Forbidden Obsession: The Summer He Claimed for Himself

Chapter 5: Vile Schemes and Emerging Sharpness

The twisted, cold smile on Bailey's lips was like a poisonous thorn, piercing deep into Talia's eyes. The malice contained in that smile was so blatant that it instantly turned the unease in Talia's heart into a cold alarm bell. She knew that Bailey's patience had run out and that the counterattack was about to begin. She withdrew her gaze without a word, straightening her spine. The calmness of her 25-year-old soul from her past life and the resilience of her guardian in this life quietly gathered within her.

As night deepened, the lights of Cassandra's vacation home glowed warmly. In the living room, Laurel and Susan were still chatting quietly, while Adam seemed to have already gone to bed. Jeremiah and Steven were playing video games in the game room, their voices faintly echoing through the house. Conrad had gone straight to his upstairs room; he needed to focus on reviewing Susan’s follow-up examination materials for next week—materials that Talia had just organized and sent to him.

Talia didn't go back to her room immediately. She walked into the kitchen to prepare the herbal medicine for Susanna to take that evening. The medicine was carefully formulated by Talia based on Susanna's constitution and current stage of treatment, combining her past-life memories with her current knowledge, and had a good auxiliary effect in stabilizing the condition and alleviating the side effects of chemotherapy. The medicine jars and prepackaged herbs were all stored in a special cabinet in the kitchen.

As soon as she opened the cabinet door, Bailey’s figure appeared at the kitchen entrance, holding an empty water cup.

“Talia, are you making tea?” Bailey’s voice carried a forced friendliness, and she wore a smile on her face, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m making medicine for Mom,” Talia replied indifferently, swiftly taking out the medicine jar and small sandpot to prepare for boiling.

“Oh, it's medicine for Aunt Susanna, isn't it?” Bailey took a few steps closer, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the labeled herbal medicine packets in the cabinet and the medicine jar in Talia's hands. “You're so knowledgeable; no wonder everyone trusts you so much.” Her tone sounded envious, but the trailing note carried a faint hint of bitterness.

Talia didn't respond, focusing instead on measuring out the herbs and water. She stood with her back to Bailey, but her senses were on high alert. She could feel Bailey's gaze like a snake's tongue, slithering behind her.

“Actually,” Bailey's voice drew closer, tinged with feigned innocence, “I've always wondered, what exactly did you give Aunt Susan to eat? Does it really work that well? I can see her complexion has improved significantly.” As she spoke, she shifted her feet, her body nearly pressing against the counter next to Talia.

Just as Talia was about to pour the measured herbs into the clay pot and cover it—

“Oh my!” Bailey suddenly let out an exaggerated gasp, her body leaning forward abruptly. The empty water cup in her hand clattered to the ground, landing directly on the glass jar Talia had placed on the countertop, which contained the freshly prepared herbal powder meant for today’s distribution!

The sharp sound of shattering glass echoed through the kitchen! The finely ground, light brown herbal powder, emitting a unique herbal fragrance, mixed with glass shards, instantly scattered across the countertop and Talia's clothing!

The kitchen was instantly in disarray.

“Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry, Talia! I really didn't mean to!” Bailey immediately took a step back, her face filled with panic and guilt, her voice even tinged with a hint of tears, “I... I slipped! Are you okay? Did you get cut by the glass? What about the medicine... what should we do about the medicine?" She pointed at the mess, her expression filled with regret, as if it were truly just an accident.

Talia froze in place, staring at the destroyed medicine powder and the stains on her clothes. A cold rage surged from her feet to her head! This was no accident! Bailey’s angle, timing, and movements were too deliberate! She did it on purpose! She destroyed the medicine that was crucial for Susanna's treatment over the next few days! Her purpose was to humiliate her, to make her look bad in front of Conrad and her family, and even to cause fluctuations in Susanna's condition!

Anger surged like lava in Talia's chest, nearly breaking through the dam of reason. She suddenly raised her head, her gaze as sharp as an ice pick, fixing on Bailey.

Belly was startled by the unprecedented coldness and sharpness in her eyes, instinctively taking a half-step back. The “guilt” on her face froze for an instant. But she quickly forced out tears, her voice choked with emotion: "Talia, I'm truly sorry! I'll compensate you! I’ll pay any amount! Or… or can you do it again? Whatever herbs you need, I’ll go buy them right away!” She acted like a helpless, deeply remorseful little girl.

The commotion caught the attention of Susan and Laurel in the living room.

“What’s going on? What happened?” Susan’s worried voice echoed, accompanied by footsteps.

“Talia? Belly?” Laurel hurried in as well; seeing the mess in the kitchen and the medicine powder on Talia's clothes, she was startled. “Oh my God! What happened? Is anyone hurt?”

