A silent understanding passed between them, and they both shared a knowing smile, their minds already at work.

Back at the table, Katelyn sat down again, chatting with Ryanna casually, though her eyes kept drifting toward Amy.

Amy had been sitting at the edge of the group, mostly silent and somewhat apart from the rest. She had kept mostly to herself, letting the conversation swirl around her without engaging much.

Still, she seemed unbothered by it all. Instead, she sipped her drink, eyes glued to her phone, chatting with someone as her laughter bubbled up, infectious and carefree.

At that moment, Fiona appeared with two glasses of wine in hand, her smile wide as she approached Katelyn.

“Miss Bailey, I truly owe you an apology for my brother’s actions. Please, accept this drink as a gesture of my sincerity.”

Fiona set one glass in front of Katelyn.

Katelyn’s gaze briefly lingered on the glass as all eyes turned to watch them.

However, she stayed silent. Amy’s words echoed in her mind—she’d been warned to keep her distance from these people. Until she understood the situation with the Ruiz family, caution was key.

Finally, Katelyn picked up the glass and met Fiona’s gaze.

“Alright.”

Katelyn gently clinked glasses with Fiona, the clear, pleasant ring of the glass suggesting they were of high quality.

She brought the glass to her lips, the delicate aroma of the wine immediately catching her senses. The fragrance was sweet, almost intoxicating in its subtlety—an effect that surprised her. Clearly, the wine Fiona had chosen was of excellent quality.

She took a small sip, a hint of a smile crossing her face.

“Not bad at all.”

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Fiona’s smile widened, clearly pleased with the reaction.

“Well, if it’s an apology, I must offer it with genuine intent.”

There was an unexpected warmth in Fiona’s manner, an openness that stood in stark contrast to the earlier coldness she’d displayed. Even Annie, who had been watching closely, couldn’t hide her discomfort. Her brows furrowed, a subtle expression of disapproval.

It seemed like this Fiona knew exactly how to play her cards. Was she attempting to charm Katelyn now? Annie couldn’t help but wonder—what was the real motive behind flattering someone like Katelyn?

Annie couldn’t help but resent Fiona’s behavior. However, with so many people around, she kept quiet, not wanting to stir up trouble. A confrontation would only give Katelyn more reasons to laugh at them.

Meanwhile, Ryanna stayed silent, sipping her drink with effortless elegance.

Then, suddenly, Katelyn froze. Her instincts were on high alert—something was wrong.

Something felt distinctly wrong.

Katelyn sensed that something was definitely wrong with the wine. Though only a faint dizziness crept over her, it was far from the usual buzz of alcohol. Even under normal circumstances, intoxication would never hit her this fast.

What was going on?

She had sniffed the wine before drinking and hadn’t detected any trace of drugs, yet the effects felt unnatural.

.

.

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