I Pretended to Be Dead and They All Panicked Chapter 02

I Pretended to Be Dead and They All Panicked Chapter 02

Evangeline’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She leaned close to my ear and whispered,

“You’re really not someone to underestimate. No wonder you managed to find your way back here after being away for eighteen years. I seriously underestimated you.”

I blinked at her in confusion.

What was she talking about?

The soup was so salty that I wanted to spit it out.

But then I’d have to wipe my mouth.

Then I’d have to rinse it.

It was too much work.

So I swallowed it instead.

“Sweetheart, I had the housekeeper make this pigeon soup especially for you. How does it taste?”

Mom watched me anxiously.

I’d originally planned to take one sip and put the bowl down.

But when I saw the hopeful look in her eyes, I silently picked up my spoon again.

Fine.

I’d finish it.

If I told her the soup was too salty, she’d probably have the housekeeper make another batch.

Then the whole family would gather around me again, asking if I was okay and fussing over every little thing.

Just thinking about the entire ordeal exhausted me.

So I took one spoonful after another until I finished the whole bowl.

“Clatter.”

The spoon slipped from my hand and hit the floor.

A second later, I collapsed right along with it.

“Cordelia! What’s wrong?”

Mom practically launched herself at me.

The family doctor hadn’t even had time to change clothes.

He came running back in, still sweating from his previous trip to the hospital.

After a thorough examination, he finally gave them his diagnosis.

“Miss Cordelia has acute hypernatremia from consuming too much salt. She’s going to be fine. She just needs plenty of water and some rest.”

Dad frowned deeply.

“That’s impossible. We always cook with very little oil and salt. How could this…”

Then something occurred to him.

He grabbed my soup bowl from the table, dipped his finger into the liquid left inside, and tasted it.

His expression changed instantly.

It was unbelievably salty.

Dad slammed his hand against the table.

“Who made the soup today?”

The housekeeper, Mrs. Martha Higgins, stepped forward nervously.

“I… I did, sir. But Mrs. Sinclair tasted it before I served it, and she said it was fine. It’s just…”

Her voice grew quieter and quieter.

Then she pointed toward Evangeline.

“During that time, Miss Evangeline had access to the salt.”

Everyone’s eyes immediately turned toward Evangeline.

She panicked and tried to defend herself.

“I only added one extra spoonful because I was worried Cordelia wouldn’t be used to such bland food. Besides, if she didn’t like it, why didn’t she just spit it out?”

Mom cradled my pale, exhausted face in her hands, tears gathering in her eyes again.

“My poor baby. Why didn’t you spit it out?”

Oh no.

The exact thing I’d been dreading had finally happened.

I hated explaining things.

My mind raced as I tried to figure out how to explain the situation using the fewest possible words.

Fortunately, Julian suddenly understood.

“Cordelia just came home. She was probably too uncomfortable to complain, and she didn’t want to spit it out because she was afraid of hurting Mom’s feelings.”

That wasn’t true at all.

But I nodded in relief anyway.

Mom’s eyes immediately filled with guilt.

She pulled me into her arms.

“Cordelia, I want to make up for everything you’ve been through. I’m going to throw a grand welcome gala for you. It’s time for everyone to know that you’re a Sinclair, and you’re going to take your rightful place in this family.”

“Yes!”

Evangeline immediately seized the opportunity.

She volunteered with a bright smile.

“Then let me plan the gala. I’ll make sure Cordelia gets the biggest surprise of her life.”