Chapter 4

Giana's POV

The yanking made my arm hurt intensely, my vision went black, but I only raised my head to look calmly at the furious man.

"There's nothing wrong with my recipe."

"Nothing wrong?"

Peyton's eyes were dark, the force gripping my wrist intensified.

"I followed your recipe exactly when making the soup! If you hadn't tampered with it, why would Summer be in such severe abdominal pain after drinking it?"

His chest heaved as he stared at me, feeling a surge of rage rush to his head.

"Giana, what's happened to you? Summer is someone you chose to sponsor. You were the one who told me to be more patient with her! But now you can't even tolerate her. You constantly cause trouble for her. And you tried to poison her? When did your heart become so vicious?!"

These words were like fine needles stabbing into my already numb heart.

Looking at this familiar yet strange face, I suddenly found it somewhat laughable.

Five years of marriage, sharing a bed through so many days and nights, yet in his heart, I'd long become this despicable.

"Show the recipe to the doctor. Once the doctor sees it, they'll know whether there's a problem."

I suppressed the lump in my throat, looking straight into his eyes.

"Or do you simply not care what the truth is? You've just decided I'm trying to harm her?"

Peyton was thrown off by my question, his anger flaring even more.

"You've long disliked Summer, wishing she would immediately disappear from our world. How can I not suspect you tampered with it?!"

I laughed softly.

Then I forcefully shook off his grip, picked up the bowl of soup from the bedside table with my right hand, and drank it all in one go.

"Peyton,"

After finishing, I called his name.

"I've drunk the soup you made now too. If I really tampered with the recipe, then I'll soon be just like her. Is that enough?"

I watched his pupils contract sharply, then slowly continued,

"Or do you think even this isn't enough. You have to blame me for Summer's stomach ache and take out enough of your anger on me to be satisfied?"

Peyton felt a blockage in his heart. "What do you mean 'take out my anger'? We're husband and wife, not enemies. If you have any grievances, you can tell me. Don't speak in such cold, sarcastic tones."

"You and I have nothing left to say to each other."

I put down the bowl and lay back down with my back to him. "You should go. I want to rest."

"Nothing left to say?"

He roared, "Giana, explain yourself! What do you mean by that?!"

I lay motionless, completely ignoring him, as if I'd shut him out of my world entirely.

"Giana, I..."

He opened his mouth, about to say something.

"Mr. Lancaster!"

The ward door was hastily pushed open. The assistant stood in the doorway, anxiety on his face.

"Miss Summer finished having her stomach pumped. She's in her room crying really hard now, saying she needs to see you."

The assistant's appearance interrupted what he was about to say.

Peyton felt somewhat irritated.

"Got it. Go out first."

Then he turned his head, looking at Giana's thin back, his voice soft and gentle.

"Next weekend is Mom's birthday. Giana, let's go back together to celebrate Mom's birthday then, okay?"