Page 73 of Johan.

“It’s a Mudslide,” I reply casually, glancing at her. “Would you like to try it? It’s with vodka, coffee liqueur, and Baileys.”

She takes a sip from my glass, and her eyes light up. “That’s delicious!”

“Should I do one for you too?” I ask, already knowing her answer.

“Yes!” Her face brightens up with anticipation.

Perfect, I think to myself. “Alright. Go mingle, I’ll be done in a few minutes.”

While Astrid returns to the fireplace, where everyone else is engrossed in conversation, I discreetly pour a generous amount of castor oil into the drink I’m preparing for her, mixing it well so it’s completely hidden. Once ready, I hand her the cocktail, and we move a bit away from the group, raising our glasses.

“To Paris,” I say, clinking my glass against hers.

“To Paris,” she echoes, taking a sip.

We settle on the couch, sitting beside each other, our faces close as we chat. Astrid talks animatedly about our future and her plans for a September wedding in Lake Como. I nod along, agreeing with whatever she says, my mind only half present in the conversation. All I can focus on is her drinking the cocktail.

“It’s going to be perfect,” she says, smiling at me. “Just imagine, a beautiful wedding by the lake.”

“Yeah, it sounds amazing,” I respond, my eyes on her glass. She takes another long sip, almost finishing the Mudslide.

Time passes slowly, but eventually, I notice she’s drunk the entire cocktail. Relief washes over me, knowing the castor oil should start taking effect in a couple of hours.

We rejoin the group by the fireplace, the warm glow of the flames casting a cozy ambiance over the room. Astrid can hardly contain her excitement as she walks in.

“Everyone,” she announces with a wide grin, “Johan and I have finally agreed on a date for the wedding and the location!”

A collective gasp of surprise ripples through the group, and all eyes turn toward us, expressions of curiosity and anticipation etched on their faces.

“We’re planning for early September in Lake Como,” Astrid continues, her voice brimming with happiness. “Now all we have to do is contact the hotels and see which place has availability.”

Dad claps his hands, his eyes lighting up with admiration. “That’s wonderful news! Let’s open a bottle of Champagne to celebrate.”

With a flourish, he rises and heads to the kitchen, where he retrieves a chilled bottle of Champagne. The room fills with the sound of the cork popping, a festive echo that heightens the celebratory mood. He carefully pours the sparkling liquid into flutes brought by our butler, the bubbles rising energetically, and hands a glass to each person.

“To Astrid and Johan,” he toasts, lifting his glass high.

“To Astrid and Johan,” the group echoes in unison, the clinking of glasses creating a symphony of joy and celebration.

Everyone moves in closer to offer their congratulations. Nina rushes forward, enveloping her daughter in a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you!” she exclaims, her voice filled with genuine joy.

Mum, her face glowing with pride and happiness, steps forward to embrace Astrid as well. “Welcome to the family, dear,” she says warmly, her eyes misting with tears of joy. “I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter-in-law.”

I raise my glass and take a sip, the cool champagne bubbling on my tongue. Beneath my forced smile, a storm of emotions churns within me. I pray that the castor oil I added to Astrid’s drink earlier is enough to make her sick. All I can do now is wait, hoping my plan will unfold as intended.

An hour later, we bid farewell to Ludovic and Nina, who leave with warm hugs and well-wishes. Astrid is staying over, adding to the lingering festive atmosphere. Unfortunately, despite drinking the entire Mudslide, Astrid seems to feel just as fine, her energy undiminished.

After closing the front door behind us, Dad glances at Mum, then back to us, and says, “Well, it’s been a wonderful evening. Time for us to turn it in. Good night, everyone.”

Despite my disapproving gaze, he continues with a smile, “Enjoy the rest of your night, you two. Make yourselves at home.”

His words hang in the air as he gently nudges Mum. She looks at me with a knowing glance before they both head upstairs. Alone with Astrid, I try to buy some time.

“Hey, how about we watch a movie in the living room?” I suggest, attempting to sound casual. “It could be a nice way to wind down.”

But Astrid wraps her arms around me, her eyes full of longing. “Or we could just go to bed,” she murmurs softly, her breath warm against my ear.

Knowing there's nothing else I can do, I slowly lead her upstairs to my bedroom. My heart is pounding, and my mind races with thoughts of what I’ve done, wondering if it will take effect soon. I try to keep my movements steady, but my hands are trembling slightly. Once we get inside the bedroom, I fetch a towel for her from the linen closet, taking longer than necessary, trying to buy time.

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