As Catherine spoke, she glanced hesitantly at Serena. "Serena..."
She didn't want Serena to get the wrong idea.
Serena's expression was calm. She looked over at Isabella and spoke softly, "Mom, I understand. Twenty years of history isn't something you can just erase. It's not a bond that can be severed so easily. After being humiliated like this, it's natural she might not be thinking straight. I get it."
Catherine squeezed Serena's hand, her heart aching with love for her.
Julian took a deep look at his younger sister. Seeing that she was genuinely calm and unbothered, he nodded. "I'll go check on her."
Not long after Julian left, Serena was smiling and talking with Catherine, trying to ease her mother's worries.
Suddenly, her nose twitched. She had detected an extremely faint but unusual scent in the air.
The smell was barely there.
If not for Serena's extensive experience with herbs and chemicals, she likely wouldn't have noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Her expression grew somber.
The scent... was quietly spreading.
If it reached a certain concentration, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Who would dare to pull such a stunt at a Blackwood family gala?
"Grandfather, Dad, Mom, I think I'll use the restroom."
Her expression unchanged, Serena excused herself from her family and inconspicuously slipped away from the crowd.
Her canvas bag was in the dressing room.
Inside were some basic herbs and tools she always carried, which could be used to counteract the poison being released at the party.
As Serena walked, her cool gaze swept across the room, searching for the source of the scent and any suspicious activity.
Just as she turned into the corridor leading to the dressing room, her wrist was grasped by a well-defined hand.
She looked up and met a pair of eyes as deep and dark as obsidian.
Their gazes locked.
Without a word, they both knew the other had sensed that something was wrong.
Serena lowered her voice, speaking rapidly, "Someone released a volatile toxin in the ballroom. It's a low dose, but prolonged exposure will cause hallucinations or fainting, and it could be dangerous for the elderly I'm going to the dressing room to create an antidote as quickly as possible. You find the person who did this."
"Got it." Nicholas's expression hardened. Wasting no time, he quickly pulled what looked like a small, delicate earring from his. pocket This is a
nano-communicator. Put it on so we can stay in touch."
He placed the earring on Serena's ear. “Be careful."
The brush of his fingers against her ear sent a jolt of electricity racing through her.
Serena's long, dark lashes fluttered slightly.
Once he was done, she gave a slight nod and turned toward the dressing room.
Nicholas watched until Serena's figure completely disappeared down the hall. In that instant, his gaze turned sharp and cutting.
He turned back toward the bustling ballroom.
His face expressionless, he walked back into the party and touched the receiver in his ear, his voice cold as ice Monitor everyone in this room. If you spot any suspicious
individuals, take them away quietly!"
Julian walked over to the edge of the ballroom, where Isabella was curled up on the
floor, her face streaked with tears.
Isabella was on her knees, her heart aching even more than her legs. The humiliation was more than she could bear.
The resentment and self-pity in her heart had reached a boiling point.
When she saw Julian approaching, her tears of grievance began to flow uncontrollably...