The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 199

Victoria opened the door to find Rita standing outside holding a thick, folded blanket. She was slightly taken aback.

"I figured you wouldn't be asleep this early. This town is mostly older folks. After the morning market rush, everyone pretty much stays home. It's even quieter now that it's gotten cold, so people go to bed early."

Rita spoke as if to herself, walking into the room with the blanket. "You're from out of town, so you're probably not used to it, are you?"

"A little," Victoria replied. Seeing that Rita had already entered, she couldn't exactly kick her out. She stood by the door, watching her.

Rita was about to say more when she turned and saw Victoria still standing there. As if just realizing her own forwardness, she gave an embarrassed smile. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was just thinking it gets colder at night and figured I'd bring you an extra blanket. I forgot to ask if I could come in."

Victoria lowered her gaze. "…It's fine."

"Good, as long as you don't mind!" Rita said, patting the blanket. "We make these quilts ourselves, stuffed with cotton we process. They're warmer than the ones you buy in stores for six or seven hundred. You'll sleep well, miss. I won't disturb you any longer."

With that, Rita turned and left, pulling the door closed behind her.

The moment the door was shut, however, Rita's smile vanished. She took out her phone and sent a text message.

Inside the room.

Victoria walked to the bed and looked down at the blanket, which was folded into a neat square. A moment later, a faint, strange smell wafted up from it.

It wasn't pungent, but it wasn't pleasant either.

Victoria frowned slightly. She unfolded the blanket, found the zipper, and opened it.

The smell instantly grew stronger.

She reached inside and soon felt granules mixed in with the cotton stuffing. She crushed them between her fingertips, and they turned to powder.

Victoria pulled her hand back. The cotton and the outer cover had masked the scent at first, but now the strong, cloying odor hit her full force. She brought the crushed powder to her nose and sniffed. A wave of dizziness washed over her.

She stumbled back a few steps until her back hit the wall, waiting a long moment for her head to clear.

This scent—or rather, the granules in this blanket—had a sedative effect.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify