Chapter 212: Poison in Disguise

Owen understood the implication in Yunice’s words all too well. Afraid she might expose the identity swap between her and Elsie in front of everyone, he took two steps forward, trying to drag Yunice away.

“Are you having another episode? Come on, come back with me; I’ll give you your medicine.”

Yunice pondered. Trying to say I am mentally ill again? That everything I said was nonsense?

Yunice shook off Owen’s hand and said loudly, “So eager to get rid of me—what, Mr. Owen, are you hoping Mr. Jackson dies from poison?”

With a sharp sound, Jackson set his teacup down, eyes dark as he glared at Yunice. Bringing up death at a birthday banquet—was she tired of living?

Owen stared at her, eyes wide and throat dry. “You really must be losing it.”

Yunice didn’t flinch. “Go ahead and eat that ginseng. One bite, and you’ll never say another word.”

Jackson, always suspicious by nature, was furious at first—but now he was curious. What was wrong with the ginseng?

Linda asked, “Is there something wrong with it?”

“There’s a big problem,” Yunice replied, then turned to Elsie. “Was it Paul who told you that Mr. Jackson’s been unwell lately?”

Elsie didn’t know what Yunice was getting at, but she wasn’t going to miss a chance to make herself look good. “Yes. Paul and I grew up together; he tells me everything. Not long ago, he confided in me—he said he was worried about Mr. Jackson’s health. So I traveled far and wide to find this century-old ginseng deep in the mountains myself.”

With every word Elsie spoke, Taylor’s expression darkened. Elsie played up the childhood bond between her and Paul like they were soulmates, making Taylor look like the third wheel.

Carl and Freya watched the drama unfold from a distance.

Freya scoffed. “That shameless white lotus. She’s trampling all over the legitimate fiancée and flaunting her affair like it’s a badge of honor.”

Yunice didn’t notice Carl watching. She’d led Elsie into her trap, and now she was calmly reeling her in.

“So Paul must’ve told you that Mr. Jackson is currently taking Veratrum. Which means you intentionally brought him ginseng, a known contradiction. You wanted to poison him, didn’t you?”

Chapter 212: Porsc

Elsie froze, instinctively protesting. “Sis, what are you talking about? Why would I ever want to poison Mr. Jackson?”

Yunice smiled. “Because he’s in your way. That’s why you want him gone.”

Others might not understand, but the Powell family knew exactly what she meant. Elsie had been using every trick in the book to claw her way into the family. There was no doubt she resented Jackson for standing in her way.

Jackson had never liked Elsie; now his face turned even grimmer.

Elsie’s mouth hung open in shock, eyes welling with tears. She cried out, pained, “Yunice, why are you accusing me like this?”

Owen jumped in to defend her, convinced Yunice was just stirring up trouble. “Elsie did all this out of kindness, and now you’re twisting it into something vile? Apologize to her right now, and I’ll let this go.”

“Mr. Owen,” Yunice said coolly, “you and she are both in the medical field. You know drug interactions better than I do. Are you part of this silent assassination too?”

Taylor chimed in, “Exactly. You’re both medical professionals. Your sister knows Mr. Jackson’s condition inside and out. Yet you still brought him a contradicting remedy. That’s not just careless—it’s malicious.”

Owen snapped, “Do you think century-old ginseng is easy to come by? Elsie meant well. So what if she made a mistake?”

Elsie started crying too. “I never wanted to hurt anyone. All I ever wanted was just a little respect. Is that so wrong?”

Hearing that made Owen’s heart ache. To him, Elsie was the real victim. He didn’t understand why everyone was always targeting her. She was only fighting for what she deserved!

Owen, full of righteous anger, declared, “If you all can’t appreciate it, then we won’t gift the ginseng at all!”

Yunice’s delicate hand landed on the ginseng gift box before Owen could take it back. She sneered, “Is it yours to take?”

Shamed in front of everyone, Owen’s face flushed crimson.

Yunice ignored him. Instead, she turned to Elsie, her smile full of ill intent. “You take it.”

Elsie, proud and stubborn, stepped forward with her chin raised, reaching out. Yunice smiled and pulled the box back on purpose.

Was it just so you could steal my ginseng? If you wanted it, you could’ve just said so—I would’ve given it to you.

Yunice raised an eyebrow. “Is it yours to give?”

Elsie frowned, voice shaking but still defiant. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Yunice’s tone was light, but the words cut deep. “You said you bought this ginseng from deep in the mountains? Never passed through a supplier?”

Elsie’s voice turned icy. “What are you getting at?”