Chapter 8: The Last Straw

I went downstairs. Evan’s mother was sitting on the living room couch. When she saw me, her swollen, red eyes glared at me:

“You’re the one who killed my son!”

The room was heavy with the scent of old perfume and funeral lilies. Her voice cracked, pitched somewhere between grief and accusation. The air buzzed with tension, and I froze—caught in her blame before I could even react.

Evan was originally on a business trip. The day after his accident was supposed to be the day we tried on wedding dresses. He drove into the river that night.

The sequence played in my head like a stuck record. That dress fitting was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Instead, it became a date circled in red for all the wrong reasons.

When I first heard Evan had died, I forced myself to comfort his mother despite my grief. But she shoved me away: “You jinx, you killed my son!”

The words hit me harder than any slap ever could. In that moment, I almost believed her.

[Rich girls shouldn’t marry into unlucky families. Heroine, run while you’re still single!]

[She won’t run. A few days ago, the main guy’s mom called her a husband-cursing star, and she still blamed herself, taking all the blame. After being abused by this old witch, she’ll be abused by the fake-dead main guy when he comes back.]

Evan’s mother and I never got along. Before the accident, Evan promised me that after marriage, we wouldn’t live with her.

We’d planned to get a little townhouse out near the river, just far enough from both our families. He promised I’d never have to put up with her icy stares or biting remarks again.

But these days, out of guilt, I let her vent at me. Now, I saw her hugging Evan’s black-and-white photo, looking as ridiculous as a clown. On a whim, I let out a cold laugh.

It bubbled up before I could stop it—a harsh, brittle sound that made her face twist with rage.

She was instantly furious: “What are you laughing at?”

She stood up, wanting to slap me.

Marcus rushed over to block her: “Mrs. Parker, calm down. Natalie is just too sad, her mind’s not right. Don’t take it to heart.”

Derek added: “Natalie, why don’t you apologize to Mrs. Parker?”

Their voices blended together, a blur of concerned noises and forced civility. In the background, the grandfather clock ticked on, oblivious.

I slowly walked to Evan’s mother’s side. She thought I was going to comfort her again, and turned her head away in disgust.

“No matter what you say, I won’t forgive you. You and my son were only engaged, not married. Don’t think you’ll get a cent of his inheritance.”

Her words landed like icy rain, but I didn’t flinch. The money was the last thing on my mind.

But I just bent down, whispered in her ear: “Maybe you’ll get to see him sooner than you think, you bitter old bat.”

She clutched her chest in anger and collapsed onto the couch.

I felt a cold satisfaction settle in my gut. For once, I wasn’t the one left gasping for air.

[Hahaha, the old witch got what she deserved. I’m waving a flag for the heroine! Let’s see who dares cross her now.]

[So satisfying, the heroine finally isn’t putting up with her anymore!]

All the relatives were thrown into chaos, crowding around Evan’s mother.

She pointed at me with a shaking hand: “She really did kill my son. Derek, call the cops and have her arrested!”

[The main guy’s mom is truly insane. No wonder she raised such a scummy son.]

[The heroine is finally standing up for herself, ahhh, I’m so happy.]

[Hope the heroine really wakes up. I’m so worried she’ll just give in when the main guy comes back...]

Tears filled my eyes: “Since Mrs. Parker hates me so much, I’ll just move out of the Parker house.”

It felt good, finally saying it out loud—like taking a deep breath after being underwater too long.

“Natalie, don’t say that in anger.”

I said: “Enough, don’t try to stop me. If I stay, she’ll only be more upset. I’ve already decided to move out.”

Derek and Marcus exchanged glances. Clearly, this wasn’t what they expected.

Derek went to the corner to message Evan.