A Vengeful Ex-Wife
Chapter 148 Happy Engagement

Maria put her clothes back on and picked up the wedding dress on the floor under James' gaze. She then asked indifferently, "James, what's wrong with you?" 'Finally, the black fungus is beginning to take effect,' she thought.

James was about to say something when he suddenly felt dizzy. Staring at Maria's red lips, he asked in an unfriendly tone, "Did you drug me again?"

As if wanting to prove her innocence, Maria licked her lips with the tip of her tongue and said, "I really didn't put any drug on my lips this time."

"You'd better mean what you said. If I found out that you're playing tricks on me again, Maria Song, you are doomed." James then turned around and strode out of the fitting room, enduring the discomfort in his lower abdomen.

The shop assistant, who had been waiting outside, saw that he was about to leave. She ran over to him to stop him. "Excuse me, sir-"

But the words stuck in her throat in fright when James glared at her coldly. With eyes widened in shock, she thought inwardly, 'Oh my God! With such fierceness on his face, how can I dare to stop him?' Two minutes later, Maria came out of the fitting room and said to the shop assistant, "I'll take this wedding dress. Pack it for me, please."

This time, the shop assistant was in awe. She didn't expect to receive such a big order when she was already about to go home. The wedding dress was quite expensive, and she could definitely get a generous sales commission. After being in a daze for a moment, she replied to Maria, "Yes, ma'am. Please take a seat while I pack it." She then hurriedly but tidily packed the wedding dress. That night, not only James but also Alina was sent to the hospital.

They showed the same symptoms: dizziness, nausea, and abdominal cramps. All were signs that they were poisoned.

In a private hospital, James was lying in bed.

The doctor, who was inserting an intravenous cannula at the back of James' hand, said, "Mr. Xi, based on my initial judgment, you were food poisoned. What did you eat in your last meal?" 'Food poisoned?' Right away, James thought of the lunch that Maria had prepared for them. His eyes narrowed as he pursed his lips tightly.

What happened to him now must have something to do with the lunch they had earlier. He knew that she was not that kind-hearted at all. James told the doctor all the dishes he had eaten for lunch. He then turned to the driver beside him and instructed, "Ask where Alina is." "Yes, Mr. Xi," the driver answered and went out to make a phone call.

The doctor looked at the expedited laboratory results and concluded, "Mr. Xi, the poison was from the black fungus that had been soaked in the water for a long time. But don't worry, it's not a big problem. Just be more careful next time." "The black fungus?" Of course, he ate the stir-fried egg with black fungus that Maria had cooked. She had said they were organic food.

He tried to recall the scene during their lunch. It was only then that he realized that Maria had eaten a bitesize of the egg but not a single bite of fungus.

"Black fungus can't be soaked for a long time. If it stays in the water for more than eight hours, it can't be eaten anymore. If black fungus is soaked in the water for too long, it will be contaminated by bacteria. It then produces some harmful substances such as aflatoxin and greengage toxin."

James' facial expression darkened at once, and coldness flashed through his eyes. He was sure that Maria deliberately did it.

When the driver came back soon, he immediately reported to James, "Mr. Xi, Ms. Tang was also sent to the hospital because of nausea and vomiting."

"I see," James replied with a nod.

His hands balled into fists as he thought through clenched teeth, 'Maria Song, well done.'

After the doctor and the driver had left his ward, James called Maria. "We're not dead yet. Are you disappointed?"

Inside her hotel room, Maria gently stroked the wedding dress she had bought and smiled. "Not at all. I didn't intend to kill you in the first place."

Of course, she would never want to be a real murderer.

"Now tell me, why did you poison us?"

Instead of answering James' question, Maria asked, "Did the doctor ask you to stay in the hospital for observation after the intravenous infusion?"

"Yes."

As they talked, they were both calm. It didn't look like one of them had poisoned the other.

"Then, will you still attend the founding anniversary party of Tang Group tomorrow?"

"Yes, I will."

It was only then that James vaguely figured out Maria's purpose.

