Chapter 437 A Personal Show of Gratitude
Yet, in the very next heartbeat, Abella's movements stilled mid-action. Mrs. Medici, noting the abrupt pause, voiced her concern. "Abella, is something amiss?""The water is contaminated," Abella announced, her voice echoing in the stunned silence that followed. Contaminated water? The thought was as shocking as it was absurd."It contains a slow-acting poison," she elaborated, her words dropping like stones into a still pond, sending ripples of shock through everyone present. Winslow, in particular, struggled to reconcile this revelation with the reality of their surroundings. They were in the Medici family's private hospital, after all. The medical staff on this floor were handpicked for their loyalty to the family. Under such circumstances, the possibility of an outsider gaining access was slim to none. So, who could the poisoner be?Abella, too, was grappling with this conundrum. Turning to Mrs. Medici, she asked, "Has anyone else been here recently?""No, just us, the doctors, the nurses, and the two caregivers..." Mrs. Medici replied. The elder Medicis, both residing in the same ward, were each attended to by a caregiver. Other than them, no outsiders had visited.Abella's gaze swept over each person present, causing a spike of anxiety in Lola. Would Abella seize this opportunity to accuse her? Why was she being subjected to such scrutiny? But then, just as suddenly, Abella's gaze shifted, and Lola exhaled in relief. Thankfully, Abella hadn't taken it too far..."Abella, I just changed the water this morning. There couldn't possibly be any issue..." a caregiver, who had been tending to Grandma Medici for several months, interjected. She treated the old woman like family, and her voice carried the weight of her concern."What time did you change it?" Abella asked, her tone gentle, non-accusatory."Around eight o'clock, right after the doctor finished checking the room. I went to change the water. No one else came before you all arrived.""And the water you changed, was it for everyone in the ward?""No, the water I changed was only for Grandma Medici. Waverly and I get water from outside. Waverly changed Mr. Medici's water."Abella examined Grandpa's water bottle and found it free of poison. Could it be that the poisoner was targeting Grandma alone? "Besides the two of you, who else knows about the separate water bottles for Grandpa and Grandma?" she queried."The doctors and nurses wouldn't pay attention to these... Besides us and Abella's family, no one else should know," the caregiver responded.By now, Waverly's face had turned an unnatural shade. She knew Abella had some medical knowledge, but she hadn't expected her to identify poisoned water at a glance. Now, under Abella's scrutiny, she sat by Grandpa's side, her head lowered in an attempt to minimize her presence. Yet, Abella caught a hint of panic in her expression."So, the poison was given by Waverly?" At Abella's words, Waverly was terrified, jumping to her feet in denial. "Abella, you can't make accusations without proof!"The caregiver beside her, seeing Abella's suspicion directed at her colleague, stepped in to defend her. "It can't be Waverly. She always takes care of Mr. Medici with all her heart...""This drug, when added to water, becomes toxic. The poisoned person will feel drowsy the whole day, lose their appetite, and feel weak and cold. Within a week, they will become emaciated and die," Abella's gaze fell upon Waverly, "As a caregiver, you must have some knowledge of pharmacology. Do you know why I suspect you? Because the medication I give to Grandpa contains a certain herb that can easily extract this kind of ingredient. You are clever. Instead of buying it from outside, you chose to take advantage of what you have.""I don't know what you're talking about!" Waverly's expression was a mask of fear and confusion.Abella fixed her with a steady gaze. "Your colleague is loyal to Grandma, so I don't suspect her. But as for you, what is your motive?""Waverly, you did this?" Mrs. Medici's voice trembled with disbelief. "Why would you do this?""Abella wouldn't make false accusations. I believe her. Why did you try to poison my mother when she never caused you any trouble?" Mr. Medici's voice was a low growl of anger.
"Waverly's countenance shifted, her eyes darting away as she muttered, "It wasn't me..."Lola's voice echoed through the room, her anger palpable. "What do you mean it wasn't you? Do you comprehend the gravity of plotting against the Medici family? Speak the truth!"Winslow, perched on the edge of the hospital bed, studied Waverly's troubled expression. She didn't need her words to know the truth; it was etched in the lines of her face.Yet, she found herself asking, "We bear no ill will towards each other. Why would you do this?"Waverly, a formidable woman who had held sway for decades, managed to maintain her cool demeanor even when confronted by her accuser. Abella watched her, her respect for the older woman growing. Waverly's ability to remain composed in the face of adversity was admirable.Mrs. Medici's voice cut through the tension, her conviction evident. "I can make you confess with a single phone call. Would you prefer to admit your guilt here, or shall we take this to the police station?"The mention of the police station was enough to break Waverly's resolve. "Mrs. Medici..." She faltered, then began to spill her secrets.Over the past few months, while caring for Grandpa Medici, she had grown fond of him. She had yearned to be the one at his side. But when Winslow woke up, fear had gripped her. She had been terrified that she would lose her chance, and so, the idea of murder had taken root.She had believed that if Winslow were out of the picture, Grandpa Medici would turn to someone close to him. With her medical knowledge, she had thought she could execute her plan without a hitch.But she hadn't anticipated Abella catching her in the act, just after she had administered the poison and before Grandma Medici had taken a sip. Who was Abella, and how did she possess such extensive medical knowledge?Mrs. Medici was at a loss for words. Waverly had actually plotted to kill Winslow and take her place. Had she given no thought to her own identity? In her rage, Mrs. Medici called the hospital and demanded that Waverly be taken to the police station immediately.Winslow's gaze fell on Abella. Her calm, decisive analysis of the situation had been truly impressive. "Abella, how did you discern that there was something amiss with the water?" Winslow asked, her voice soft.Abella explained, "When this drug is mixed with water, it becomes slightly cloudy under light, with minuscule particles of powder settling at the bottom of the cup. These particles are so tiny, they often go unnoticed."People rarely checked their water before drinking it. As long as they downed it in one gulp, they wouldn't notice the faint cloudiness or the nearly invisible particles floating within.Winslow was both surprised and impressed. "You also possess knowledge in this field, I see."Mr. Medici chimed in, unable to contain his praise for Abella. "Mom, you wouldn't believe the extent of Abella's knowledge. She truly is remarkable..."Winslow patted Abella's hand, gratitude in her eyes. "Thank goodness you were here." She then turned to Mrs. Medici, "By the way, my recovery is due to the tireless efforts of the doctors behind the scenes. Could you ask them to come over? I'd like to express my gratitude in person..."
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