His revelation hit hard, widening the eyes of the brothers while Mirabel's nails dug so sharply into her palms. Her lips trembled, but she refused to release the sound struggling to escape her throat.
"I… I purposely hid this from you all because I didn't want to cause worry, nor did I wish to stir up more conflict in this household. But now—" Victoria voiced out, her breath hitched painfully, "—now I stand accused, ridiculed, and despised."
Her head shook slowly from side to side as if she could not believe the cruelty of fate. "Someone… someone drugged me too, just as they drugged Frank. Their intention was vile....they wanted him to force himself upon me. Thank heavens I did not finish that drink… and that a doctor was summoned before it was too late."
