Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 62: The Poisoned Gift

Chapter 62: The Poisoned Gift

Ella’s POV:

The day had started like any other, with the faint hum of city noise outside my window and the sun peeking through half-closed blinds.

I had just returned from a long day at work, my feet sore from running errands, and my mind swimming with the whirlwind of thoughts that had become my constant companions.

Arec’s insistence on me taking a break from work, my pregnancy, the paranoia that someone was out to get me, it was all too much.

I was grateful to finally be home, in the safety of my apartment.

I was halfway through setting my bag down when the doorbell rang. It was strange; I wasn’t expecting anyone.

My heart leapt, the jolt of anxiety instantly making me alert. For a moment, I considered ignoring it, but curiosity won out. I approached the door cautiously, peeking through the peephole, expecting to see a delivery person or a neighbor.

But there was no one there.

All that greeted me was an oversized black gift box, sitting on my doorstep, gleaming under the hallway lights.

It looked expensive, with a glossy ribbon wrapped neatly around it and a hint of mystery that made me pause.

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Who would send me something like this? It wasn’t my birthday, and I hadn’t ordered anything. The first name that came to mind was Arec. He’d been sending me little gifts lately, flowers, trinkets and tokens .

Our relationship had been teetering on the line between professional and something else entirely, especially with the baby on the way. He’d been more attentive, more involved, showing up unannounced and calling at odd hours. Maybe this was another one of his attempts to surprise me.

I opened the door slowly, glancing around the hallway for any sign of who might have left it. But there was nothing. No footsteps, no shadows lingering at the far end of the corridor. Just silence. I picked up the box, surprised by its weight, and brought it inside, setting it carefully on the kitchen counter. I untied the ribbon and lifted the lid, revealing a bottle of champagne wrapped in gold foil, and a box of gourmet chocolates. The kind that looked almost too pretty to eat, each piece like a tiny work of art.

Arec’s taste, I thought immediately. Only he would send something so lavish without a note. But as I stared at the contents, my excitement faded into confusion. Champagne? Chocolates? It didn’t make sense. Arec knew I was pregnant, so why send alcohol? And I hadn’t touched sweets in weeks, not since the pregnancy had turned my appetite upside down. Even the sight of chocolate made me queasy now.

I picked up the champagne bottle, turning it over in my hands. No label I recognized, just an ornate gold script that looked foreign. A small chill ran down my spine, a whisper of doubt that I tried to shake off. I told myself I was being paranoid, but the unease wouldn’t go away.

I dialed Kate’s number, pacing my small kitchen while the phone rang. She answered on the second ring, her voice warm and cheerful as always.

"Hey, Ella! What’s up?"

"Hey," I said, forcing a smile she couldn’t see. "Are you home? I got this gift, champagne and chocolates. Figured I’d bring them over since, you know, I can’t have any of it."

"Ooh, someone’s trying to spoil you," Kate teased. "Let me guess, Arec?"

I shrugged, even though she couldn’t see me. "Maybe. But I can’t drink, and chocolates just make me nauseous these days. Do you want them?"

"Absolutely! Come on over. I was just about to binge-watch something anyway."

Kate lived just a few blocks away, so I grabbed the gift, slipped on my coat, and made the short walk to Kate’s apartment. The air outside was crisp, the kind of cold that makes you pull your collar tighter and walk a little faster. I kept glancing over my shoulder, a habit that had become second nature lately.

Kate greeted me with a wide grin when she opened the door, her hair pulled back in a messy bun and her apartment filled with the cozy scent of vanilla candles. She ushered me in, and I placed the champagne and chocolates on her small dining table.

"Wow, he’s pulling out all the stops," Kate said, her eyes gleaming as she opened the box of chocolates. She picked up a truffle, turning it over in her fingers. "These look too good to eat. You sure you don’t want one?"

I shook my head, suppressing a wave of nausea. "I’m sure. Enjoy them for me

Kate took a bite of the chocolate, her eyes closing in delight. "Oh my God, these are amazing," she mumbled, savoring the rich, dark flavor. She reached for another, completely absorbed in the sweet escape they offered.

We chatted for a while, catching up on work gossip and the latest drama with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. She offered me a glass of sparkling water, and we throw jokes around, lightening the mood.

But as the minutes ticked by, Kate’s expression began to change. She winced, her hand pressing against her stomach as if trying to soothe an invisible ache.

"Kate? You okay?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.

Kate’s face was pale, her cheerful demeanor fading into something strained. "I don’t know. My stomach feels...off," she said, her voice weaker than before. She tried to stand, but stumbled, grabbing the edge of the table for support.

Panic surged through me as I watched her, my heart pounding. This wasn’t right. Kate was always so full of energy, so resilient. Seeing her this way, sent a jolt of fear straight through me.

"Kate?" I rushed to her side, my hands shaking as I steadied her. She was sweating now, beads of moisture forming on her forehead. Her breathing grew labored, each breath a struggle.

"I think I need to lie down," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She slumped back into the chair, her eyes unfocused. I felt helpless, my mind racing as I tried to figure out what to do. I fumbled for my phone and dialed 911, my hands trembling so much I almost dropped it.

"I need an ambulance," I said to the operator, my voice frantic. "My friend, she’s really sick. She ate something, and now she can’t...she can’t breathe right."

The minutes that followed felt like hours. Kate’s condition worsened, her skin clammy, and she clutched her stomach in pain. I hovered nearby, afraid to leave her side, watching as the color drained from her face. When the paramedics finally arrived, they moved with brisk efficiency, lifting her onto a stretcher and rushing her to the hospital. I followed closely behind, my thoughts a chaotic swirl of fear and guilt.

At the hospital, Kate was taken straight into the emergency room, leaving me in the waiting area with nothing but my own frantic thoughts. I paced the room, replaying the evening over and over. The chocolates, the champagne, the way Kate had doubled over in pain, it all pointed to something sinister, something deliberate.

A doctor emerged after what felt like an eternity. His expression was grave, and I braced myself for the worst. "Your friend ingested a toxic substance," he said, his voice calm but serious. "We found traces of poison in the chocolates she consumed. She’s stable for now, but it was a close call."

Poison. The word hit me like a punch to the gut. My legs went weak, and I had to grip the back of a chair to steady myself. The gift, what I thought was a harmless, if thoughtless, gesture, had been a weapon. Whoever sent it hadn’t intended for Kate to be the one lying in a hospital bed. That spot was meant for me.

"Oh my God," I whispered, my voice cracking. Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. "That was meant for me,"

Arec arrived soon after, his face a mix of fear and anger. He took one look at my pale, tear-streaked face and pulled me into a tight embrace. For a moment, I let myself sink into it, the warmth and security of his arms a brief comfort.

"What exactly happened?" he demanded, his voice a growl.

I tried to explain, but my words came out broken and frantic. "The gift...it was chocolates. I thought they were from you. Kate ate them, and now she’s...Arec, they were poisoned."

Arec’s expression hardened, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle twitch. He pulled away, pacing the hallway like a caged animal. I could feel the fury radiating off him in waves. "It’s now obvious, that someone wants you dead," he said, his voice laced with a dangerous calm. "And they nearly got your friend instead."

I nodded, guilt and fear twisting in my gut. "I didn’t mean for this to happen. I never thought..."

"This isn’t your fault," he cut in sharply. "The blame lies with whoever sent that box, not you. But I’m not letting this slide. Whoever did this is going to pay."