781 Chapter 780
Selena felt a sudden chill, and a strong metallic taste rose to her throat.
She forced down the nausea and held onto Gavin for support.
Gavin steadied her, but then he blinked in confusion, feeling dizzy himself.
He looked ahead, and in the next moment, he threw up.
Gavin turned back toward the table and saw the culpritâthere was a dish with peanut sauce, and in his distracted state, he had eaten it.
He let out a frustrated chuckle.
What was wrong with him today?
He was allergic to peanuts, yet somehow, heâd let his guard down and eaten some.
It must have been because he was so angry at how the Horton and Olsen families were treating Selena.
Gavin understood that Selena had started the argument, and yes, he knew Kate and James werenât the sharpest tools in the shed, but he also sympathized with Selena.
To him, her motherâs affair was only her motherâs fault.
Selena was an illegitimate daughter, but she didnât do anything wrong.
And Selena had always been so gentle and loving toward him. He didnât think his family should be this hostile toward her.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Gavinâs throat tightened like something was stuck in it.
He coughed violently, his face turning red. Trembling, he fumbled for his allergy medication and was about to take it when Selena lunged at him. âGavin! Gavin! Whatâs happening to you?â Selena cried, her voice panicked.
Ellie and Ryan quickly rushed over.
âGavin, are you okay?â Ellie asked, her concern genuine as she grabbed his other arm to steady him.
Despite feeling terrible herself, Selena focused entirely on Gavin, ignoring her own discomfort.
Gavin tried to shake his head, but no words came out.
Tears welled up in Selenaâs eyes as she wailed, âGavin, whatâs wrong? Donât leave me!â
Ellie shot back, âWould you quit it? Stop acting like heâs dying! Gavinâs going to be fine!â
Selena sobbed, âI want him to be okay too, but he started feeling like this after he had the soup. Is there something in it?â
Ellie froze for a moment, unsure.
Ryan, on the other hand, knew about Gavinâs allergy, so he quickly went to the table, grabbed the bowl of soup, and tasted it.
He didnât notice anything offâŠ
Erin, who had been munching on her steak the entire time, overheard the conversation and instinctively took a sip of the soup. Immediately, she spit it back into the bowl. âThis soup has cassia powder in it.â
Keira raised an eyebrow, casting a suspicious glance at Selena.
She knew what cassia powder was, but most people here wouldnât.
Like James, who asked, âWhatâs that? Is it poison? I had some of that soup too! Am I gonna die?â
Without missing a beat, Kate picked up her own bowl of soup and started chugging it down.
James freaked out, grabbing her arm, âKate, what are you doing?!â
Her face was dead serious. âIâm dying with you!â
James, with tears brimming in his eyes, gasped, âKate, youâre so stupid, but I love you!â
Kate said, âYouâre so annoying, but weâre meant to be together. We got engaged in the Freeman Sect!â
Touched, James held her hands. âKateâŠâ
Kateâs expression softened as she locked eyes with him. âJamesâŠâ
The two gazed at each other with such intensity that Keira had to bite her lip to stifle a laugh, but Erin couldnât hold it in. Rolling her eyes, she was about to say something sarcastic when Charles gently nudged her arm. She swallowed her words.
She couldnât snap at Jamesâhe was her future brother-in-law after all.
As she rolled her eyes again, Erin muttered under her breath about how idiotic James and Kate were acting, then explained, âRelax, you two arenât gonna die.â
âHuh?â they both said in unison, turning to face her.
âWhy not?â
Erin stared up at the ceiling. âCassia powderâs not lethal to normal people. Itâll just mess up your stomach for a few days. Youâll be fine after you eat some bland food for a while.â
Immediately, James and Kate lit up. âWeâre not dying!â
Erin smirked.
But Kate, still serious, pointed at Gavin, who was struggling with his symptoms. âThen whatâs wrong with him? He looks like heâs dying.â
Ryan sighed, about to explain that Gavin was allergic to peanuts and had just eaten some peanut sauce by accident. He had taken his medication and would be okay in a bit.
But before he could get the words out, Selena screamed, âItâs because Gavin has cancer! He has colon cancer, and whateverâs in that soup is deadly for him!â
Selenaâs voice cracked as she whirled around to face Keira. âAunt Keera, I know you hate me, but how could you do this to Gavin?!â