Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption-Chapter 22: Sign her up for Oscars

Risa felt a sharp pain in her stomach that spreads slowly to every nerve in her body. The pain was so intense that she curled up cuddling her stomach. Throwing the scene into frenzy. Slowly, beads of sweat formed on her forehead, her lips quivering and limbs were numb. "It hurts! It hurts!!", she croaked but felt a burning sensation in her throat.

At this time, the maids were already arranging lunch in the dining room. Clara hurriedly ran to Risa who was in so much pain that she is trembling all over. Jessica stood up from her seat, the same time Clara rushed over. A subtle smirk played on Jessica’s lips noticed by no one else in the room aside Davis.

Davis looked at the her with amusement. "It seems this bride of mine isn’t simple but then what did she do exactly?" He mused within himself but —how she had collected the tray from the maids, her serving him first as well as the position she had taken the drink from. "It seems ...", he muttered not daring to believe the realization dawning on him.

With a worry stricken face, she hurried over to Risa who is already shouting at the top of her voice. "Sister, what’s wrong? Where are you hurting? Have you been sick before? Why the sudden pain?" She rattled with concern and worry laced in every word she uttered.

Immediately Risa saw her, her emotion became unstable as she recalled this is supposed to be Davis predicament an not hers. She had planned this well but how come she is the one in pain while Davis sat on his wheelchair nonchalantly watching her in pain.

She glared at him before she turned abruptly to face Jessica. "Jessica, this must be your fault because you are the one that gave me the drink", she shouted.

Jessica flinched at her words, she clasped her hands fidgeting shaking her head in denial her head lowered. Her voice grieved "No, no sister I didn’t do anything. I shared the drinks from the maid", she said anxiously glancing at their faces that were mocking her.

Clara glanced between the duo, a frown settling on face. She suspected this was Risa’s plan that backfired on her. "Risa, don’t say such thing. Your sister isn’t that evil", she chastised glaring at Jessica. She wouldn’t let Risa’s good girl image be destroyed by this country girl.

Jessica pouted her lips as though wronged. She is here to give them back in their own coins. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of taunting and plotting against her as before. She rushed to Risa grabbing her hands anxiously as her tears fell in torrents. "Sister.... Sister, you know I couldn’t have ...have.. done something so outrageous. It must have been the maid." She stammered with a cautious and fearful glance.

George raised his hand to slap her hard —she flinched back as though in fear, her gaze turned cold and her aura intimidating but the next moment is replaced with fear. "Dad, hear me out, I am innocent. Dad..?"

George blinked repeatedly, the coldness in Jessica’s eyes had made him halt but then it was gone. It was as though he was hallucinating but —it was real, it was raw. He couldn’t have mistaken it. "Summon the doctor here," He instructed the butler.

Davis watching the scene unfold made a mental note of signing her up for an Oscars award. Ethan eyes were wide open, he couldn’t believe it. A fiery lady turning meek is really devastating and manipulating.

"Jessica stop the pretense,you must have added something to my drink." Risa screamed with the pain intensifying at every movement she made.

Clara’s gaze faltered at Risa’s remark as she looked at Risa with confusion. She had known Risa was looking forward to Jessica’s visit with Davis but she wasn’t informed of the plans. She felt hurt about such an action but there is no need to trouble her.

Risa became hysterical, she wouldn’t risk her mother supporting Jessica while she is the one suffering. The maids were summoned and questioned but no answer came forth —it’s clear Risa had instructed them to say nothing but never expected she bears the brunt of her plots.

Jessica reached out to hold Clara but instinctively she pushed her away. Davis frowned at the interaction— it is clear Jessica isn’t treated well in the family. He felt his breathe coming in gasps, how dare the Brown family disregard the Allen’s family mistress.

As though on cue, her gaze met his. A glance that made him halt the words that was at the tip of his tongue. He shrugged subtly. It seems this is in her plans too.

George was pacing the room anxiously. Jessica meekly walked some distance towards him but made sure not to close the distance. "Dad, will... Will she die like my ...mother?" "My mother was also crying in pain like this.... before she died". Jessica asked making everyone in the room gasp.

In a voice not too low or too high but enough for everyone to hear she recalled the past

"Dad, you know you were not there, but having fun in the office with ..... She glanced briefly at Clara as though recalling something not to be said. Her hand flew to her mouth "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it."

George clenched his fist, Clara’s face paled and Risa continuously shook her head "No, mom, Dad I don’t want to die." She pleaded looking up at her father.

The maids couldn’t believe what they heard, they looked at each other with a knowing look but at Clara they felt disgusted. Clara knew her respect was on the line and immediately opened her mouth to defend herself "Jessy, you might have mistaken, I was only there to get a document signed at that time", she chimed, her eyes frosty.

"Mom, were you the one?" She asked in surprise. "I never knew it was you but — the lady I saw was practically naked. Are documents also signed when naked?" She asked with confusion. Clara clenched her fist. She can’t believe she has been played by this girl.

George couldn’t hear anymore, he felt his good image of a devoted husband and loving father falling apart. He was sure this news will soon circulate within the circle and his well crafted image will definitely plummet. "Will you shut up!" He boomed.

Jessica stepped back as if oblivious to the reason of his anger "Dad, was it really my stepmom that day? .. You both were cheating on my mom?" She asked as though experiencing epiphany.

"Jessica!", he boomed. He raised his hand pointing at her, his rage taking over, he opened his mouth to speak "You...".

Jessica walked towards him step by step her face cold, her aura intimidating. She stepped just a few inches away from him "George Brown, you have no shame", she said. Both of their gazes locked, the tension in the room palpable.

"Mom, help me", she muttered weakly. It seems everyone had forgotten about her, she didn’t want to die. She wanted to live but then the pain was excruciating that she felt her heart leaving her chest at every second.

George didn’t expect that the fearful Jessica few minutes ago will be this fierce. He looked at her incredulously. "The Brown family is really one full theatre worth investing in", Davis voice filtered through.

George was ashamed that the Allen family witnessed the scene. He couldn’t shake the feeling this was Jessica’s plot. He couldn’t blame anyone —he called her home. He glared at Risa because this was her suggestion. But the pain etched on her face made him feel sorry for her.

"Mr. Allen, sorry you witnessed this scene", he bowed lightly. This loss he suffered today, he will return to Jessica. The butler announced the arrival of the doctor, a fat middle aged man entered the living room, calmly he proceeded to diagnose the cause of the symptoms Risa explained.

"I think she needs to be taken to the hospital for an examination to be carried out on her but there is some traces of food poisoning", he explained.

"Is it that serious doctor?" Clara asked skeptical of the decision. With Jessica influence as Mrs. Allen she is afraid she will manipulate the doctors against her daughter. She didn’t want to lose her daughter.

"Doctor, did you just say poisoning?" Jessica asked with a cold smile. It seems the maid didn’t lie.

"Yes, she is poisoned though it is not lethal at the moment but it is hard to say the result tomorrow so it’s better to go to the hospital for testing" he concluded with worry.

"Mom, you have to do something. I don’t want to die", she cried.

"How come she is poisoned when we all had the same thing she had or — did you try to harm someone but fell into your own trap?" Jessica pressured.