The Orphan Bride Of The Town's Richest Man

THE TEA THAT ALMOST KILLED ME

EPISODE 17

Richard's pov

Richard Blackwood stopped trusting his own body 3 years ago.

---

#### YEAR 1: THE "VITAMINS"

It started small.

"Darling, you’ve been working too hard," Victoria said.

"Here. New vitamins. From Switzerland.

Doctor recommended."

The pills were white. Small.

He took them with tea every morning.

Within a month: Tired.

Within 3 months: Coughing.

Within 6 months: Forgetting meetings.

"Stress," his doctor said. "You need rest."

Victoria nodded. "See? I told you."

---

#### YEAR 2: THE SUSPICION

Richard wasn’t stupid.

He was just lonely.

One day he decided to pick up his own refill.

"Where do you buy them?" he asked Victoria.

"Specialty pharmacy," she said. "Don’t worry, I’ll go."

But Richard was curious.

So he sent 2 of his most trusted men.

Ex-military. Loyal since his 20s.

"Follow her," he said. "Don’t tell her."

They followed her for 2 weeks.

Report 1: She didn’t go to any pharmacy.

Report 2: She met a man in a warehouse in Industrial Area.

Report 3: She came back with a plain bag. No labels.

Richard’s blood went cold.

---

#### THE WAREHOUSE

The man’s name was Dr. Mwangi.

Not a real doctor.

A chemist. Disgraced. Lost his license.

Richard went himself. One night.

No security. Just him and his driver.

The warehouse smelled like chemicals.

Boxes everywhere. No brand names.

"Mr. Blackwood," Dr. Mwangi said, sweating.

"What are you doing here?"

"I’m here for the truth," Richard said.

"What’s in the pills?"

Dr. Mwangi looked at the floor.

"Ma’am said it was for your heart.

To make you... calmer.

Less stressed."

"Calmer?" Richard picked up a pill.

"Or weaker?"

Dr. Mwangi broke.

"It’s arsenic. Low dose.

Mixed with sedatives.

She said if you got too weak,

she’d stop.

She paid me 2 million a month."

Richard felt the room spin.

Not from the pills.

From rage.

---

#### THE NIGHT HE STOPPED

That night, Victoria brought his tea.

As always.

With 2 white pills on the side.

"Your vitamins, darling," she said, smiling.

Richard looked at her.

Really looked.

At the smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

At the hands that never touched him unless cameras were there.

He took the cup.

Drank it.

Victoria watched. Waiting.

Then Richard set the cup down.

Pushed the pills away.

"What?" Victoria asked.

"I’m not taking them anymore," Richard said.

Her face flickered. Just for a second.

Panic.

Then smile again.

"Are you feeling okay? Should I call the doctor?"

"No," Richard said. "I’m feeling better than I have

in 3 years."

That night he threw every pill in the toilet.

Flushed twice.

---

#### YEAR 3: GETTING BETTER

The coughing stopped.

The fog lifted.

He started going to the office again.

Victoria noticed.

"Richard, you seem... energetic."

"I am," he said. "Stopped those vitamins."

"Oh," she said. Too fast. "That’s good."

But she didn’t stop.

She just got sneakier.

Tried to put it in his food.

In his coffee.

That’s when Richard installed cameras.

And hired new staff.

And started the folder.

---

#### PRESENT DAY - THE MEETING

Now, sitting in the study with Damien, Freya, and June...

Richard opened that folder.

"She tried to kill me," he said plainly.

"Slowly. So no one would notice.

So when I died, it would look natural.

Heart failure. Stress."

He looked at June.

"And she was going to do the same to you, baby.

Once I was gone.

She told her lawyer that."

June started crying.

Freya pulled her close.

Damien’s fists were shaking.

"I should’ve killed her," he said.

"No," Richard said. "You should let the law.

And we will."

He stood. Shaky, but standing.

"I’m not dead yet," he said.

"And I’m not done being a father.

Or a grandfather."

He looked at Freya.

"Thank you.

For bringing my son back to me.

And for saving my granddaughter."

Freya nodded. Tears falling.

---

#### AFTER

The police took the pills as evidence.

Dr. Mwangi confessed.

Victoria’s bank accounts were frozen.

Richard never took another pill from her again.

He started taking walks.

Eating with June.

Playing chess with Damien.

One month later, his doctor said:

"Your heart looks 10 years younger, Mr. Blackwood."

Richard laughed.

"That’s because it finally has something to live for."