Chapter 257 The Poisonous Scheme
His warning calmed her nerves a little.
If Helen was going to poison that witch, it had to be done in one shot. She wouldn’t get a second chance
By the time she returned to the Grayson Residence, the sun was almost overhead.
She stepped inside and looked around. No sign of Teresa. But in the kitchen, Caroline was leaning over the stove, focused on something bubbling in a clay pot.
Helen walked in and asked casually, “Where’s Teresa?”
Caroline didn’t even glance her way. “She went out. Had something to take care of.”
Helen frowned. “She’s skipping lunch?”
Still stirring the soup, Caroline answered in the same flat tone, “She said she’d be back for lunch. Left not long after you did. Should be home any minute now.”
Helen felt a wave of relief. The timing was perfect. If she was going to act, it had to be today.
She stepped up beside the stove, flashed a sugary smile, and peered into the pot. “Smells great. What kind of soup is that?”
Caroline caught the insincerity in Helen’s grin and didn’t bother rushing a reply. Her tone remained smooth and calm. “You’ll find out when we sit down for lunch.”
Helen flashed a bright smile. “It’s been forever since I’ve smelled soup this good. You really outdid yourself this time.”
The praise hit wrong. It didn’t sit right with Caroline at all.
Someone who despised her that deeply wouldn’t suddenly turn sweet without a reason.
That kind of warmth, coming from Helen, reeked of bad intentions.
Helen asked casually, “Mind if I get a taste?” She sounded polite enough, but her hands were already moving -grabbing a set of utensils as if the answer didn’t matter.
“I’ll watch the soup for you. You handle the other food,” she added, stepping closer to the stove.
Before Caroline could respond, Helen nudged her aside and reached for the ladle, her movements a bit too
eager.
The sudden helpfulness felt forced. Still, Caroline simply nodded and said, “Sure. Keep an eye on it, then. I’ll finish the rest.”
She grabbed bags of produce from the fridge and brought them to the dining table. With her back to the kitchen, she sat down and started working through a pile of green beans, snapping them quietly.
Helen glanced her way and saw Caroline focused, head down, completely absorbed in the task. A crooked smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
She reached into her pocket, pulled out a tiny box, and opened it with care. She leaned over the soup, her hand steady, and tipped a fime powder into the pot. Once it was done, she sealed the box and slid it away in
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one smooth motion.
Finiched
She glanced over her shoulder toward the living room. Caroline still hadn’t moved, still hunched over the beans, calm and quiet. That was enough to case the panic bubbling in Helen’s chest.
The setup was flawless.
Caroline had made the soup. If anything went wrong, the blame would fall squarely on her.
She’d end up poisoned too, with no way to defend herself. No one would’ve seen Helen tamper with the pot. There wouldn’t be a soul who’d suspect her.
They’d all assume Caroline had lost her mind–tried to kill off the Graysons for money or revenge–and just failed spectacularly.
But while Helen sat there savoring her silent triumph, she had no idea Caroline had been watching all along.
Caroline may have had her back to the stove, but she wasn’t blind. She’d planted a mirror on the table earlier, angled just right to catch everything happening behind her.
Through the reflection, she’d seen it all–Helen’s phony smile, her sneaky little sleight of hand, and that powder falling straight into the soup.
She didn’t know the exact contents of the box, but she knew Helen’s nature. And she was certain it was poison.
Once the beans were done, Caroline stood and made her way back into the kitchen, her tone casual but firm. “You’re pregnant. You really shouldn’t be in here with all this heat. Just take a seat and catch a break.”
Helen forced a weak smile. “I’m good. I’m not even tired. Thought I’d hang around and maybe pick up some tips.”
Caroline didn’t budge. “You’ll have time to pick up cooking once the baby’s here. It’s not happening right now, though. If Teresa finds out I let you stand around in this greasy air, she’ll let me have it.”
Helen’s expression darkened for just a second when Teresa’s name came up, but she caught herself and covered it with another smile. “Alright. I’ll wait outside, then.”
She’d meant to stay close, to keep an eye on the pot. But with Caroline pushing her out like that, hanging around too long would’ve looked suspicious.
So, she headed out to the living room and sank into the couch, keeping her eyes locked on the stove from across the room.
Caroline moved through the kitchen with quiet efficiency, her rhythm calm and steady. Nothing in her expression or posture gave anything away.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Grayson walked in through the front door.
Helen smiled at her brightly. “Hey, Teresa. You’re back!”
Teresa gave a warm smile in return and headed straight into the kitchen. She handed Caroline a bag as she entered. “I grabbed some fresh crab from the market. Let’s have it for lunch.”
“Sure, Teresa.” Caroline took the bag, and as she did, she gave Teresa’s hand a firm squeeze.
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Teresa followed the silent cue and glanced toward the clay pot bubbling gently on the stove. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. She didn’t need an explanation. She understood immediately–something wasn’t right with that soup.
Keeping her face composed, she said casually, “Helen’s pregnant. She shouldn’t go too long without food. Let’s get the food on the table soon.”
༢. | ན་ས ། ||
Her voice was louder than necessary, just enough to carry across the kitchen and reach Helen’s ears.
Helen heard every word. She leaned ba
with a smug little smile tugging at her lips.
Now this witch wanted to play the role of caring mother–in–law? Spare her. It was a little too late for that charade.
Caroline picked up the pace, finished up the last of the dishes, and quickly set everything on the table. Once everyone was seated, Helen gave the spread a quick look and raised a brow. “Where’s the soup?”
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