Vanya's POV
When Cliff and I returned to the Silver Moon Pack, as soon as we entered, we saw Veronica directing Jenny in the living room, asking her to prepare more dishes.
The scene looked lively, but my heart skipped a beat, flooding with a sense of foreboding.
Cliff obviously sensed something, too. He instinctively took my hand almost immediately, a move so quick it surprised me.
"Veronica, what brings you here?" Cliff asked, a hint of imperceptible tension in his voice.
"I came to see my grandson and his wife. What's the matter? Are you afraid I'll disturb your alone time?" Veronica smiled broadly, clearly taking our interactions at the press conference as genuine.
I could only force a smile in response.
I knew that in her old age, Veronica loved to meddle in our affairs, but who knew what she was up to this time?
Jenny brought the dishes from the kitchen to the table one by one, then gave me a meaningful look.
That glance made me uneasy, and my sense of unease grew stronger.
I felt like something was about to happen, a bad premonition spreading in my heart.
To be on the safe side, I didn't dare to drink any wine during dinner.
Cliff, who was always cautious, also refrained from touching the wine.
After dinner, Cliff put down his knife and fork and said to Veronica, "Veronica, Vanya and I are tired from the day. You should rest early too."
"I understand. I won't disturb you," Veronica stood up and said to Jenny, "Leave early today and come back to clean up tomorrow."
Jenny nodded in understanding, and they both seemed quite happy, but I couldn't feel the same joy.
I felt something was off but couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.
After Veronica left with Jenny, Cliff immediately dropped the pretense.
He returned to his usual indifference, saying indifferently, "I'm going upstairs."
"Okay," I responded softly, watching his back as he went upstairs. I decided to check the dining table carefully.
I knew Cliff never guarded against Veronica, who raised him from a young age, but I was aware of Veronica's tactics.
In my previous life, it was Veronica who orchestrated the situation between Cliff and me.
She put the drug in the red wine without telling me beforehand.
That's why I deliberately avoided the wine earlier, fearing her trick.
"Am I overthinking?" I searched the dining table meticulously but found nothing, filled with doubt.
In the middle of the night, I lay in bed, unable to sleep.
I faintly heard some movement downstairs.
Ever since Cliff started coming back often, he prepared a room in the guest house, and we still slept in separate rooms every day.
I opened my door and saw the light on in the kitchen downstairs.
I carefully went down the stairs and saw Cliff, loosely wearing only a bathrobe, drinking cold water from the fridge.
"Cliff?" I called him softly.
The room was dimly lit, and I vaguely saw Cliff's body stiffen.
"Why are you out?" Cliff's voice was hoarse, with a hint of annoyance, "Go back up!"
I immediately realized something was wrong. I saw his cheeks were slightly flushed, not a normal blush.
My heart leaped to my throat. No way! Cliff had been drugged!
"Are you okay?" I stood on the second-floor staircase, not daring to take another step forward, knowing this distance was the safest for me.
"I'm fine," Cliff's voice was extremely restrained, "Just get back to your room."
Hearing this, I felt relieved and ran back to my room.
I wasn't foolish enough to provoke him at this moment. Who knew what would happen?
"Crack!" Suddenly, the sound of glass shattering came from downstairs.
I was startled and immediately opened my door to see Cliff lying on the floor downstairs, seemingly unable to stand.
"Cliff!" Without thinking, I rushed forward.
The floor was covered in glass shards, and Cliff seemed unconscious.
I placed my hand on his cheek, feeling it was terrifyingly hot.
The next second, Cliff suddenly grabbed my wrist.
My heart skipped a beat. I knew I shouldn't have come out at this time!
Cliff held my hand tightly. His throat was dry, and he was hot all over. I could feel something was very wrong with him.
He muttered, "Is this what you want?"
My face turned gloomy, and before I could react, Cliff pushed me down onto the floor.
He loomed over me, his eyes filled with a fervor I had never seen before.
I knew I was quite pretty, but being stared at by him like this made me scared.
His gaze roamed over my face, finally resting on my lips, making me feel like he wanted to devour me whole.
"Cliff! Snap out of it!" I shouted loudly.