Maria felt even more pleased when Rhea accepted her offer. "Look! I had the maids prepare goat cheese salad, stuffed tomatoes, and roasted fish with wild mushrooms. You loved these most when you were little." Rhea's expression shifted when her mother mentioned her childhood.

Maria noticed and quickly said, "I wonder if they're still your favorites. If not, tell me what you'd like, and I'll have them prepare it!"

"There's no need. Food is merely sustenance." Rhea sat at the table, picked up her utensils, and looked disinterested.

Maria's spirits dampened. Slightly embarrassed, she glanced at her husband.

Fabian frowned. "Why did you bring up her childhood? You knew Rhea hated it!"

When the couple returned from the Rollins' house the other day, they talked late into the night, unaware of Rhea's intense dislike for her childhood. They'd always assumed she was merely jealous of Anastasia; it hadn't seemed a significant issue.

They hadn't realized Rhea felt they’d prioritized Anastasia. "We did everything for her," Maria thought. "If we hadn't appeased Anastasia, how could we have curried favor with Cameron? Without Cameron's support, how could we have secured the resources to build our business and give Ree a comfortable life?"

However, Rhea deeply resented her childhood experiences. For instance, if there was only one piece of chocolate cake, it went to Anastasia. During arguments, she was always scolded instead of her niece. There were also incidents involving dresses, shoes, bags, and dolls that Maria couldn't recall.

"We thought these were trivial," Maria mused, "but Ree remembered them. She resented them so much that she used me to deliver herbs with various medicinal properties to the house. She wanted Anastasia's body to slowly absorb these herbs, causing chronic poisoning."

Recalling this, Maria shuddered, grateful she hadn't been poisoned herself due to her frequent visits. They were also surprised by Rhea's expertise in using plants to poison someone.

They knew Rhea studied medicine and conducted research. They'd hoped she'd return to practice medicine, but never imagined her proficiency in poisons.

The couple exchanged glances. Rhea feigned ignorance and continued eating.

Finally, Fabian spoke. "Ree, I heard your lab has relocated but hasn't found permanent space. Why don't you just stop going?"

"Huh?" Rhea paused, raising an eyebrow.

"Look. Your lab is dangerous; someone's gone missing. Wasn't a professor killed recently? Your mother and I think you should stop. Your uncle says the vaccine project will be retendered, and he'll give the contract to me. I'll be incredibly busy, and you can help—"

He beamed, already envisioning wealth. Rhea spat out a fish bone, interrupting him coldly. "Have you forgotten how you secured that project?"

Fabian was speechless.

"If I hadn't offered the lab's secrets, do you think Cameron would have promised you the contract? Why else would he go to such lengths to invalidate the tender results? Me leaving the lab?" She smirked. "Are you sure you want me to leave? Can you handle the consequences?"