Chapter 3

As I spoke, the air in the room went down to freezing point.

Johnny's expression changed a few times, before he put on an awkward, forced smile. "What are you saying, haha…"

"Then let me do it," I said, reaching to snatch the phone back.

As soon as I did, however, Johnny took a few steps back and raised his hand as far as he could. "Please stop joking around, Luna. Shouldn't you ask Mom's opinion about this?"

Oh, so he was calling in the cavalry.

My mother-in-law, Lily, was what one could call an all-rounder.

She was someone who could put on a facade of civility one day and curse your entire family while causing a scene the other, and as such was infamous in the residential area we lived in.

I didn't say anything to refute his suggestion, however. "Sure, call her now."

Louis was still alive now, after all. If this fact became apparent after the coroner examined his body, they'd even try to save him instead…

But I couldn't possibly have that happen, could I? What I wanted was for him to die, once and for all!

Soon enough…

"Luna, you witch! What did my poor son do to get a wife like you?"

A middle-aged woman barged into the morgue with a face full of makeup and half-done nails with red polish. From the looks of it, she seemed to know about the whole ruse.

Immediately reaching for me, she grabbed my collar angrily. "Hasn't he treated you well enough? How dare you ask for him to be cut up and defiled like he's some sort of lab rat? I'll kill you!"

At the same time, Johnny took the chance to cover his brother up with cloth again.

I didn't say a single word to refute Lily's words, only looking down as I cried. "Mom, you know how careful Louis usually is. Besides, how could someone who races cars as well as him mistake the accelerator for a brake? I'm sure someone must have done this to him!"

Lily didn't seem to be able to argue against my reasoning, so she paused for a bit, the gears turning in her head, before releasing my collar. Then, she rubbed her eyes, finally managing to squeeze out a few drops of tears.

"I understand that you can't accept reality, Luna, but nothing is going to bring Louis back! We have to look forward, right?"

Disheartened, I reached to wipe her tears. "But…"

"Be a good girl and go home, okay?" Lily softened her tone, as if she was talking to a child, and patted my hand. "Just leave the funeral to me and…"

Before she could finish talking, she fainted.

Catching her deftly, I shouted, "Mom!"

That's when Johnny realized I was holding the tissues he tried passing me earlier, and his expression turned steely as he gritted his teeth. "How do you have that?"

"I-It fell out of your pocket just now," I muttered, shrinking into myself as if I was intimidated by his change of demeanor. "I-Is there something wrong with using these…?"

That's right, me trying to snatch the phone earlier was just a ruse. This pack of tissues was what I was actually after.

Realizing that he had overreacted on accident, he squeezed out another smile. "Of course there isn't! I think Mom passed out because she was too sad, too, so why don't you take her home with you? I'll deal with the rest."

With a nod, I conceded. "Alright."

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief and started pushing the bed away, I stopped him, "Johnny, wait."

"What is it, Luna?" He could barely suppress the anger in his voice, but he still made a valiant effort to sound unbothered.

Walking over to him, I wiped his face with the drugged tissues. "You've got blood on your face."

In an instant, his eyes widened. "You!"

In response, I just smirked at him as I emulated the tone Lily had used with me earlier. "Be a good boy and close your eyes, alright?"

As he slumped to the ground, he shot me one last hateful look.

But what about it?

Bending down, I reclaimed my phone and called the crematorium. "Hello? My husband needs to be cremated as soon as possible."