Elijah's eyes betrayed a glint of recognition as Joana declined a drink. She sensed his scrutiny intensifying, signaling that he had caught on to her. Elijah swiftly vanished into the throng of guests once more, leaving Joana alone with Veronica. The tension from their brief interaction weighed heavily on her, causing an overwhelming sensation of nausea.
"Excuse me," she uttered, pushing her chair back and rising to her feet. "I'll be back shortly."
Before Veronica could respond, Joana pivoted on her heel and made a beeline for the bathroom, clutching a hand over her mouth to stave off the impending urge to vomit. Fortunately, the bathroom stood vacant upon her arrival, allowing her to lurch towards the toilet just in time to expel the contents of her stomach.
After the ordeal, she flu
