The poison had mixed together with the smoke damage symptoms, making it difficult to notice at first.
That was why Loretta's condition had looked strange from the beginning.
Not long after, more test results arrived.
The older doctor carefully studied the report while the younger doctor stood beside him.
After a few minutes, the older doctor finally spoke.
"It is a common poison."
His voice could not hide his disbelief.
The younger doctor looked surprised.
"A common one?"
The older doctor nodded.
"Yes. It is not rare or difficult to get." He shook his head.
"But because of the smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, the symptoms were hidden."
He looked at the results, wondering whether this was a carefully planned scheme or simply a coincidence.
Normally, if Loretta had come in for a regular check-up, the poison would have been discovered much earlier.
But the fire incident had perfectly covered the poison's effects.
The unstable breathing, dizziness, and unconscious state had all been mistaken for smoke poisoning.
The younger doctor looked down at the report again.
"Based on the toxin level, it should have entered her body at least one hour before the fire."
The room instantly became quiet.
One hour before the fire.
The older doctor tried connecting the pieces together. He knew schemes within wealthy families could run deep, but he refused to believe that someone would risk the lives of so many people just to kill one person.
At that moment, footsteps echoed outside the ICU.
Kevin arrived together with Andy.
The moment the doctors saw him, their expressions became cautious. They stepped out of the room to meet them.
The older doctor immediately walked forward and handed him the report.
"We discovered toxic substances in Miss Gladstone's blood."
Andy's expression instantly changed.
"Poison?"
Kevin lowered his eyes toward the report in his hand. His face remained calm, but the coldness around him became heavier.
"The poison is common," the doctor explained carefully. "But because of the smoke inhalation, it remained hidden. We believe the poison entered her body at least one hour before the fire started."
Andy's eyes widened slightly.
"At least an hour…"
Kevin continued looking at the report silently. His sharp mind immediately connected the details together.
The poison, the fire, and the timing.
If anyone said it was a coincidence, he would never believe it.
The smoke poisoning had almost hidden the poison completely. If the doctors had been even slightly careless, she would have been poisoned to death without anyone noticing.
Everyone would simply believe she died because of the accident.
Whoever was behind this did not want her to survive.
If she did not die from the fire, the poison would finish the job.
Kevin slowly lifted his eyes.
"Sir, I believe the fire and the poison are connected," Andy said carefully. He had worked closely with Kevin for three years and knew the danger involved.
Kevin said nothing for a few seconds.
Then he finally spoke coldly,
"They are."
The entire corridor instantly became quiet.
Even the doctors felt pressure from the terrifying calmness in his voice.
Kevin handed the report back slowly.
"Find out everything she ate and drank before the fire," he ordered.
"And everyone who got close to her inside that building."
Andy immediately lowered his head.
"Yes, sir."
Kevin's eyes shifted toward Loretta through the ICU glass window.
She still lay unconscious on the hospital bed quietly, almost lifeless.
The coldness in Kevin's eyes deepened little by little.
"How long?" he asked, turning toward the doctor.
"The antidote has been administered. She should wake up soon," the older doctor said.
Kevin raised his brows slightly.
The doctors had already said the same thing that morning. Yet several hours had passed, and Loretta still had not opened her eyes.
Hearing those words again only made the irritation in his chest deepen.
Just as he was about to speak, the nurse inside the ICU suddenly called out,
"The patient is showing signs of waking up!"
The older doctor's expression changed immediately.
He quickly excused himself and hurried back into the ICU room.
Kevin's cold eyes instantly turned toward the glass window.
Inside the room, the machines began reacting faster.
Loretta's fingers moved weakly against the bedsheet.
Her breathing also became uneven.
The nurse quickly adjusted the equipment while the doctors moved closer to examine her.
"She is responding to the antidote," the younger doctor said with relief.
Outside the room, even Andy secretly released a breath of relief.
At least she was finally waking up.
But Kevin's expression remained unreadable.
His eyes stayed fixed on Loretta silently.
....
Meanwhile, at the Gladstone residence, the atmosphere had already become tense.
Three black cars stopped outside the mansion gates.
Not long after, Andy entered together with a few of Kevin's men.
Just seeing the lineup made the servants inside instantly nervous. Everyone in the city knew what kind of status Kevin Goodman held.
Now his people had suddenly arrived at the Gladstone residence without warning.
It was impossible not to feel pressured.
Mrs. Gladstone hurried downstairs after hearing the news.
"What happened?" she asked carefully.
Andy gave a polite nod, but his expression remained cold and professional.
"We are investigating Miss Gladstone's poisoning."
The moment those words entered the air, Mrs. Gladstone's face changed drastically.
"Poisoning?" she repeated in shock.
Even Mr. Gladstone, who had just walked downstairs, froze completely.
"What are you talking about?" he asked quickly.
Andy calmly explained,
"The doctors discovered toxic substances in Miss Gladstone's body. The poison entered her system before the fire."
The entire living room instantly became silent.
Mrs. Gladstone's face turned pale.
"How is that possible?"
Andy did not answer her question directly.
Instead, he spoke calmly.
"We need to know everything Miss Gladstone ate or drank before leaving the house yesterday."
The servants nearby immediately became nervous.
Soon, the cooks, maids, and housekeepers were all gathered inside the dining area for questioning.
One by one, Andy's men questioned them carefully.
"What did Miss Gladstone eat yesterday morning?"
"Who prepared her breakfast?"
"Who served the tea?"
"Did anyone unusual enter the kitchen?"
The atmosphere became heavier with every question.
The head chef wiped sweat from his forehead nervously.
"Miss Loretta barely ate breakfast yesterday," he explained quickly. "She only drank tea before leaving."
"Who prepared it?" Andy asked immediately.
"One of the maids," the chef answered honestly.
The frightened maid was quickly brought forward.
Her face was already pale from fear.
"I only prepared the tea normally," she said shakily. "I did not add anything strange."
Andy stared at her for several seconds.
"Who touched the tea after it left the kitchen?"
The maid quickly shook her head.
"No one."
Andy frowned. Although he knew the poisoning most likely did not happen here, he still did not want to leave any stone unturned.
"Did you notice anything unusual?" he asked.
The maid shook her head at first, but then she suddenly remembered something.
"Miss Isabella entered the kitchen that morning," she said quietly.
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Mrs. Gladstone's expression changed slightly.
Isabella, who had just walked downstairs after hearing the commotion, also froze.
Everyone unconsciously turned to look at her.
Isabella immediately frowned.
"I only went to get water," she defended herself quickly.
Because she had been giving everyone the cold shoulder, she had gone into the kitchen to pour water for herself. She could not understand how that was related to the poison.
Andy's expression did not change.
"What time was that?"
"Did you touch Miss Loretta's tea?"
"Of course not!" Isabella answered immediately, clearly offended.
The room became silent again.
Andy calmly looked toward the servants.
"Did anyone see her touch the tea?"
The servants looked at each other nervously before shaking their heads.
"Then Mr. Gladstone would not mind us checking the surveillance footage and searching the house, right?" Andy asked calmly.
Mr. Gladstone looked toward his daughter.
She did not seem guilty, so he finally nodded.
"You may proceed."