Chapter 471: The Trap
Meredith signaled the nanny to take Little Lucky out. Today, Joy Chaucer dared to come here, and Meredith wanted to question her properly, to see if Joy Chaucer had any conscience left.
The nanny took the child away, and Meredith’s tone turned icy. “Joy Chaucer, if you want to live longer, you’d better behave.”
“Scared now?” Joy Chaucer sneered. “You kicked me out, took over the company, and got my mother imprisoned. Now you’re afraid? Today is your daughter’s hundred-day banquet, and I came with good intentions to congratulate you. Aren’t you Mrs. Sterling? Why so petty?”
“Congratulations, right?” Meredith stepped forward. “A guest is a guest. You’re right; there’s no reason to kick a guest out. Since you’re here, let’s sit down and have a drink.”
Seeing Meredith inviting her to stay for a meal, Joy Chaucer hesitated, unsure of Meredith’s intentions.
“What, are you scared? You’re Joy Chaucer; what do you have to fear? Afraid I’ll poison the food?” Meredith retorted, throwing Joy’s words back at her.
Joy Chaucer gritted her teeth. “Who’s scared? I’ll eat this meal.”
“Please.” Meredith gestured for Joy Chaucer to take a seat.
Meredith had arranged for a separate table at the hotel, with dishes different from those on other tables.C0ntent © 2024 (N/ô)velDrama.Org.
There were only four simple dishes on the table, but each one was incompatible with the others. Some could cause poisoning, others could harm the body silently.
Terrence Sterling had been discussing business with Mr. Landwright and Mr. Blackwood when Stella hurriedly found him, saying that Meredith had kept Joy Chaucer for a meal and urged him to go quickly.
The banquet hall was bustling with a hundred tables and over a thousand guests. Even Terrence Sterling couldn’t be sure who all the guests were.
Meredith and Joy Chaucer sat at a side table. Seeing the dishes on the table, Joy Chaucer’s expression changed dramatically. She knew about incompatible foods and could tell at a glance that these dishes were harmful together.
“Eat,” Meredith said as she poured wine for Joy Chaucer. “We have such deep ties. From our first meeting at Falconer Holdings to our interactions because of Ruby Kim and Fiona Woods, we’ve crossed paths many times. Later on, we even became cousins by marriage. Such deep ties deserve a toast. But this first glass is for Ruby Kim.”
Meredith picked up her wine glass and poured it onto the ground.
“Ruby Kim died mysteriously. She was killed by someone who ran her over with a car, just like how you killed her mother years ago. Isn’t that quite the coincidence?”
Joy Chaucer feigned composure. “Ruby Kim deserved it. She tampered with my car’s brakes; I hadn’t even settled that score with her yet. Her death was karma; whoever did it did me a favor.”
When Terrence Sterling arrived, Meredith was already pouring out the second glass of wine.
“This one is for Fiona Woods. The person who killed her has been brought to justice, but the one truly responsible is still free.” Meredith’s gaze turned icy as she stared at Joy Chaucer. “Fiona was someone who always sought revenge. Whoever wronged or harmed her wouldn’t be spared even in death. Joy Chaucer, you’d better burn incense and pray before sleeping; otherwise, Fiona might visit you in your dreams.”
“A greedy person who died is just dead; what can a dead person do?” Joy Chaucer mocked. “Meredith, are you feeling guilty? Afraid Fiona Woods will come after you? Ah yes, you stole her man; all this should have been hers today. Do you dream of Fiona Woods visiting you?”
“I do,” Meredith replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Do you want to know what she says in my dreams?”
“I don’t care,” Joy Chaucer scoffed. “Fiona Woods tried to blackmail me for money; such a wicked person deserved no better fate. She almost dragged me down too; fortunately, the police found out the truth and cleared my name.”
Facing an unyielding Joy Chaucer, Meredith remained calm.
Slowly and deliberately, Meredith placed some snails and broad beans into Joy Chaucer’s bowl. “Try these; I ordered them especially for you.”
Snails and broad beans could cause intestinal cramps.
Joy Chaucer didn’t dare touch her chopsticks. Meredith said, “Don’t like them? Then try the soft-shelled turtle with amaranth; it’s delicious. I heard from Mrs. Lawson that you were very filial before and personally cooked several dishes for my mother. It seems you’re quite knowledgeable about food; you should taste this and give your opinion.”
Soft-shelled turtle with amaranth could cause poisoning.