Husband Made Me Poison Wine; I Invited His Family

I called my assistant. "Get in touch with the organizers of the Ashford City art exhibition. Whatever it costs, secure a booth for my husband." "Chairwoman Mason, your husband's work does have a certain level to it, but this is a world-class masters' exhibition. That may be difficult." David liked to paint, but his skill was only average. My assistant had put it politely. Still, I had to get him out of the way. "Throw money at it. Have the organizers call him directly. Don't let on that I'm behind it. And I want a result as fast as possible." About two hours later, David came bounding into the room, thrilled. "Honey, the Ashford City exhibition called me. They've reserved a booth and asked me to bring my work over." "Come help me pack." I got up quietly and packed his luggage, sorting out those paintings of his. When I finished, I noticed him staring at the jar of liquor. "Is it that fascinating? You've been looking at it for over ten minutes." "I just feel happy." David came over and wrapped his arms around me. "I got the medicinal liquor from that miracle doctor, so your illness can be cured now, and my work's been recognized by the Ashford City exhibition." "Two blessings at once." I pushed him off. "All right, I know how impressive you are. Everything's packed. Have a safe trip." "The exhibition doesn't start until the day after tomorrow. You're not feeling well, so I'll stay with you tonight." Did he need to watch me drink the liquor before he could leave? I didn't want to look too eager, so I forced myself to hold back for now. That night I lay in bed, unable to sleep, terrified of what the night might bring. Late into the night, I heard movement. David took his phone and crept out of the bedroom. When I heard the bathroom door click shut, I couldn't help my curiosity and padded barefoot to stand outside it. "The Ashford City exhibition called me today and reserved me a booth. I know Maureen arranged it. She must feel guilty for refusing to lend the money and wants to make it up to me." "Don't worry, I won't go soft over something like this. No matter how good she is to me, I'll never love her. You're the only one in my heart." "I promised you a birthday gift, and I won't break my word. Three to five days at most, and I'll have her dead. Her death is how I'll prove my love for you." "Mwah. I miss you too." I couldn't hear the voice on the phone, but I could hear every word David said. I'd thought he wanted me dead because I wouldn't lend money to his sister's family, thought his whole family just wanted to bleed me dry. I never imagined he was cheating too. That night was almost more than I could bear. Early the next morning I pretended to be cheerful as I saw him off, wishing him a safe trip. The moment he left, I pulled strings to trace where that call of his had gone last night. When the results came back, I understood everything. It seemed this poisoned banquet would need one more guest.

Before the plan could go forward, there were a few things I still had to arrange, so nothing could go wrong. The day David left, I placed a video call to him. Before I connected, I set the jar of liquor on the table in front of me. "Honey, is this liquor really as good as you say?" "Of course. I had to beg an old master healer just to get it." "How much did it cost?" "Don't worry about the money, sweetheart. For you, I'd spend everything I have." "You're so good to me." I ran my hand along the jar. "If only you'd told me you were bringing this home. I took some antibiotics, so I can't touch alcohol for another couple of days." I leaned over the mouth of the jar and sniffed. "The smell is pretty strong, though. You're sure it hasn't gone bad?" David laughed. "How could it? That's the healer's own secret recipe. A strong smell is normal." David and I talked for a long time. I even brought up the past, testing whether any conscience was left in him to stir. He always found the right angle to slip back in, reminding me to drink the medicinal liquor he'd prepared. After we hung up, I set the jar in the liquor cabinet. I studied it for a long while, and only once I was certain the placement was perfect did I start reaching out to David's family, inviting them over by video call. "Mom, Dad, I'm really sorry about the other day. I've been thinking, and I feel we should sit down and talk this through." After inviting David's parents, I video-called his sister. "Arlene Armstrong, I wasn't feeling well the other day, so I didn't really hear you out about your business idea. Come over to the house today and let's talk about it face to face." Once I'd told Arlene, I contacted the most special guest of all. Ruth Welch. Arlene's own sister-in-law. The younger sister of Arlene's husband, and the woman David called his beloved. "Ruth, my husband mentions you all the time. He says you love painting too. Your brother is married to David's sister, so we're practically family." "I hear your brother wants to go into business with you. Come over to my place and we'll talk it over together." Once I'd told everyone, I looked at that jar of liquor.

In under an hour, David's father and mother, his sister, her husband Joshua Welch, and Ruth had all arrived. I was busy getting the food ready while they were already seated. "Go pick out a good bottle for Dad," his sister ordered. Joshua went straight to the liquor cabinet to choose one. "You can drink anything else, just leave that jar alone." I stepped out and pointed at the jar of medicinal liquor. Ruth looked at David's sister. "When I'm at your place, I eat and drink whatever I want. How is it that at your sister-in-law's, there's liquor we're not allowed to touch?" His sister shot me a glance. "One lousy jar of liquor and we can't drink it? What kind of sister-in-law are you?" "What, isn't Dad good enough for the good stuff?" she added. David's father's face darkened too. He looked at me. "How much is it? We'll pay to drink it." "Dad, it's not about money." I spoke up quickly. "It's medicinal liquor. David went out of his way to get it for me from a renowned doctor." "If we can't drink it, we can't drink it. Why make up reasons?" his sister said, snide. "Really, it's not that you can't. David prepared it for me. It can treat my illness." "A whole jar this size, are your dad and Joshua really going to finish it?" David's mother glared at me. "You had us come over to talk. Do you actually want to talk, or do you want to embarrass us?" "Besides, David prepared it. What right do you have to say we can't drink it?" "Mom, I really wasn't saying Dad and Joshua can't drink. Look, I've got whiskey, everything, they can drink all they want." "The thing is, this medicinal liquor is for treating illness. Dad and Joshua are perfectly healthy. There's no need for them to have it." "What do you mean, no need?" His sister stood up. "If you're sick it cures you, if you're not it strengthens you. My husband's drinking from this jar. Everyone should try it." "David said he went to a lot of trouble to get this medicinal liquor for me, you... you..." His sister's expression went cold. "My brother got it. That means I have to try it." Joshua had already hauled the jar onto the table. "I haven't even had any yet. Go easy on it." I gave the helpless reminder and turned back to the kitchen. Joshua had already poured a glass for everyone. "Why is the smell of this so strong?" David's father frowned. "Dad, if you can't stand the taste, then don't drink it." I poked my head out from the kitchen to remind him. "Dad, it's medicinal liquor. It's got to be full of herbs. A strong smell is normal." Joshua spoke up and took the first sip. Seeing that, David's father hurried to take a big gulp too. His sister and the others raised their glasses one after another. I watched all of it in silence. Ever since my parents passed, they'd shown me less and less respect. Before, whenever I came home with David, his parents would always make me cook. When they came to my place, they wouldn't even let the housekeeper cook. It had to be me making the food for them. And while I cooked, they never waited. By the time I sat down, the table was basically a mess of empty dishes. That was exactly what made today's plan work. The more I told them not to touch something, the more eagerly they went for it. The whole family sat gathered together, drinking freely from big glasses. Watching them all drink the medicinal liquor, I placed a video call to David. I wanted him to see with his own eyes: his family, cheerfully drinking down the poisoned liquor he had prepared.