Ms. Escape: Marrying to Run, Fighting to Rise Novel

Eva reached into her pocket and pulled out a small brown bottle . Adriana's blood turned cold . Eva opened it carefully , poured a single pill into her palm , and crushed it against the counter with the back of a spoon . Then she sprinkled the powder into one of the dishes . Adriana's breath caught . She zoomed in , but the camera couldn't pick up the label . A sharp pain pulsed behind her temples . Her hand trembled as she rubbed at her forehead . Now she understood what Belinda had been trying to tell her . Eva wasn't acting on her own .

Someone was pulling her strings . Someone powerful . It had to be Harold . But why would he want to hurt her ? Why destroy the baby when he had once wanted nothing more than for Curtis to have an heir ? A moment later , Eva walked out of the kitchen with her usual bright smile . " Dinner's ready , " she said warmly . " Come on , let's eat ." Adriana smiled back as if nothing was wrong . " Sure . Let's eat together . " Adriana barely ate . She pushed her food around and lifted her glass , sipping water to calm the tightness in her throat . Her eyes stayed on Eva .

Eva used her fork to take a bite from the same dish she'd tampered with earlier . So whatever she'd added wasn't something that killed fast . " Come on , eat a little more , " Eva said , smiling as she picked up another piece and placed it on Adriana's plate . Adriana nodded , forcing herself to chew a few bites . When Eva turned away to grab something from the kitchen , Adriana moved fast . She scooped some of the food and sauce into a few small plastic bags she had tucked inside her purse . She sealed them tight and slipped them into her bag .

" I don't really feel like eating ," she said with a soft smile . " I have a lesson with my instructor later , so I'll get going ." Eva blinked . " You're leaving already ? You barely touched anything . " Adriana grabbed her purse and stood up . Once she stepped outside , she climbed into her car and pulled out her phone . " Officer Richardson , " she said , her voice steady but low . " I need a favor . " Westshore Café . Joe was sitting by the window , already waving when she walked in . " Hey , you're looking better ," he said with an easy smile .

" Curtis came to see me about that whole mess with Belinda and Cynthia a while back . Belinda's case was simple enough , but Cynthia's a different story . She's got mental issues , just like that woman from the hospital who tried to hurt you . The psych evaluation didn't clear , so they had to send her to a hospital . " 2/3 10:24 Mon , Jan 12 0 Adriana gave a small smile . " I heard Cynthia was sent to a psychiatric facility in Harborton .

At least she can't hurt anyone else now . " Then she opened her purse and took out the bagged food samples . " I saw something on my home security feed today, " she said quietly . " Our housekeeper put something in my food . I need you to test it and tell me what it is . " Joe's eyes went wide as she handed over the samples and showed him the video . " You're not reporting this ? " he asked , his voice sharp . And he thought Adriana would live a good life after she married Curtis . Man , the rich can be really bad for people who want peaceful lives . Poisoning and assassination .

What is this , some thriller ? I'd rather live a peaceful life . " My marriage with Curtis has to keep going . If one Eva's gone , another one will show up . I need to know who's behind this and what they're really after . " If it turned out Harold had ordered Eva to do it , Adriana refused to let Curtis find out . It would only mess with his mind and throw him off his work . It would also tear apart his relationship with Harold right when he needed him most .

If they ended up on opposite sides , then once Michael brought that boy back into the Lincolns , Curtis would be the one getting crushed . Adriana knew all of that , which was why she stayed silent . " Joe , I don't want this getting out , " she said quietly . 274 AdminJ