“Mom! Aunt Parker!” Belly immediately clung to Laurel like she had found a lifeline, her voice trembling with tears, "It's all my fault! I slipped and dropped the cup, which landed right on the medicine powder Talia had prepared for Auntie Susan! It’s all ruined! Waaah… I really didn’t mean to! Talia, I’m sorry! You can scold me!” She cried tearfully, portraying “accident” and “self-blame” to the fullest.

Laurel hugged her daughter tenderly, looking at Talia with a questioning gaze and a hint of reluctance: “Talia, this... Belly didn't mean to do it. Look...”

Susanna also walked over to Talia, looking at the messy kitchen counter and the scattered precious medicine powder, her brows furrowed, her face filled with concern and worry: "Are you hurt, child?" The medicine... it's okay if it's gone. Don't be too upset. I can wait a few more days until next week's follow-up..."

“No!” Talia's voice rang out decisively, carrying an unprecedented coldness and strength that instantly drowned out Belly's sobs.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Talia stood straight, her face devoid of angry outbursts, only a frozen calm. She raised her hand, gently brushing away the medicine powder from her collar, her movements composed and deliberate. Her gaze swept past the still-crying Bailey, fixing directly on Susan and Laurel, her voice clear and calm:

“Mom, this medicine isn't ‘no big deal.’ I adjusted the ratio and dosage specifically based on your latest blood test results and physical reactions. It can maximize relief from your upcoming chemotherapy reactions, protect your gastrointestinal function, and maintain your white blood cell levels. Skipping a few days won't just affect your comfort—it could also impact your tolerance for subsequent treatments and overall efficacy.” Her words were professional and confident, carrying an authority that brooked no argument.

Susanna froze, and Laurel froze too. They had never seen Talia speak with such firmness and professionalism before.

Bailey’s crying stopped abruptly, and she looked at Talia in surprise.

Talia's gaze slowly turned to Bailey. Her eyes, once gentle and evasive, were now cold and sharp, piercing through everything: “As for you, Bailey Conklin.”

She addressed her by name, her tone devoid of any warmth.

“You say you slipped accidentally?” Talia took a step forward, her gaze slicing through every expression on Bailey's face like a scalpel. "I was standing on the inner side of the counter, and you were holding an empty water cup behind me. The floor in front of the counter was dry and clean, with no water stains or grease. The angle and force of your so-called 'slip' were precisely calculated to make the water cup slip from your hand and hit this relatively small medicine jar..." Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear, logically sound, and carried a powerful sense of pressure.

"How ‘precise’ a coincidence and how ‘perfectly timed’ a force would that require?" Talia's lips curled into a cold smile. ”Or were you aiming for it on purpose?"

“You... you're slandering me!” Bailey's face turned pale instantly, her eyes darting around in panic. She hadn't expected Talia to confront her so directly and expose her! "I didn't! I have no reason to do that! I loved Aunt Susan so much..." She tried to defend herself, but her voice grew sharp with guilt.

“Reason?” Talia interrupted her, her gaze growing colder. "Do I need to remind you? From the day you first stepped into Cassandra, the way you looked at Conrad, and the resentment you felt every time you tried to approach him only to be coldly rejected? Do I need to remind you of the jealous and hateful glances you cast at me outside the storeroom, by the campfire?”

Talia’s words were like sharp daggers, piercing through Belle’s false facade and exposing the darkest jealousy in her heart under the light of day. Bella’s face turned from white to red, then from red to pale. She pointed at Talia, trembling with anger: “You’re lying! You’re jealous of me! You’re jealous that Conrad used to be kind to me! Now you’re taking advantage of Aunt Susanna’s illness to…”

“Enough!”

A low growl, suppressed with overwhelming anger, erupted like a thunderclap at the kitchen door!

Conrad had somehow appeared there. He had clearly heard every word of the conversation. His expression was dark and ominous, like the sea before a storm, and his deep, ocean-like eyes now churned with waves capable of swallowing everything in their path! He had faintly heard the commotion upstairs earlier and had come down to check on Talia, fearing something had happened to her. He never expected to hear such a despicable truth!

His gaze first swept over the scattered medicine powder, and his eyes instantly filled with anger and heartbreak—that was Talia's hard work, a crucial part of maintaining her mother's health! Then, his gaze, cold enough to freeze a person, like the sharpest ice pick, pierced straight into Belly!

“Belly Conklin.” Conrad’s voice was low and terrifying, filled with unprecedented, unmasked disgust and coldness, each word seeming to be forced out between his teeth, “Stop your disgusting tricks!”

