#Chapter 38: A Bitter Brew

Olivia As I stumbled out of the bathroom, my head was still spinning from the overwhelming wave of nausea caused by the pungent smell and horrid taste of Maria’s soup. At least it’s over, I thought to myself as I clutched my stomach. She’ll go home now. I just wanted to go up to my room and lie down on my bed for the rest of the day after that whole ordeal. But when I walked out into the hallway and met Maria there with yet another bowl of steaming hot soup in her hands, I felt my stomach drop. “There you are,” she said, sounding annoyed and completely oblivious to my obvious sickness. “I’ve been waiting for you.” I blinked, completely taken aback by her brusque tone. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Ford,” I said, feeling ill already just from being in the vicinity of the wretched soup. “I wasn’t feeling well.” “Hm.” Maria eyed me up and down with a disbelieving look on her face, then thrust the bowl of soup closer to me. I nearly gagged just from that, and instan