“Is he in danger?” Isabella’s voice shook with palpable fear.

“It’s too early to tell. I need to administer a sedative to stabilize him first,” the doctor replied.

He prepared a syringe and moved toward Ethan’s side.

“Wait!” Isabella’s sharp command halted him. “Doctor… could this be drug-related?”

Her words hung heavy in the air.

The doctor paused, taken aback by her directness.

After a moment, he nodded cautiously. “It’s a possibility, but—”

“What kind of drug?” she pressed urgently.

“I can’t identify it without further testing,” he admitted.

“Understood.”

Zoe Tremblay left Hawthorne Residence in a cab.

Her expression was dark, her mood foul.

The evening had started perfectly.

She had skillfully crafted an image of intimacy with Ethan for the media.

Zoe was certain public pressure would soon force Isabella out.

She envisioned herself effortlessly stepping into Isabella’s place as Ethan’s wife.

Then her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen and paled.

It was a waiter from the banquet.

She answered with trembling hands. “Hello?”

“Miss… Miss Tremblay…” The waiter’s voice was panicked. “I… I gave him the wrong drink…”

“What are you talking about?” Dread washed over her.

“The wine Mr. Blackwood drank… It wasn’t the one you prepared… It was… it was Miss Scott’s tampered glass…” His voice faded to a whisper.

“What did you say?” Zoe’s voice spiked with shock and rage. “Repeat that!”

“I didn’t mean to… I must have mixed them up…” He was on the verge of tears.

“You… you idiot!” Zoe trembled with fury. “Do you realize what you’ve done?”

“I’m sorry, Miss Tremblay! Please, you have to help me!” he begged desperately.

“Help you? How?” Her response was icy. “If this gets out, you’re going to prison.” She ended the call abruptly.

Her face was ghostly white.

Horror gripped her.

The situation had spiraled completely out of control.

If the Blackwoods discovered the truth, she would lose everything.

Her life could be at stake.

Zoe clutched her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.

She felt no physical pain.

Her mind raced frantically, searching for a solution she did not have.