?Chapter 175:


    “Miss Jones, I take it that you’ve noticed something is wrong with me? Do you have any experience with medicine?” Leona asked quietly.


    “Absolutely. A veterinarian is just as much a doctor as anyone else,” Christina said, a softugh slipping from her lips.


    Leona smiled, thinking Christina was merely joking. “You certainly have a sense of humor.”


    “I’m not kidding—I practice veterinary medicine, and I have the license to prove it,” Christina replied, her expression turning solemn as her smile faded.


    A flicker of awkwardness crossed Leona’s face, but she didn’t think Christina was ying her. After a moment’s hesitation, she sincerely asked, “Miss Jones, have you sensed something? I trust your judgment.”


    “Make an appointment at the hospital for a full examination—and be mindful of everything you eat and drink,” Christina replied, her words measured yet straightforward.


    Christina had picked up on a faint trace of poison clinging to Leona, a hidden odor that no one else seemed to notice. Had Leona not stood so near, even Christina might have missed it, which meant the poisoning hadn’t reached a dangerous stage yet.


    Christina understood medicine and toxins equally well, fully aware that with the right skill and dosage, a substance could heal just as easily as it could cause harm.


    Leona initially assumed Christina was simply worried about routine health concerns. The mention of being careful with food and drink, however, jolted her. Eyes wide, she struggled to process the grave danger. A terrible suspicion crept in. Was someone targeting her? Her voice unsteady, Leona sought a clear answer. “Are you suggesting…?”


    “Yes. Get screened for toxins and be wary of those around you,” Christina leaned in close and whispered. Whoever was slipping poison to Leona had to be someone she counted onpletely. When it came to the culprit’s identity, that was a mystery only Leona could solve.


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    Christina knew her responsibility ended with the warning. She wasn’t about to involve herself in Leona’s family matters. If Leonacked the resolve to handle it, it wasn’t her concern.


    Love, after all, could make even the sharpest woman blind to danger, regardless of age. Some women managed to save themselves from their troubles. Others waded in willingly, or chose to remain lost in denial.


    Leona’s color drained, her fists curling slowly as dread settled over her. Could it be the person she suspected? After enduring for years, this was what she got?


    Steely resolve glimmered in Leona’s eyes, even as heartbreak lingered beneath the surface. Refusing to endure any more betrayal, she made up her mind to fight for herself atst.


    Years of surviving as Clifford’s wife had taught her more than enough strategy. Compassion had always been her weakness, leaving her unable to act with the necessary ruthlessness. Countless sacrifices from her family had kept her husband’s name afloat when everything else had failed. Now that kindness had been repaid with cruelty, she saw no reason to continue being the bigger person.


    “I understand, Miss Jones. Thank you. I owe you a debt of gratitude,” Leona said, a sense of calm washing over her.


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