Indeed, this is the moment she’ll exact vengeance on her spouse. A week ago, she overheard his conversation with his mistress, and that’s when her plan took shape…

Rest is important too. Kevin gently stroked her head and appeared to be a caring husband. In the past, Miranda would have believed him, but not now, not after hearing so much.

I should probably go, the man coughed tactfully. Yes, yes, let me see you out, Kevin replied. They whispered something to each other in the hallway.

Miranda only caught the words, ten drops. She shuddered. Her husband was deliberately trying to destroy her, but now she was aware of everything that was happening, and it was unlikely to go as he intended.

Kevin returned, sat next to Miranda, and embraced her, looking tenderly into her eyes. Sweetheart, would you like me to bring you some tea? He offered. Sure, agreed Miranda.

But let’s go to the kitchen. In the kitchen, she realized that Kevin was trying to distract her so she wouldn’t see him brewing the tea. He immediately sent her to the bathroom to wash up after her nap.

Miranda might not have paid much attention to it before, she was planning to do it anyway. But this time she knew that her husband was trying to get her out of the kitchen for a reason. Inside her, a storm raged, he believed that his wife was sleeping all the time because of those drops, and he continued his dark deeds.

But she also knew what to do. Oh, tea. Miranda smiled as she entered the kitchen and saw the table set.

Darling, I’m sorry I didn’t prepare anything today. Oh. It’s nothing, Kevin smiled.

I made some sandwiches, candies, and fruits. It’s enough for us. Okay, nodded Miranda, and then pretended to remember something.

Darling, can you bring me the phone from the living room? Are you expecting a call, he raised his eyebrows in surprise. Yes. Andrea might call, Miranda quickly came up with an excuse.

Kevin shrugged and went to fetch the phone, while Miranda took the opportunity to switch the cups. Let him drink his own filth. He clearly added those 10 drops, she thought.

Kevin returned with her phone, and they had tea and chatted about trivial matters. Oh, how much Miranda wanted to confront him, to tell him everything she knew about him and what she suspected, but she held back. She had a different goal in mind.

Darling, do you still love me, she suddenly asked casually. Of course, Kevin even choked on his tea. Darling, you’re more precious to me than anyone in the world.

Why do you ask? Just wanted to hear your declaration of love one more time, Miranda smiled. Then she headed to the bathroom. She had already turned on the water when she heard her husband’s phone ring.

Miranda leaned against the door. It’s all fine, she heard him say. Don’t call right now, she’s starting to suspect something.

Maybe it’s the effects of the medicine. That’s it. Goodbye, love you.

Is he talking to Andrea? Miranda seethed with anger, but she managed to control her emotions. She climbed into the bathroom and lay there for a long time, contemplating what to do next. The next step was to find that damn medication.

Whether it really worked that way or Kevin was tired, when Miranda came out of the bathroom, he was peacefully sleeping on their bed in the bedroom. Making sure he was in a deep sleep, she meticulously began searching his briefcase, then his belongings. In the jacket pocket, she felt a small vial.

It was the mysterious medication that her husband had been poisoning her with for S.C. Vivian days. Today he tried it himself, Miranda smiled maliciously at her thoughts. The vial had no label.

At first, she thought of simply pouring the contents down the sink, but then she changed her mind. Carefully, she transferred the contents into an old contact lens container, rinsed the vial, and filled it with clean water. Now let him pour even 100 drops, Miranda whispered and put the vial back in the jacket pocket.

She then hid the container with the medication far away in a sideboard, along with the dictaphone. They were evidence of her husband’s schemes. Miranda hadn’t decided how she would use them yet, but time would tell.

Now in the mornings, she drank her tea calmly, even when Kevin poured it for her. Yes, he watched her well-being attentively, but nothing happened. Miranda was calm and lively.

She could see a certain unease in her husband’s eyes, and she even found amusement in it. At some point, she decided to play along. One day, a cup slipped from her hands and fell, shattering into pieces.

You fool, chicken! Damn you, she suddenly shouted, picked up a shard of the cup, and threw it on the floor again. The tiny fragments scattered. Kevin was clearly taken aback by such behavior, but at the same time, Miranda couldn’t miss how he suddenly perked up.

Darling, it’s just a cup. What’s gotten into you?, he asked in surprise. That’s precisely it, just a cup.

Miranda exclaimed. I’m fed up with everything. All this crockery, you wash it, you scrub it, and then it breaks into pieces.

Ungrateful. Who, the cup? Kevin scoffed. Yes.

And why are you laughing? Miranda cried out with anger. Oh, darling, what’s gotten into you? I’m just asking. Calm down.

If you want, break something else. I have to go to the office now, he said, planting a kiss on her cheek and quickly rushing out of the apartment. He’s rejoicing, Miranda noted to herself.

He thinks his potion is finally starting to take effect on her. Yeah, right. But just to make sure her husband was convinced of his rightness, she threw a couple of plates on the floor, she felt sorry for them, but what could she do? Once she started playing the role, she would play it until the end.

By lunchtime, the doorbell rang. Ms. Caroline stood at the doorstep. Hello? Dear mother-in-law entered the apartment, briefly glanced at the kitchen.

Miranda had already cleaned up the shards, and everything was in perfect order. Her mother-in-law raised her eyebrows in surprise, but remained silent. It seemed that her daughter-in-law looked normal, yet her son had been insisting for a week now that something was off with Miranda.

Today she had been breaking dishes in the morning, not taking care of anything. But from the first glance, everything seemed fine. I decided to drop by for a visit, she said, taking off her coat in the hallway.

And rightly so, Miranda smiled. I thought of baking an apple pie, just the way Kevin likes it. That’s good, Ms. Caroline looked closely at her daughter-in-law.

Miranda, is everything okay, between you and Kevin? Yes, Miranda replied without blinking an eye. Why do you ask? Well, he’s been acting somewhat different lately, thoughtful. I can’t understand it.

Maybe work is stressing him out, Miranda shrugged. Things at the office are always a mess, thank God I left. In a family, someone has to be level-headed.

Yeah, you’re right. You did the right thing by leaving. Someone has to be sane in the family.

The women laughed together, then they baked the pie, chatted, and had tea. Yes, their relationship had always been strained, but on this day, they conversed so pleasantly. Miranda sensed something fishy but couldn’t figure it out.

Could Ms. Caroline be involved in all these potion affairs? No, it didn’t seem likely. Could she stoop to committing a crime, considering her past as a judge? And what about the accusation that Kevin was cheating with her best friend? No, Miranda couldn’t believe such a thing was possible. Ms. Caroline, though a stranger, wasn’t malicious.

And Kevin? He was the closest to her, and his blow had hurt so much that it would’ve been unbearable even for an enemy. But Miranda had to endure the blow, it wasn’t time yet to reveal all her cards. Miranda, what are you thinking about? Her mother-in-law noticed her gaze fixed on one spot.

Oh, just trivial things, Miranda waved it off. I should start preparing dinner for Kevin soon. Right, it’s already 5 o’clock.

We’ve been sitting here for so long. Well, I’ll go, her mother-in-law left, in complete bewilderment. What was all this about her son complaining yesterday that Miranda seemed off? She seemed perfectly normal.

That evening, Miranda faced another test. Kevin came home at 8 o’clock in the evening. He kissed his wife, looked at her attentively, and asked about her well-being.

Miranda was so repulsed by his presence that it was hard to contain herself. It was difficult to communicate with someone every day, knowing they wished you harm, and to smile at them. I have a headache, Miranda complained.

I’m going to bed. Dinner is on the stove. Okay, Kevin agreed somewhat contentedly…