Her Rebirth of Retribution novel Chapter 174

Biting her lower lip, Calista looked at him with a hint of grievance. She slowly said, “Ever since I was a child, I've dreamed of the day you would taste the wine I've brewed. So, w-would you like to try it?”

Under the hopeful gaze of Calista, it was difficult for Kallum to say no to her. If he told her that the wine was definitely spoiled, perhaps it would mean her other wines were ruined as well. She put so much effort into this. If I were to tell her that, she would be greatly disappointed, wouldn't she?

Whenever Kallum thought of her usual bright, starry eyes looking dim, he couldn't bear it. So, he nodded slightly and said, “All right, I'll drink! Y-You just watch me.”

After speaking, he broke the clay seal, but there was no scent emanating from it, indicating it had truly gone bad.

Calista said earnestly, “I used mulberries, as I couldn't pick any other fruits. However, I've heard from others that mulberry wine is quite delightful. Would you like to try some?”

If Calista had been lucid, she would have known that many of these wines were unfit for consumption. After all, her methods were far from professional. Especially with the first bottle, even a nine-year-old prodigy couldn't achieve a perfect seal.

Besides, if fruit wine were to spoil, it could produce numerous bacteria harmful to the human body. For Kallum, with his current physical condition, recklessly consuming such things was practically courting death.

However, Kallum couldn't bear to see her heartbroken.

The sight of fingers, as white as porcelain, clutching a clay bottle smeared with dirt was already quite a contrast. Yet, Kallum dared to drink the unknown liquid inside. Truly, it was a display of courage.

He tilted his head back and took a sip, almost instinctively wanting to spit it out. But under the expectant gaze of Calista, he swallowed the strange, sour liquid bit by bit, feeling as if he had just consumed a dose of poison.

“Is it delicious?” Calista asked cautiously. Her face flushed a deep red, and her eyes sparkled brightly.

Kallum's expression remained unchanged until, finally, he revealed a dazzling smile. “It's really good! Better than any famous liquor I've ever had, both locally and internationally!”

“Really?” Calista reached out to grab it. “Let me give it a try, then!”

Kallum was taken aback, hastily raising his hand. “No! Since it's meant for me, you can't have any!”

After that, fearing that Calista might actually drink it, he tilted his head back and finished off the entire bottle of spoiled wine.

Luckily, after such a long period of evaporation, there wasn't much left in the bottle of liquor. Otherwise, it could have been lethal.

As Calista took the bottle to examine, Kallum managed to conceal a look of restraint. Even though the substance in the bottle made him feel like he was better off dead, having Calista in his arms made him feel a strange mix of pain and joy.

“You've really finished it...” Calista turned the bottle around, tipped it a couple of times, and indeed found it empty. Only then did a look of regret appear on her face.

“Hmm?” Kallum didn't quite catch that. As he looked down, he noticed that Calista had already closed her eyes. Her brows were furrowed as if she was recalling something unpleasant. This left Kallum confused. Didn't our conversation go well just moments ago?

Kallum chuckled and sighed, readying himself to lift Calista in his arms. However, no sooner had he taken a few steps than he began to suffer from stomach pain.

Ever since he contracted K Virus, he had grown accustomed to the daily pain. However, this bout of abdominal pain was extraordinary, feeling as if he'd been stabbed, his flesh and blood churning. He gritted his teeth, taking a moment to catch his breath. Carefully, he sat down, cradling Calista in his arms before he managed to call Ryder.

Upon learning that Kallum was not at Havenrock Villa but had gone elsewhere, the Fairchild family mobilized over a hundred people. When they arrived, they carried out disinfection and cleared the area. Although Kallum's saliva and sweat were not really contagious, they took precautions to ensure nothing was overlooked. Even though K Virus had very low activity outside the human body, they could not afford to take any chances.

When Kallum was getting into the car, he suddenly held Ryder and ordered, “Take everything from the cave back with us!”

“Understood!” Upon seeing the state of Kallum, Ryder realized that the matter at hand had to be of great importance, as it was still occupying Kallum's thoughts.

After getting in the car, Shaun was ready to conduct an examination. However, Kallum waved his hand dismissively, his face pale as he said, “I must have eaten something I shouldn't have.”

Shaun was momentarily speechless. Mr. Kallum, why did you eat something you knew you shouldn't eat? Were you trying to kill yourself?

Once the group returned to Fairchild Manor, Kallum was already drenched in sweat from the pain. The injection he received in the car did nothing to alleviate his discomfort. He endured the excruciating torment of what felt like his insides twisting, yet he didn't utter a single complaint throughout the ordeal.