Chapter 5 - The Poisoned Cup
Mave raced desperately through the dark, dusty passageways hidden behind the mansion walls.
She had to warn Ronan before he took a single sip of that deadly drink.
Her lungs burned as she finally reached the secret door behind the grand library bookshelf.
Ronan was sitting calmly at his massive mahogany desk, reviewing shipping manifests as if nothing was wrong.
Mave pushed the heavy bookshelf open and stumbled frantically into the room.
"They poisoned your Scotch!" she gasped, brushing thick cobwebs from her hair.
Ronan did not even bother to look up from his important paperwork.
"I know," he replied casually.
Mave stared at him in sheer, absolute disbelief.
"You knew?" she asked, struggling to catch her breath.
"I saw Tomas slip that exact vial into his pocket yesterday afternoon," Ronan explained coolly.
He finally looked up, his gray eyes shining with a cold, merciless calculation.
"I just needed to know if my beloved wife was in on the assassination plan."
A sudden, sharp knock echoed loudly on the heavy library door.
"Hide," Ronan ordered swiftly, waving his hand toward the secret passage.
Mave slipped back behind the bookshelf, leaving a tiny crack open so she could watch.
Adriana walked gracefully into the library, perfectly balancing a silver tray with the two drinks.
She placed the poisoned glass of Scotch gently on the desk in front of him.
"A drink to celebrate your successful negotiation, my darling," she smiled, sweet as honey.
Ronan picked up the glass and swirled the amber liquid thoughtfully.
"You always know exactly what I need, Adriana," he said smoothly, staring deeply into her eyes.
He raised the beautiful crystal glass to his lips and took a massive, deep swallow.
Mave covered her own mouth tightly to stop herself from screaming in terror.
Ronan stood up abruptly, his handsome face suddenly turning a sickly shade of pale.
He clutched his chest violently, knocking the glass to the floor in a loud spray of crystal and liquor.
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He collapsed heavily onto the Persian rug, his large body twitching violently for a few seconds.
Adriana stood right over him, watching her husband die without shedding a single tear.
