Chapter 7
It had been ten days since the clinic incident. Lady Eleanor insisted Avery come to the main house for tea. It was the only reason Julian unlocked the door.
But before they left, he stood in the doorway of her bathroom, watching her.
"Take your medicine," he ordered.
On the counter was a cup of the dark herbal brew. The same smell as Scarlett's soup.
"The doctor prescribed it," Julian said. "For your hysteria."
Avery picked up the cup. She walked into the toilet stall and closed the door. She poured the liquid into the bowl and flushed.
She counted to ten. Then she walked out.
Julian was waiting. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her close. He sniffed her breath.
"You didn't drink it," he said softly. Dangerously.
"I did."
He pushed past her. He looked into the toilet bowl. There was a faint brown ring near the rim where the water hadn't quite washed it away.
He turned back to her, his face contorted with rage. "You are defying me at every turn. Why? What are you hiding?"
"I'm not hiding anything!" Avery yelled back. "I'm protecting myself from your 'care'!"
A young maid appeared at the door, looking terrified.
"Sir?" she squeaked.
"Get out!" Julian roared.
"I... I found this, sir," the maid stammered. She held out a plastic bag. "I was vacuuming the study rug, near the shredder. This... this ball of paper was kicked under the desk."
Julian froze. He took the bag.
It was a crumpled ball of paper. Avery must have missed the shredder slot in her haste, or perhaps it had jammed and fallen.
He smoothed it out. It was wrinkled, torn in places, but legible.
The date. October 14th.
That was two weeks ago.
He looked at Avery. The blood drained from her face.
"You knew," Julian said. His voice was barely a whisper. "You knew two weeks ago."
Avery backed up until her hips hit the sink. "Julian..."
"You knew, and you didn't tell me." He stepped closer. "Is that why you won't let the doctors near you? Because there's nothing left to find? Did you handle it yourself during those two weeks?"
Avery stayed silent.
"Answer me!" he screamed, shattering a perfume bottle against the wall.
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