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"You said your milk supply is low—maybe try giving some to Jasmine?"
After two weeks at the recovery center, nourished by high-end supplements, Luna did look healthier.
My mom, completely unsuspecting, accepted the gift without a second thought.
My gut was screaming that Luna's mother wasn't being genuine.
When my mom offered me the bottle, I turned my head away and refused to drink no matter how she tried to coax me.
Flustered, my mother explained to Luna's mother, "Jasmine's never had formula before—she's probably not used to it."
"Little ones don't understand what's good for them, but we can't indulge them, Chloe. If your milk is low and she won't take formula, she’ll miss out on nutrition," Luna's mother argued, feigning concern.
"How about this? Mix a little formula with your breastmilk in the bottle. Start small, then gradually increase. She'll get used to it."
"You can do that? Okay, I'll try! You're so clever, Sylvia!"
Watching my mother's naive, grateful face, I knew I needed a decisive solution to counter the poison Luna's mother was drip-feeding her.
The next day, when my mother came with the bottle again, I didn't push it away.
Instead, I played with it, took a few sips here and there.
Unusual, but at least I was drinking some.
My mother was relieved.
Luna's mother also visibly relaxed.
But nobody expected I'd still be holding that same bottle when Matriarch Sterling arrived for her visit.
As soon as she held me, I seized my chance.
I started gagging violently, my whole body shaking, my eyes rolling back.
Matriarch Sterling turned ghostly pale and demanded immediate medical tests.
My physical results came back normal.
Not surprising—it was the 21st century, and Luna's mother wasn't dumb enough to use traceable poison.
But she didn’t expect I’d bring the unfinished bottle.
Faced with clean health reports but under pressure from the Sterlings, the doctor tested the remaining milk.
The results were shocking.
"This sample is primarily breastmilk but contains a small amount of formula powder. The issue lies there."
"Lab analysis detected trace amounts of lead. The dosage is small—not enough for immediate harm. But long-term intake would inevitably damage cognitive development."
I'd suspected the formula—but not this level of malice.
Luna's mother resorted to poison just because Matriarch Sterling showed me a little extra attention.
If she found out I was the real Sterling heiress, she'd probably try to kill me.
