My Accidental Husband is a Billionaire

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the far end of the table, where Selena was holding her hand over her mouth, looking nauseous.

Gavin leaned in, worried. "What's wrong?" Selena shook her head, unsure herself.

Maybe it was the knowledge that the soup had been tampered with. After all, she knew what had been added.

One shouldn't have felt anything-unless one had colon cancer.

Confused, she glanced at Gavin. He'd had sof the soup, too. Shouldn't he be feeling it by now? Maybe the effects just hadn't kicked in yet.

"I'm fine," she said with a forced smile. "You should have smore soup." Gavin seemed reassured and went back to his meal.

Selena's condition had worsened, though the doctors had told her that cancer patients who remained unaware of their condition often lived longer-months, even years.

It was psychological, they'd said, but in the end, it was just a temporary comfort.

Gavin continued drinking his soup, his mind elsewhere, before absentmindedly reaching for svegetables slathered in peanut sauce.

Meanwhile, Selena set her utensils down and turned to Gavin. "I'm going to propose a toast to my aunt and uncle." Selena walked over to where Keira and Lewis were sitting.

Holding up a glass of champagne, she smiled warmly. "Aunt Keera, Uncle Lewis, I know I've been a little out of line in the past. I just want to apologize and ask for your understanding. This toast is for you." She took a sip from her glass.

Keira exchanged a look with Lewis, and with a slight nod, she raised her glass and took a small sip in acknowledgment. It was more for Gavin's sake than anything else.

But Selena wasn't finished. "I know I've said sthings that upset you earlier, Aunt Keera. That wasn't my intention. I just feel like the house is so empty these days. It gotthinking. I hope you don't take it the wrong way." Keira didn't know whawt to say.

Why would she bring that up again? Keira raised an eyebrow. "And?" Selena smiled innocently. "I was just hoping you could ask Jake to stop by sometime. I'd like to talk to him and clear the air. I know there's been smisunderstandings between us, and since Jake listens to you more than anyone else, maybe you could helpmend things." On the surface, Selena's words were harmless, but they carried a hidden weight.

Keira had history with Jake, and even though both of them had moved on, the complexities of their past were something everyone in the family was aware of.

Jake had distanced himself by not moving back home, mainly to avoid any awkwardness.

So for Selena to suggest that Jake was the one who listened to Keira the most? She was clearly playing a dangerous game, indicating that "Keera" was actually Keira Keira's eyes narrowed. Was Selena trying to provoke her? If so, she was doing a damn good job. Keira placed her glass on the table with a sharp thud. "I'm sorry, but I don't know Jake that well." "How can that be?" Selena feigned surprise. "Weren't you both in the scollege? "He used to hang on your every word. If anyone could convince him, it would be you. You want our family to get along, don't you?" Keira thought, "What is this woman trying to pull?" She gave a short laugh. "What are you talking about? I grew up in Clance. How could I have gone to college with Jake?" Selena opened her mouth to say something more, but Lewis cut her off, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Selena, if you're not enjoying dinner, you can leave. No one here is stopping you." Selena froze, caught off guard by Lewis' sudden bluntness.

Across the table, Ryan and Ellie shared a glance. They didn't know about Keira and Jake's history, but they could sense the tension in the room.

Ellie, who already didn't like Selena, saw this as her just desserts. She was stirring the pot, and it seemed like Keira and Lewis were done playing nice.

But Gavin? He was completely in the dark.

Selena's eyes were already red, her head bowed, looking pitiful and like she'd been wronged. She glanced at Lewis, as if wanting to speak but not knowing what to say, and finally murmured, "Uncle Lewis, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought... since Jake and I are family, all of us are family, we shouldn't be like this, with everyone ignoring me..."

She dabbed at her tears. "I know I'm just the illegitimate child, but Dad's gone now, and Jake and I, we're still family, brother and sister by blood. I just said a few words, and if that bothered you, I won't say anything else..." Lewis looked straight at her, feeling a surge of irritation.

If it weren't for the Cobb family backing her, he'd have gotten rid of this woman a long tago.

Now, though, she was buzzing around him like a fly, and it grated on him. He cut her off, "Then just don't." Selena froze, words catching in her throat.

Gavin got to his feet, walked over to Selena, and put his arm around her, shielding her from the awkward stares. "Uncle Lewis, Aunt Keera, did Selena say something wrong? All she wants is for everyone to be on good terms. Sure, she's a child born out of wedlock, but that's not her fault. Didn't your ex-wife grow up under similar circumstances, Uncle Lewis? Are we really judging people by their origins in this day and age?" Gavin's outburst caught everyone by surprise. Keira and Lewis exchanged shocked glances, but before they could respond, Ryan spoke up, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Gavin, that's enough. This isn't the time." But Gavin wasn't having it. He shot a look at Selena, his face hardening. "Selena, we don't need to stay here if no one's willing to treat you with respect. Let's go." With that, he grabbed her hand and headed for the door, determination written all over his face.

Gavin was still loyal to his family, but he wasn't going to let Selena be humiliated like this.

As Selena allowed herself to be led out, the faintest smirk curled her lips. It was all going according to plan.

Gavin would be out of the picture soon, thanks to the poison, and once that happened, things would really start falling into place.

But just then, a sharp pain stabbed through her abdomen. Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and her smirk vanished, replaced with panic.