Chapter 5 - SERENA’S EXPLANATION
Serena finally named the liquid.
Not by substance.
By purpose.
She said it was a flavoring concentrate supplied by a specialty baker.
James asked where it came from.
She could not produce packaging.
A receipt.
A message.
Anything.
“It was given to me.”
“By who?”
“A friend.”
“Name?”
Serena looked away.
James exhaled slowly.
“This keeps getting worse.”
“It’s harmless.”
“Then prove it.”
She stared at him.
“You’re treating me like a criminal.”
“No.”
He pointed toward the destroyed cake.
“I’m treating an unidentified substance like an unidentified substance.”
That distinction mattered.
James did not accuse Serena of poisoning anyone.
He did not invent facts because he was angry.
He isolated the cake.
Preserved the vial.
Asked guests not to consume any remaining frosting.
Then he called appropriate professionals for guidance.
Serena watched him with growing panic.
“This is humiliating.”
James looked at Emily.
His daughter was still crying.
“No.”
He turned back.
May you like
“What’s humiliating is that she thought smashing her own birthday cake was safer than asking us to listen.”
Serena had no answer for that.
