A mischievous grin formed on Penelope's lips as she observed Isabella in conversation with Ryan. "At last, the chance I've been waiting for," she muttered under her breath.

She slyly retrieved a small vial of aphrodisiac pills from her clutch as she walked towards the bar. After a quick look around, she discreetly added the pills to two glasses of red wine and picked them up. She then scanned the hall to make sure that William wasn't approaching Isabella. He was nowhere to be seen.

Feigning casual conversation, she offered the wine to Isabella and Ryan with a cunning smile. Predictably, Isabella refused, but Penelope had a backup: a spiked...