In other words, over 30 bottles in this batch of wine were essentially poison.


    Max’s face was ashen, and a chill ran down his spine as he pointed out, “Thank goodness you took Carlisle’s advice or something terrible might have happened!”


    The vein near Gareth’s temple was throbbing. Grimacing, he seethed, “That piece of shit was trying to screw me and Grandpa over!”


    Had this batch of wine beenunched on the market, a lot of people would have died


    from drinking it.


    Max suggested, “This is a serious problem. You should tell your grandfather about it and see what he says. I’m worried Isaiah could be working for the enemy.”


    Gareth’s grandfather, Theodore Spencer, was an important figure.


    Isaiah could be plotting against Gareth’s father, Amos with this batch of wine, for all


    Gareth knew.


    With a shaky hand, Gareth lit a cigarette and took a long drag. It was only after the thick smoke had unfurled in his lungs, and the nicotine had spread through his veins


    that his heartbeat slowed to a steady beat.


    A whileter, he grabbed his phone and gave Theodore a call.


    “Gareth, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Theodore’s warm voice sounded on the


    other line.


    Gareth snubbed the remaining half of his cigarette in the ashtray and said hoarsely, ”


    Grandpa, Isaiah is trying to screw me-


    Theodore mused, “I didn’t think the kid had such preferences.”


    Gareth blinked. “Grandpa, what I meant was, Isaiah is plotting to destroy our family!”


    “Oh? Tell me what brought this on,” Theodore prompted.


    Gareth told Theodore about the results of his investigation.


    After listening to everything, Theodore fell silent on the other line. Gareth continued,


    Η


    Max thinks Isaiah might be working for the enemy.”


    “Does Isaiah know about you investigating him?” Theodore asked.


    Not yel


    “Good keep it that way for now and pretend you don’t know about the wine,” Theodore instructed slowly. “I’ll take care of the rest.”


    With that, he hung up.


    Gareth leaned against his seat and breathed out slowly. “Carlisle said our family


    might go bankrupt at best and be eradicated at worst.”


    Max narrowed his eyes and asked, “You don’t suppose Carlisle knows Isaiah, do you?”


    “Isaiah is too proud to meet with someone like Carlisle,” Gareth said, his lips curling.”


    Besides, haven’t we looked into Carlisle’s background before?


    “He’s new in Rivend, and he came here for university after graduating high school.”


    Having given it a thought, Gareth picked up his phone and called Carlisle.


    Presently, Carlisle and Wanda were lounging on a stone bench under the willow tree


    by the man–madeke.


    Wanda was tucked close to Carlisle as she gazed at the shimmeringke. He had his


    arm around her shoulders, indulging in the idyllic moment as the gentle breeze


    caressed his face.


    Just then, his phone buzzed.


    While Wanda was not asleep, Carlisle worried a loud ringtone might scare her and


    had set his phone to silent mode for her benefit.


    He had only just put the call through when a familiar voice sounded from the other


    line. “Hey, Carlisle. Where are you?”


    “On campus,” Carlisle answered.


    “Care to take the day off and join me for a drink?”


    “I can’t. I have a bonfire party to attend tonight,” Carlisle exined.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    “Fine. I’ll meet you after your sses<b>, </b>then.”


    Carlisle turned down the caller. “Yeah, no can do. I’m bringing my girlfriend out for


    steak this evening.”


    “Damn it,” Gareth cursed on the other line. There were plenty of people who would line up to have a meal with him.


    Even Yuriel and the mayor himself had invited Gareth for a meal when he first arrived in Rivend, but he had turned them both down.


    He couldn’t believe Carlisle, of all people, was refusing to dine with him today.


    More importantly, Carlisle had turned down his invitation so he could bring his girlfriend out for steak! Couldn’t they have steak–tomorrow?


    “I assume you’ve found a problem with the batch of wine,” Carlisle mused breezily.


    “I’ll talk to you about that in person!” Gareth hung up after that.


    He rose to his feet and said to Max, “Come on, Max. We’re going to Rivend


    University.”


    “What for?” Max asked.


    “To see Carlisle.”