Maria's hand, which had been stroking the wedding dress, froze. Her tone became colder when she spoke again. "It can't stop you, can it?" It seemed that the wedding dress would come in handy tomorrow. It was her fault to think too highly of the toxicity of the black fungus.

"Sorry, but it can't."

"In that case, let me wish you a happy engagement in advance, Mr. Xi," Maria said in the same cold tone.

"I'll take this time as paying back for last time. But I won't tolerate you next time," James said coldly. He was talking about that time when he sent some people to kill her. They were even now. "Really?" Maria asked with derision. She didn't believe him.

He might haven't realized yet that he was already not the same James three months ago when she just returned to H City.

"Maria Song, I won't allow you to mess around tomorrow."

"All right. I got it," Maria answered in a rather brisk tone. At this time, there was a trace of playfulness in her voice. It was totally different from the cynicism just now.

She would not only mess around, but also make big trouble for James and Alina tomorrow.

James didn't retort and just hung up the phone.

Alina also found out the truth when she was sent to the hospital. As soon as she got the laboratory results, she smashed her phone on the spot. "Maria Song, I knew that you are not a kind-hearted woman. Damn you!"

Only Miranda and one servant of the Tang family were in her ward. Upon seeing her current situation, Miranda gritted her teeth hatefully. "How dare she poison you and Mr. Xi openly?! We must get even with her this time. I'm sure that Mr. Xi won't let her go either."

"Mom, don't be too anxious. Tomorrow is important to Tang Group and me. We must make sure that the event goes on safely and smoothly."

Miranda nodded in agreement. "You're right. Don't worry. I'll send more bodyguards to prevent Maria from making trouble."

"Ordinary bodyguards won't work, Mom. You need to ask Dad to replace some people who are good in martial arts." Maria, just wait until I become Mrs. Xi. I will definitely teach you a good lesson,' Alina swore to herself inwardly.

"I know. Don't be angry and stay still. You are still on a drip. You need to take good care of yourself."

"Ouch! Now that you remind me about it, my stomach hurts again. I need to use the bathroom." Alina suffered more. Her body was not as strong as James, and she ate more black fungus than him. Now she did not only vomited but also had diarrhea.

"Okay, I'll help you. Be careful."

It was already twelve midnight, but Alina was still tossing and turning in bed with her hands clutching her belly. She sent a message to James. "James, how are you feeling now? I still feel terrible. My stomach hurts a lot, and I vomit several times."

James had just finished his infusion and was about to leave the hospital when he received Alina's message. He was silent for a while before asking Lorenzo without looking back, "Which hospital is Alina in?" "No. 2 Municipal Hospital, Mr. Xi," Lorenzo answered at once.

"Take me there."

"Okay, Mr. Xi."

When they arrived at No. 2 Municipal Hospital, Alina's diarrhea had gotten a little better, but her face was still sallow.

The moment she saw James, she couldn't help bursting into tears. She grabbed his hand and said in an aggrieved tone, "James, I feel so terrible."

"I know," James replied sympathetically. Seeing that she grabbed his hand, he didn't refuse. "Don't worry. No matter what happens, tomorrow's engagement ceremony will be held as planned."

He wouldn't let Maria get what she wanted.

"Okay." Alina felt a little better upon hearing the assurance from him. She then asked, "How about you, James? Are you feeling better?"

"Don't worry. I'm fine now. Just take good care of yourself. Leave the rest of the matters to them."

"Okay."

James didn't stay in Alina's ward for a long time. When he came out, he immediately called Lawrence. "Make sure to keep an eye on Maria tomorrow."

Maria was becoming more scheming. He had a hunch that things wouldn't go smooth tomorrow.

"I'm sorry, James, but I can't be there tomorrow. I have something urgent to deal with in P City. It's an official business," Lawrence replied seriously.

Since he said so, it must really be something important.

"Take her with you," James suggested.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Several government leaders are also coming. It won't be appropriate if I take a woman with me."

James didn't know what else to say to convince Lawrence. He felt a dull pain in his temples. "You'd better replace a way to lock her up and don't let her go until the day after tomorrow."

Now he regretted that he didn't kill Maria. She was getting more and more troublesome, always giving him a headache.