There Is No Happiness

Chapter 2

Years prior, a younger lady Tremaine and her previous husband.

 
      Finally. The time has come. Today is the last day he'll be alive. And I will inherit all of his money, and my dear darling daughters and I will be able to live peacefully. As I help prepare dinner, I wait until the cook leaves to use the restroom. Out of my pocket, I pull a vile of arsenic. I've been slowly poisoning my toxic husband and today is the last of the poisoning. Just a few more drops over his food, and this'll be the end of him.

      I sprinkle some of it on to his salad and some into his wine. The powder on the salad looks like the dressing I use on the other ones, so no one, not even the cook herself has notice. I quickly put the vile back into my pocket and resume preparing everything else. The cook walks in with the rest of the plates to serve the food on to.

      "Madam Tremaine, you don't have to help me in preparing the meals. You are more than welcome to relax. It pleases me to serve you." I roll my eyes then look up at her smiling.

      "I know, but it pleases my husband to be so involved, especially with his dishes. I guess I put in a special touch." My lie sinks in and she eats it up. I don't know what works more, the fact that she thinks we are in love? Or that I'm so in love I'd do "anything" for my husband. With dinner ready, and everything served, I take my seat next to him in the dining area.

      "Darling this looks absolutely wonderful. Thank you." He kisses my hand then immediately digs into his salad. I can't help but watch, as every poisonous bite enters his mouth. Tonight will be the night.

      After dinner, we have our own private time. He goes and works on his stocks and whatever nonsense he does in his home office. I, on the other hand, like to read quietly in bed. By the time I'm asleep though, he comes to bed a tad bit more drunk then he was before. As he undresses, he begins to have a coughing fit, and his breathing becomes wheezy. Even after laying down, his coughing doesn't stop. With the sound of him in pain, I drift off to sleep.

      To no surprise, he's dead the next morning. I let him lay there dead as I get ready for the day, like I let him sleep while I get ready. After fluffing up my hair, and powdering my cheeks, I pretend to wake him up. "Oh darling. Time to wake up. Darling?" This is where my wonderful acting skills come into play.

      I scream bloody murder and as high as I can. The maids and Butler run in as I collapse on the floor in my fake tears. My two hand maids help me to my feet then to my fireplace chair. Immediately there are doctors flying in, my daughters bawling their eyes out, and I sitting there in awe of how many people actually gave a shit about this wretched man.

      But upon an autopsy, the doctor found evidence of poisoning, and my daughters and I fled the city before they could tie it to me. That's where I met my little new catch.