be working. Don't lose heart," he said as if nothing wrong was happening.
• He was still the same loving husband who put me above everything else.
• Seeing his clueless demeanor, I found myself in a dilemma. If I took this medicine, I would fall into a deep sleep. Then, I would not be able to find evidence, much less catch the culprit behind this. "I don't want to!" I said, resting in his arms as my mind raced to figure out how to distract him.
• He patted me on the back with one hand, comforting me while his other hand lifted the medicine to my lips. "Come on, good girl, hurry up and take the medicine. We've got to keep this going!"
• In my heart, I was burning with anxiety. It seemed that I would not be able to escape this. "I'll drink it myself," I replied, reluctantly taking the bowl. My heart was pounding, certain that if I took this medicine right now, I would fall asleep in half an hour.
• However, Kevin looked at me with concern, his eyes filled with adoration like a fiercely protective husband. That being said, his insistence got me suspicious once again.
• Why was he insisting that I take the medicine?
• Not so long ago, I would have undoubtedly succumbed to his loving gaze, but now, I seemed to see a sharp dagger lurking behind his smile. The weapon was slowly closing in on me—not out of love but to force me into submission.
• Unable to express my inner anxiety, I wanted to throw a tantrum, but I was afraid of arousing suspicions. As such, I had no choice but to pick up the bowl of medicine…