Lately, I''ve been reying that night over and over in my mind.


    The juice was handed to me by the waitress. If I wasn''t the intended target, the chances of itnding in my hands were slim. But I hardly knew anyone at the dinner. Be, Ivy, Bryant. None of them seemed likely. Be was openly caring towards me, Ivy was her confidant, so drugging me was out of the question. And Bryant, even less likely. That left Summer, the only person I had history with. And I could feel, more or less, the animositying from her. Just what she hoped to achieve, I couldn''t figure out.


    When I voiced the usation, Summer froze, then looked at me with feigned confusion, "Me, drug you? What drugs?"


    I smiled back, "You drugged me, and you don''t know with what?"


    Truth was, I wasn''t sure it was her. Just fishing.


    Summer was about to reply when Be walked over, shooting her a look. "Why didn''t you invite Jane in, youngdy?"


    Summer turned, shing Be a sweet smile and saying, "I... I was just so eager to chat with Ms. Webster."


    Right then, I knew it. It was her. She was the one who drugged me.


    Despite her earlier act of innocence, her reaction in front of Be gave her away. With her not even wanting me to step through the door, if she wasn''t the one who drugged me, she would''ve used this as an opportunity to clear her name. To let Be know I was framing her, tarnishing her image. But her first instinct was to smooth things over.


    For now, I masked my suspicions, smiling warmly at Be, "Ms. Taylor, shall we try on the dress?"


    "Of course, the dress is a must."


    Be took my hand, ever so friendly, "But first, you must try the cookies I baked."


    "Cookies?"


    I was pleasantly surprised, joking, "Tasting Ms. Taylor''s homemade cookies is definitely worth bragging about on social media."


    "Feel free to brag." Be didn''t mind at all.


    Her vi had arge front yard


    adorned with a wall of roses, and the


    backyard was filled with various fruit trees. It was clear Be had settled down in Vista Town for her


    al.ne


    daughter. Stepping into her house, the aroma of freshly baked cookies greeted us. After tasting a couple, I sincerelyplimented, "These are delicious, perfectly sweet, much better than store-bought."


    "Really?"


    Be beamed, "I''ll pack some for you to take home, for your family."


    "No, that''s not necessary..."


    "Why so formal with me? I baked plenty."


    "It''s not that..."


    I exined, "I don''t really have a family, or rather..."


    I paused, thinking, then continued,


    do have family, but my re


    is sick in a nursing home,Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    father... might as well not.


    A flicker of sympathy crossed Be''s eyes as she softly asked, "And your mother?"


    "My mother..." I smiled helplessly, replying, "I have no idea where she is, or who she is."


    ...


    Meanwhile, in RiverCity, at the Fusion Corp offices.


    The assistant knocked and entered, cing a file on ric''s desk, "Mr. ric, here''s the information on Jane Dream''s founder you requested."


    "Hmm."


    ric nodded, flipping through the


    file, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Jane? She''s attractive, sure, but hardly a national beauty. What''s got Mr. Ferguson so bewitched?"