Chapter 109


    There was nobody out in the corridor when I exited the room. I had no idea where Christopher had sent


    the crowd but it suited me just fine. The feeling of cheating on my husband felt thrilling.


    I smoothed the front of my dress and ensured that I looked prim and proper before striding into the hall.


    Even though our secret rendezvous were urgent and passionate, Christopher was always careful not to


    leave any traces of himself on me.


    The party had alreadymenced by the time I arrived. I could smell the delicious scent of dinner


    wafting out from within. When I reached the entrance, Lyle was already standing there with a scowl on


    his face as he waited for me. “Where did you wander off to?” He barked impatiently. “We still have a


    toast to give! Do you have sh*t in your brain?”


    “Yes, I do,” I replied serenely. “You. You’re always on my mind.” I was pleased with the way I retorted.


    Lyle attempted to belittle me so I went with the flow. My wit had astounded even myself.


    Lyle shook with anger at my impertinence but somehow managed to have kept it under control as the


    dining hall was crowded. The most he was able to do was curse under his breath. If he were to do


    anything more than that, he would definitely make himself out to be aughingstock.


    “Let’s go and toast Mr. Ziegler,” Lyle muttered as he tugged on my wrist roughly. A bruise was going to


    appear on that spot, that’s for sure.


    The hall was abuzz with chatter and the clinking of silverware and sses. In it, I was forced to toast


    his business partner and act like Lyle’s loving wife. After the first round of drinks, I was feeling tipsy


    despite it being premium champagne.


    It tasted sweet and harmless but had a powerful kick that manifested some minutester. The dizziness


    soon became difficult to ignore, necessitating me to hold my head. Lyle merely frowned as he was


    worried that I would embarrass him in front of everybody. To remedy the situation, he took me out to the


    garden and procured a ss of juice from seemingly out of nowhere. “Have some juice, that will help


    with the dizziness.”


    I took several sips and felt the overwhelming effects of the champagne diminishing a little. Leaning


    against a tree to remain upright, a gust of cold wind met my face and intensified my difort. The


    scene swam before my eyes. Even the sight of Lyle standing before me began to split into multiple


    copies of himself.


    I shook my head vigorously in an attempt to ward off the effects of the champagne.


    “What are you doing here? I’ve been looking all over for you.” Benjamin arrived as he chastised Lyle in


    a loud voice. “We are going to start some drinking games. The whole gang is there except for you.”


    “Yvonne is drunk,” reported Lyle curtly.


    “Leave her be, then,” replied Benjamin with a disdainful look at me. “I don’t understand why your


    grandmother picked such a useless woman to be your wife. She couldn’t even hold her liquor at a party


    as important as this.”


    “Alright, quit your yapping. I’ll be right with you,” Lyle said, though he remained where he was.


    “Crystal is there too. If you do note at once, don’t be mad at us for going after her. We all like her,


    you know,” Benjamin said candidly. I couldn’t tell if he was joking.


    That captured Lyle’s attention. After all, Crystal was a popr character in the socialite circles of


    Avenport. The fondness that the Miller brothers had toward her wasmon knowledge. “Go up and


    rest,” Lyle ordered as he turned to me. “We still have rafting tomorrow, don’t forget.”


    “I have already promised Grandma that I will sit through this banquet without leaving,” I protested. “I


    keep my promises.” However, my body decided not to cooperate as my head was feeling heavier by


    the minute. That was not the only thing bothering me. My body felt so hot that despite it being a fall


    night, all I wanted was to take a cold shower.


    Something was not right. I did not want to remain by Lyle’s side, so I waited for him to leave. As soon


    as that notion formed in my mind, he shoved me hard and berated me for being crude and uncultured


    before leaving without another word.


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    I ran several steps before being forced to hold on to a tree trunk, narrowly avoiding falling onto the


    ground. A servant walked past and was attracted by my calls. He helped me into a guest room where I


    staggered in with the intention to plop myself down onto the bed to sleep.


    My body refused toply. I felt the warmth in my body turn white-hot and spread slowly like fire


    throughout my body, searing my wits. I peeled off my clothes frantically as the heat became


    unbearable.


    My vision worsened. I heard the sound of the door being pushed open and the voice of somebody


    speaking to me, but was unable to identify the person standing before me no matter how hard I tried to


    open my eyes. My body grew even hotter as that person helped me to my feet. Thest thing I


    remembered was their fingers around my throat.