(BRENDA'S POV)
I froze to the spot at the incident that just unfolded in front of me. I was horrified, I have never seen a thing like this. And when my brain could finally function, I let out a high pitched scream. I rushed to her side. "Help! Oh my God, someone help!"
Skyline assisted me in lifting her face from the coleslaw, and we both screamed for help. The domestic staff all gathered, keeping their distances.
Luckily, Desmond came running downstairs followed by Harriet. "What's happening?" he yelled.
"Call the doctor!" I shouted.
He didn't argue, but quickly pulled out his phone and dialed the family doctor's number. And while at it, Skyline and I cleaned the coleslaw off my mother-in-law's face.
The house was thrown into rancour. Everyone was in a panic until the doctor arrived.
"Please, transfer her to her room," he instructed.
We carefully lifted her and took her up to her room.
"I'm afraid, you all will have to step out while I check her," the doctor said, and reluctantly, we filed out of the room.
Outside, everyone was pacing and worried. Desmond suddenly asked. "What really happened?"
I tried to explain, but he cut me short. "I didn't ask you, Brenda. Skyline, tell me what happened?"
I swallowed hard, hurt by his words, but then, I pushed it aside. Desmond's rudeness was the least of my problems now, my mother in-law's safety was. Even though she was mean to me I didn't want any harm to come to her.
"We were eating dinner, and then she just started convulsing and slumped," Skyline explained.
Desmond nodded, and resumed pacing.
A few minutes later, the door opened. "You all can come in now," the doctor announced.
Sighs of relief escaped everyone's lips as we rushed into the room. My mother in-law was on a drip infusion and fast asleep.
"She's stable now," the doctor said. "The infusion will help her regain strength."
"What's wrong with her, doctor? "Harriet asked the question everyone has been dying to ask.
"She ate something she's allergic to. Can anyone tell me what it is?"
We all turned to look at each other, asking questions with our eyes. "My mother is allergic to one thing..."
"Sunflower oil," Harriet blurted.
All eyes turned to me, like I had an answer to the puzzle. I shook my head. "I have nothing to do with it. I didn't give her sunflower oil."
"We will find out," Harriet said and stormed out of the room. Everyone followed suit and she led us back to the dining room. She walked to the table, and carried the coleslaw bowel, sniffing it.
"Sunflower oil, there's sunflower oil in this salad instead of the normal oil," Harriet shrieked, dropping the bowel.
Desmond grabbed the plate and sniffed too, and then he dropped it and faced me, his face bearing accusation.
"What? I didn't do it," I yelled. "I swear, I didn't use sunflower oil for the salad."
But Harriet was not having it. Her face turned red with rage. "You want to kill our mother !" She screamed, wagging her finger in my face.
"What?" I exclaimed, taken aback. "That's not true."
"Why would you use sunflower oil, then?" Harriet demanded. "You know she's allergic to it, why did you use it?"
"I didn't use sunflower oil, I swear. Yes, I know she's allergic to it, why would I want to harm her?"
Harriet's voice grew louder. "It's because she said she would investigate the cheating scandal and find Kenneth to prove the truth. You're trying to silence her, you cheat!"
I turned to Skyline, wanting her to prove my innocence since she was with me in the kitchen the whole time. "Tell them, Skyline. You were with me in the kitchen. What oil did I use?"
But Skyline wouldn't even look at me. She threw her face away. "I wasn't there when you were cooking, Brendan I only joined you when you were done. How will I know what oil you used?"
I was dazed by her response, and my lips trembled. "What? But...but you were with me. You helped me prepare dinner."
"No, I didn't. Quit trying to string me into your mess," Skyline retorted.
Panic grew in me as I wondered if this was the Skyline who was with me in the kitchen a few hours ago. What was she acting haughty now?
"Skyline, don't tell lies. Tell them the truth," I pleaded, and in my desperation, I grabbed her hand.
But Desmond intervened, pulling my hands away, and shoving me roughly. "Let her go, Brenda. You've hurt my mother, that should be enough for you. I don't want you hurting anyone else."
I tried to hold onto Desmond, tears now rolling down my eyes. "Desmond, I didn't do it. I'm your wife, you have to believe me."
But he kept shoving me away, his eyes filled with anger and disgust. "No you're not! You're a monster. You were never like this, Brenda. Why would you want to kill my mother just because she wanted to investigate the cheating allegations?"
I shook my head, trying to fight my tears. "I didn't try to kill her. I would never do that."
"Oh, you did try to kill her. Were you afraid she would uncover more dark secrets about you? Tell me, am I even the father of our daughter?"
"Desmond!" I yelled, surprised he would say a thing like that. "You're the father to our daughter, and you know it."
But he didn't show remorse for his words. "You cheated on me, and I don't even know how long that has been going on. What are the chances that that daughter of yours is mine?"
I was heartbroken , and this time words failed me. Suddenly, I felt dizzy. The room started spinning, and I felt myself falling. I tried to reach out for Desmond for support but he moved away. I collapsed to the floor, and everything went quiet.