Chapter 418 The Poisoner Revealed...
Mr. Bourbon gave a nod of approval, his words echoing his sentiment, "That young lady is flawless, both in her physical attributes and her personality."
Mrs. Bourbon cast a sidelong glance at Andrew, a sense of unease creeping over her. Her initial plan had been to suggest little Anika Moses if Phillipe showed no interest, or if the elders disapproved. However, it seemed that the stars were not aligning in Anika's favor.
"Dad, it's rare to hear you heap such praise on anyone..." Andrew expressed his surprise, intrigued by how a young girl could elicit such commendation from his usually reticent father.
"That child is truly extraordinary. She's beautiful, well-mannered, skilled without arrogance, modest yet exceptional, dutiful, and kind-hearted..."
Mr. Bourbon's face lit up at the mere thought of her. In his eyes, she was the epitome of perfection.
Andrew and Mrs. Bourbon exchanged a look of surprise, taken aback by the old man's profound satisfaction with the girl who had just been welcomed back into the family.
"We encountered a remarkable girl during our travels. Claire and I took quite a liking to her... It's unfortunate she was already betrothed," Andrew shared, a hint of regret lacing his words.
"Blood is thicker than water," Mr. Bourbon responded sagely.
No sooner had Mr. Bourbon finished speaking than Andrew's phone vibrated. "It's Phillipe," he announced.
After ending the call, Andrew relayed the unexpected news, "Phillipe has requested a private dining room for tonight. He's bringing the girl over for us to meet."
Their usually reserved son had taken the initiative to arrange this?
"Darling, pinch me," Andrew requested, shaking his head in disbelief. It wasn't until Claire playfully twisted his arm that he yelped, "Ouch, Claire… take it easy."
"If it doesn't hurt, you might think you're dreaming…" Claire responded, surprised by their son's unusual enthusiasm for this girl.
This girl must be extraordinary to have won over both the elders and their son. She had to be either exceptionally outstanding or extraordinarily unique.
The following afternoon, Claire was trying on dresses when Andrew entered the dressing room, assisting her by zipping up the back of her dress.
"Darling, I have news – it was indeed your friend who poisoned you…" Andrew revealed, pausing to gauge his wife's reaction. Seeing no trace of sadness, he continued, "They’ve brought her downstairs… to the basement."
"I see." Dressed in an elegant mermaid dress, Claire exuded an air of grace and dignity. Before heading to the basement, she reassured her parents, "Mom, Dad, I need to take care of something. Don't be alarmed if you hear any strange noises."
Mr. Bourbon, fully aware of the poisoning incident and the culprit's apprehension, nodded in understanding. "Don't worry about us. At our age, we wouldn't hear a thing…"
Claire then made her way to the basement.
The lobby, illuminated by six skylights, appeared even more grand and imposing. Four bodyguards stood at attention, and in front of them, a well-dressed woman seemed somewhat uneasy.
Claire, graceful and poised, slowly approached her.
"Good day, ma'am," the bodyguards greeted in unison.
The woman in the mermaid dress was strikingly slim and the epitome of elegance. Over the years, Claire had maintained an exquisite aura of refinement. Even before her marriage, she had been notably beautiful, and married life had only added a mature charm to her poise and allure.
"Tracy, my friend of twenty years, why are you bound when I merely asked for you to be brought here?" Claire asked with a smile, turning to the guards, "Would you mind untying her?"
"Yes, ma'am," one guard responded, releasing Tracy's wrists from the bindings.
Rubbing her wrists, Tracy stepped forward, "Claire, if you wanted to see me, all you had to do was ask. This is quite the spectacle; people might think I've upset you…"
With a dignified grace, Claire smiled, her voice gentle as she asked, "So, what exactly did you do?"
Tracy faltered, her eyes reflecting unease. "Claire, I really don't know what you're talking about…"
Claire's voice was soft, almost apologetic. "You've come all this way, and I haven't even offered you a cup of tea… You've had your share of fine teas, I'm sure. So today, I had someone prepare a special fruit wine for you with C30…"
At the mention of 'C30' and 'fruit wine,' Tracy's anxiety visibly heightened.
Impossible…
Several days had passed when, without warning, Claire had Tracy on her radar. Somehow, she had discovered that Tracy had spiked the fruit wine with compound C30.
"I hear that stuff makes the fruit wine taste richer," Claire complimented, her smile radiating beauty and charm.
With a glance at her servant, the message was clear. The tray bearing the fruit wine was promptly presented to Tracy Underwood.
Tracy's face drained of color. "Claire, are you sure you’ve got it right? This fruit wine..."
"Naturally, our twenty-year friendship still means something to you," Claire replied, her voice soft yet firm. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have splurged five million on this little additive to lace our wine… Don't worry, as your best friend, I can't just take advantage of you without giving back. I understand the meaning of reciprocity.”
A sinking feeling overwhelmed Tracy as she realized the peril she was in.
Claire must have had concrete evidence, which was why she had Tracy brought to her. Further denial was pointless now!
"Claire, listen to me... it was a moment of stupidity. My son told me that Phillip wouldn’t cede the Medici land to him... I thought, after all these years, why would Phillip choose a stranger over his own people?”
Tears welled in Tracy’s eyes. “I always believed our bond was stronger than gold. But no matter how many times my son pleaded, Phillip refused without explanation. I turned to you, and you said our kids are grown, beyond our control. That's what left me with a grudge...”
That plot of land was what Tracy had sworn to secure for her in-laws at all costs.
But when Phillip sold it to someone else, leaving Tracy humiliated, she sought revenge on the Bourbons...
Phillip was notoriously vigilant, surrounded by experts, so Tracy’s ire fell on the unsuspecting Claire...
At her son’s wedding banquet, despite Claire’s simple gown, her stunning beauty and ethereal grace utterly overshadowed Tracy...
Fueled by jealousy and the loose-lipped suggestions from her staff, Tracy was driven to her regretful actions...
She longed to throw herself into Claire’s arms, and seek forgiveness with a sisterly embrace, but four bodyguards blocked her path.
Tears flowed as she stood alone. “I was wrong, Claire...”
"Of course, you were wrong," Claire replied, her eyes bright and calm, serene as a gentle orchid. "The plot had issues; Phillip used it to fool his rival. In a way, it was for your own good.”
She had only learned this truth today.
But back then, Phillip hadn’t informed anyone, not even their own families, to prevent the competitor from sniffing out the bait.
“If you really trusted in our twenty-year friendship, you should know Phillip and I value loyalty and honor just the same.”
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