“No, you were checking to see if the poison had worked,” I said firmly.

The front door opened, and Detective Kimberly Soto came in with two uniformed officers.

Behind them stood Elias, the young waiter who had saved my life.

Kimberly walked straight to Jason.

“Jason, you’re under arrest for aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering, fraud, and the exploitation of a vulnerable adult,” she said.

“I never even touched her,” Jason yelled, scanning the room for a way out.

Elias stepped forward, his voice steady. “I watched you pour the substance into her drink.”

Sylvia bolted toward the hallway, but an officer cut her off instantly.

Kimberly turned to my daughter.

“Sylvia, you’re under arrest for conspiracy, financial exploitation, and obstruction of justice,” she said.

Sylvia started to wail, dropping to her knees.

“Mother, please, don’t let them do this to me,” she cried out.

I stepped closer and looked down at the woman I no longer recognized.

“You did this to yourself the moment you decided my life was worth less than my money,” I said.

Jason lunged at me, but the officers slammed him against the wall, his expensive watch shattering on the hardwood floor.