He strode into the kitchen, completely ignoring the pale, trembling Bailey, and walked straight to Talia's side. He reached out, not to touch her, but in an absolutely protective gesture, placing his hand gently on her waist, shielding her within his sphere of influence. His gaze locked onto Bailey, carrying a condescending, judgmental pressure:

“Jealousy? What does Talia have to be jealous of? Jealous of your pathetic performances in front of me time and again? Jealous of your heart twisted by jealousy?” His words were like poisoned ice blades, piercing Bailey without mercy: "What you destroyed wasn't just the powder; it was the guarantee of my mother's health! It was the result of Talia's relentless research day and night! All because of your ridiculous, unrequited delusions?"

Conrad's outburst left the kitchen in dead silence. Susanna stared at her son in shock, then at Bailey, whose face was ashen, her expression complex. Laurel was struck as if by lightning, unable to believe her eyes as she looked at the daughter she had watched grow up, as if seeing her for the first time. Under Conrad's icy, piercing gaze and merciless scolding, Bailey's body trembled violently. The color drained from her face, and her tears were no longer a pretense—they were genuine tears of humiliation and fear.

“Now,” Conrad’s voice was icy, carrying the weight of a final ultimatum, “please, immediately, leave the kitchen. Get out of Talia’s sight.” His gaze swept over the mess on the floor. “We don’t need your ‘help’ or your ‘apologies’ here.”

Belly could no longer bear it. She covered her face, let out a sob, and turned to run out of the kitchen.

“Belly!” Laurel cried out in anguish, glancing perplexedly at Talia and Conrad standing protectively before her, then at the pale-faced, disappointed-eyed Susan, before clenching her teeth and running after her daughter.

The kitchen was left with only Susanna, Conrad, and Talia.

The tense atmosphere that had just been there vanished instantly, replaced by a heavy silence. Susanna looked at the mess on the countertop and sighed wearily, “Talia... the medicine...”

“Mom, don't worry.” Talia's voice had regained its calm. She gently shook off Conrad's hand—this action caused Conrad's eyes to darken—and walked to the countertop, beginning to calmly clean up the glass shards. "The medicine powder is ruined, but I have backup formulas and dosage records. Most of the herbs are still available, though we're missing a key ingredient that needs to be repurchased. I'll contact the pharmacy first thing tomorrow morning to have it delivered urgently. We'll grind and prepare it overnight tonight, so it won't delay your dosage."

Her tone was steady and logical, as if the intense conflict and Belle's underhanded schemes had never occurred. This ability to remain calm under pressure and quickly find a solution finally eased Susan’s worried heart. She looked at Talia with relief and deeper reliance.

“I’ll help you.” Conrad’s deep voice sounded. He didn’t say anything else to comfort or express anger; he simply picked up the broom and dustpan and began cleaning up the glass shards on the floor. His movements were swift yet careful, ensuring no shards would harm Talia.

Talia glanced at him. The lines on his profile remained taut, his jaw clenched tightly—his anger clearly unabated. Yet his silent assistance at that moment spoke louder than any words. He didn’t shield her behind him as he had earlier but chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, working together to clean up the mess caused by the malicious destruction.

The two worked in silent harmony. Talia carefully collected the uncontaminated powder into a clean container, while Conrad meticulously swept every corner of the glass shards. The kitchen was filled only with the sounds of cleaning and their faint breathing.

Susanna watched the two foster children working in perfect harmony, a complex gleam flashing in her weary eyes. Conrad’s unprecedented outburst and his unabashed protective stance toward Talia… and Talia’s calmness and sharpness in the face of slander and destruction… all of this made her vaguely understand something. She sighed softly, not disturbing them, and quietly left the kitchen.

When the last piece of glass was cleaned up, Talia looked at the countertop, now tidy but missing a section, and exhaled softly.

“I’m sorry,” Conrad’s deep voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Talia turned around in surprise.

Conrad stood a step behind her, his gaze heavy as he looked at her, filled with intense guilt and heartache. “It's my fault... I brought her into our lives, giving her the opportunity to hurt you, to hurt Mom.” His voice carried suppressed pain. “If only I had acted sooner...”

“Con,” Talia interrupted him, her eyes calm and resolute, “It’s not your fault. The fault lies with Belle’s heart, blinded by jealousy. She’s the one who should be saying sorry, not you.” She paused, looking at the lingering shadow in Conrad’s eyes. “And, you just… did well.”

Conrad paused slightly, seemingly unprepared for her words.

Talia raised the corners of her lips slightly, revealing a weary yet genuine smile: “You protected Mom, and... you protected me. Thank you for standing up for me.” She was referring to how he had exposed Bailey without hesitation and defended her.

Those words, “Thank you for standing up for me,” felt like a warm current, instantly dispelling the gloom and self-blame in Conrad's heart. He looked at Talia, whose face was slightly pale under the light.