The Poisoned Cup and The Scapegoat

I immediately stood up, my gaze sweeping over at Jade's darkened face.

"A-Alright, t-then I'll get moving. Jade, I'll let you look after Michael."

When she heard that she had to look after that drunken alcoholic, her expression darkened as if she had just swallowed something bitter.

When I got up, I pretended to slip and ended up falling on Jade.

"I'm sorry!"

Jade subconsciously raised her hand to block my fall. She frowned and looked at me in disgust.

"What the hell man? Can't you even stand properly?"

"I'm sorry, Jade," I apologized frantically while secretly stealing a small vial from her jacket pocket.

With it, I was not going to become the scapegoat anymore.

Suppressing a smile, I turned around and left.

I immediately hailed a taxi to a testing facility and submitted the small glass bottle I had taken from Jade for analysis.

After I came out from a comfortable hot shower, the test results were out.

When I saw the results, I was stunned.

The final conclusion was written clearly.

[Main component: Vitamin C. No toxic, harmful, or psychoactive substances detected.]

Vitamin C? Did Jade not poison Michael?

Instantly, I had a million thoughts flying through my mind.

In my previous life, Jade did not even drug the wine. She only took a bottle to pretend to do it, making sure I witnessed it.

If I caused a scene, she would be able to turn her conflict with Michael into a conflict between Michael and I.

If I did not cause a scene, Michael would have only consumed the vitamin C, which would not land her in any legal trouble.

It was no wonder she did not panic when Michael drank so much wine that night.

From the very beginning, she had been playing both of us like a fool.

Just when I was in the midst of fury, my phone suddenly vibrated.

A sense of dread rose in my chest as I answered the call.

"Is this Mr. Taylor Lowden? We're the Emergency Department at First Hospital," a nurse's anxious voice rang out.

"Your friend, Michael Ronan, has been admitted for poisoning and is currently being resuscitated. Please come immediately!"